For decades, the conventional wisdom has been that, whenever possible, commercial off-the-shelf hardware (COTS) should be used and customized platforms should be avoided. However, there is always an exception that tests the rule. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which way to go.
- There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and COTS integration is definitely never free. You will eliminate a lot of headaches, downtime and cost with a purpose built solution that’s designed from the start to be compatible with your exciting technology investments.
- Standards-based solutions can be tricky to work with. You can waste a lot of time and resources getting your application to “work” on standardized servers or changing your processes to fit within a generic hardware package.
- While an off-the-shelf solution can be expandable to a degree, it may not be expandable in ways that best fit your requirements. A purpose built system allows you to forecast future needs and integrate specific expandability capabilities.
The purpose-built design approach allows for improved performance over off-the-shelf products and tend to result in more successful product comes. Customers requiring a unique architecture can now get the right combination of technology in the form factor required without compromising design, cost, schedule or feature set – and by partnering with a top quality design and engineering service you will boost innovation and production processes for long-term success.