Comparison
There are several ways to clear postponed software work. Each has pros and cons. This is our honest overview, including where another option is a better fit.
| Criterion | Do it yourself | Hire an extra developer | Freelancer or agency | Buy AI tools yourself | Time-Regained |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick to start | Partly If there is time | No Months of searching and onboarding | Yes A few weeks | Yes Straight away, but you work it out yourself | Yes First proposals after 2 to 3 weeks |
| Predictable costs | Partly Hidden in salaries | Partly Fixed salary, even in quiet periods | Partly Often by the hour | Partly Usage fluctuates | Yes Fixed prices |
| Actually takes routine work away | No It stays with your team | Yes But an expensive profile on routine work | Yes As long as you pay | Partly If someone sets it up and follows it up | Yes Agents carry out, we monitor |
| Human review of every change | Yes | Yes | Partly Depends on the agreements | Partly Depends on how you set it up | Yes Always, built into the way we work |
| Set up securely | Yes | Yes | Partly Access to all your systems | Partly Default settings | Yes Minimal permissions, isolated, EU where possible |
| Knowledge stays in-house | Yes | Partly Until the person leaves | No Leaves with the project | Partly | Yes Documentation and training for your team |
| Measurable time savings | No | No | No | Partly If you measure it yourself | Yes Monthly report |
| Scales with you | No Limited by your team | Partly One hire at a time | Yes | Yes | Yes More tasks without extra people |
When to choose what
if you need more build capacity on a structural basis for years, for new products and complex features.
for a large, one-off project with a clear start and end, such as a new application.
if your team has the time and experience to set them up, secure them and follow them up on its own.
if postponed work is holding your team back, you want results quickly without hiring, and you want to keep control at a fixed price.
On hiring: in 2024, 63% of Belgian businesses recruiting ICT specialists had vacancies that were hard to fill, compared with 57% across the EU. [3] On buying AI tools yourself: a lack of expertise is the reason not to go ahead for 74.5% of Belgian businesses that considered AI. [1]
This comparison is a general assessment, not a guarantee. Every situation is different. In the free scan, we look at which option delivers the most for you.
Tell us in a free one-hour online conversation. You get a written scan with our honest estimate, even if the answer is that there is little to gain.