Use automation when the workflow is well-understood and the bottleneck is repetitive human action that does not require judgment. Use integration when the data exists in multiple correct systems but the seams between them produce duplicate entry or stale information. Build a custom app only when the workflow has no natural home today — when it lives across spreadsheets, email, and tribal knowledge — because no off-the-shelf system holds it correctly and integration alone cannot create one.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use automation instead of building a custom app?
Use automation when the workflow is well-understood and the bottleneck is repetitive human action that does not require judgment. The process already exists; you are just removing the manual steps inside it.
When is integration the right answer instead of a new app?
Use integration when the data you need exists in multiple systems and those systems are individually correct, but the seams between them produce duplicate entry or stale information. The fix is making data flow, not building a new home for it.
When does a workflow actually warrant a custom app?
Build a custom app when the workflow has no natural home today — when it lives across spreadsheets, email, and tribal knowledge. In that case no off-the-shelf system holds the workflow correctly and integration alone cannot create one.