Buy Where It Makes Sense, Build Where It Matters

One question that keeps coming up in conversations with customers: "Do we buy from the Marketplace, or do we build something ourselves?"

I'm not going to sit on the fence here — both have a very clear place.

Buy Where It Makes Sense

Built on Workday is all about speed. You're getting something that's already built, tested, and designed to work within Workday. It accelerates time to value, reduces effort, and helps you adopt solutions that are already proven.

If you need to move quickly or solve a common problem, buying is a no-brainer.

The real cost of a third-party tool is rarely just the licence fee. It's the integration, the maintenance, the support model, and the organisational discipline required to keep it aligned with your Workday environment as both platforms evolve.

Buy where it makes sense. Don't be ideological about building for its own sake.

Build Where It Matters

Build in Workday is where things get interesting.

This is where you take your "special sauce" and turn it into a product inside Workday. The stuff that makes your business different is your processes, your edge.

With AI now in the mix, the possibilities here are huge. You're not just building apps, you're creating smarter, more intelligent experiences embedded directly into Workday.

The Best Approach Is a Blend

For me, it's rarely one or the other.

The best approach I'm seeing right now is a blend — buy where it makes sense, build where it matters. At CloudRock, we're doing both. We're helping customers deploy Marketplace apps quickly, while also working with them to design and build AI-powered solutions for more complex or niche challenges.

Final Thought

If you've got an idea — no matter how early it is — I'd genuinely love to hear it. We're always looking to collaborate and turn good ideas into real, working solutions on Workday.

Reach out to the team at connect@cloudrock.global to see how CloudRock can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should you buy from the Workday Marketplace or build with Workday Extend?

  Both have a very clear place. Buying from the Marketplace accelerates time to value — you're getting something already built, tested, and designed to work within Workday. Building with Extend is where you take what makes your business different and turn it into a product inside Workday. The best approach is usually a blend of both.

• When does buying from the Workday Marketplace make sense?

  When you need to move quickly or solve a common problem, buying is a no-brainer. Marketplace apps are already proven, reduce effort, and are designed to work natively within Workday from day one.

• When should you build with Workday Extend instead?

  When you want to turn your "special sauce" into a product inside Workday — your unique processes, your competitive edge. With AI now in the mix, you're not just building apps, you're creating smarter, more intelligent experiences embedded directly into Workday.

• What is CloudRock's approach to buying vs building on Workday?

  CloudRock does both — helping customers deploy Marketplace apps quickly, while also designing and building AI-powered solutions for more complex or niche challenges.