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Let’s explore how Full Fabric can help you and your institution.
When selecting IT systems in higher education, the conversation often centres around the classic "build vs. buy" dilemma. But the decision is rarely that simple.
Rather than building from scratch, many universities consider adapting general-purpose platforms like Microsoft Dynamics or Salesforce to their needs, often with the help of third-party consultants. This creates a hybrid approach: leveraging a well-known tool, but tailoring it through extensive customisation.
At first glance, this seems like an attractive compromise – but it often conceals hidden costs in time, budget, and long-term value.
In this article, we explore the real implications of custom-built solutions for higher education institutions – and why off-the-shelf platforms designed specifically for the sector may offer a safer, more strategic route forward.
Higher education is unlike any other industry – and its digital tools should reflect that. When choosing a platform, institutions generally face two options:
There’s also a third option – building a platform from the ground up – but this is now rare due to cost and complexity.
Understanding the difference between configuration and customisation is key:
Configuration refers to settings that can be adjusted within the platform itself, often without coding. For example:
These configurations are typically supported by the vendor and are easy to adjust as institutional needs evolve.
Customisation involves hard-coded changes made by developers – usually external partners – to add features or adjust functionality. In most cases, this means adapting a general-purpose platform to accommodate higher education-specific requirements.
Customisation is much more resource-intensive, difficult to maintain, and introduces significant long-term risk.
The development and maintenance of an in-house system is a complex and time-consuming task. Full Fabric lets you turn your full attention to maximizing growth and performance.
While bespoke adaptations of generic CRMs may initially seem cost-effective, the long-term investment can be far greater than anticipated.
It’s rare to find a single partner that deeply understands both your chosen platform and the specific needs of higher education. This knowledge gap often leads to extensive trial-and-error during development – costing valuable time and budget.
And even after extensive custom work, there’s no guarantee the solution will meet expectations.
Generic software providers and consultants rarely bring in-depth sector knowledge. Without hands-on experience with higher education recruitment, admissions, and student engagement, it becomes harder to build the right solution from the outset.
This often leads to long discovery phases, frequent revisions, and features that don’t align with your institution’s goals.
Customising a general-purpose platform cannot overcome foundational design challenges. User interfaces may not be intuitive for academic teams, and vital functionality may feel “bolted on” rather than integrated.
This makes training more complex, slows adoption, and increases support needs – all of which add cost and reduce value.
Platforms like Salesforce and Dynamics update regularly. Your customisations will need to keep up – requiring ongoing developer support and investment.
Even minor changes, such as integrating a new tool or adjusting a process, may require costly development work.
Once you’ve invested heavily in custom development, switching to a new system becomes difficult – even if the current solution isn’t working. This leads to long-term lock-in, even when the system no longer aligns with your goals.
Off-the-shelf platforms designed specifically for higher education offer significant advantages over heavily customised alternatives:
With a purpose-built solution like Full Fabric, you're not experimenting. You’re implementing a system that has been tested and refined by institutions like yours – reducing uncertainty and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Full Fabric is ready to use out of the box. That means less time spent in development, and more time spent engaging applicants, improving workflows, and driving results.
Off-the-shelf doesn’t mean rigid. You can configure workflows, customise forms, and adapt communication sequences – all without needing developer support.
Customisation can be expensive. Full Fabric allows institutions to trial new features, adopt proven tools, and evolve processes without breaking the bank.
Full Fabric integrates with platforms like Turnitin, PayPal, and Kira Talent, with further connections possible through tools like Zapier – ensuring your digital ecosystem is connected and efficient.
From user interfaces to terminology and workflows, Full Fabric is built with the higher education sector in mind. This reduces the learning curve, speeds up adoption, and supports a smoother user experience for staff and students alike.
The temptation to customise a well-known CRM is understandable – but for many institutions, the hidden costs far outweigh the benefits.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, higher education institutions should look for platforms designed specifically for their needs. Full Fabric has been built over more than a decade in collaboration with leading universities and business schools – and continues to evolve to meet the demands of a changing sector.
If you're evaluating your current systems and want to reduce complexity, risk, and cost, a dedicated platform like Full Fabric can provide the clarity and confidence you need.
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