An integrated Safety Management software platform driven by best-in-class processes enables organisations to achieve incremental performance improvements in performance that separate them from the rest. It provides structure, efficiency, consistency and ensures the right rigor is applied to each and every situation that demands investigation.

Data is the new currency of QHSES (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment, and Security) functions the world over, the best technology options have the learning from cumulative data at their heart.  Whilst numbers and standalone outcomes have some value, illuminating the systemic detail that brings the real contributors to organisation wide failure offers MUCH more. 

The best technology solutions don’t just capture numbers, they extract meaning from cumulative data, revealing the real contributors to system-wide failures. Next-generation dashboards, designed by industry experts, deliver actionable insights from day one.‍

Expectations have changed. Businesses now demand:

·  Proper human factors analysis
·  AI-powered analytics and decision support
·  Automated reporting with minimal manual input
·  Seamless integration across platforms to eliminate data duplication

With these demands in mind, a key question remains: Should you build a custom software solution in-house or invest in a proven SaaS platform?

This overview summarises some of the central arguments inthe Build vs Buy debate to allow you to consider where your business currently sits:

‍When should you build your own HSE software?

· For limited, ad-hoc applications
· If the problem is perceived as unique or highly unusual
· To solve a “stand-alone” problem that does not affect any other area of the business
· For a one-time solution with a relatively short life-span
· If the organisation maintains a large IT department that has the expertise and resources to build the system and crucially, manage it for a long time (legacy)
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When is buying a SaaS  solution the better option?

·  You do not have resources to build an application and all its reports
·  You do not want to maintain and support a custom-built application including all necessary changes
·  The HSEQ team should focus on safety, not software development. You do not want to divert the HSEQ team into ‘re-inventing the wheel’ and designing functional specifications for software (which is potentially outside their skill-set)
·  Do not have time and resources to validate and continue to re-validate the custom-built application
·  Have expertise in evaluating the best approach to setting up the IT infrastructure for the new application solution across the organisation
·  Do not want to have to set up an internal helpdesk to support the custom-built application
·  Want the product depth, and functional and external integration without developing it
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Building your own software: Pros and cons

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Complete control
  • Tailored to unique business needs
  • Ownership of the software code
 Development Time & Resources
  • Limited domain expertise in compliance and auditing among software developers
  • Time to agree Functional Specification across Divisions, Depts
  • Development, Design and Testing always takes longer than expected
  • Costs of ongoing maintenance and upgrades (New versions etc.)
Training & Support
  • Custom code requires custom learning materials, maintenance, and training content
  • Support documentation – often lags new code and negatively impacts users/ usability and therefore ROI
Technical Maintenance
  • Cross-platform compatibility maintenance across browsers and operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows) requires significant ongoing resources
  • Security – advanced security and integrations with AD etc. are crucial, and expensive to custom build and maintain
  • Multi-language capability – is expensive to build and maintain
  • Reporting - KPI Dashboards and Reporting metrics
Experience & Track Record
  • Professional vendors have many years of compliance expertise across multiple business sectors. Internal IT does not have this longstanding track record of custom auditing and compliance software development, which inevitably means more errors, risks, re-work:
  • “Can your business afford this level of disruption?”
  • Validation and learning from other Enterprise customers - no 'peers' to learn from or established best practice to follow


Buying a Best Practice SAAS type software solution: : Pros and cons

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Off-the-shelf solution – available now
  • Functionality meets your business requirements - RFP/Proof of Concept
  • Thousands of hours of research and development – COTS software benefiting from large monetary investment in functionality over many years of learning
  • Ongoing product roadmap – new functionality, thoroughly tested and often included in annual upgrades
  • Best Practice, expert support, and training throughout implementation and beyond
  • Flexibility / adaptability / configurability – controlled by your System Administrators
  • Typically, functionality continuously enhanced through customer input
  • Flexible deployment options
  • Experience of integrations with ERP systems such as SAP
  • RESTful API access for custom integration development
  • Vendor has sole rights to develop and maintain the code
  • Some additional functionality may be required to meet your business’ additional requirements
  • Reliance on vendor’s technical support to resolve issues

 

Which option is right for your business?

For most organisations, a SaaS solution provides the reliability, security, and scalability needed to manage HSE effectively. While building software offers full control, it comes with a high cost in time, resources, and risk.

SaaS solutions, backed by years of industry expertise and continuous development, offer the flexibility and depth needed for modernsafety management, without the burden of building and maintaining the system yourself.

Interested in learning more?

COMET’s ultimate guide to choosing the right HSE software: Build or buy, breaks down the key considerations for both options. You’ll get insights into the costs, risks, and benefits, along with real-world examples—including how McDermott, a global energy leader, transformed their safety management processes with COMET’s SaaS solution. Download the guide to get a practical checklist for evaluating your organisation’s needs and making the right choice for long-term HSE success.

Download now

About the Author

Arrash Nekonam is the Chief Technology Officer at COMET, where he leads the development of practical, user-friendly software solutions for high-risk industries like Oil & Gas, Utilities, Construction, and Renewables. With over 20 years of experience in software design, project management, and system integration, Arrash specialises in turning complex tech challenges into effective tools that deliver real results for businesses.

Since joining COMET, Arrash has focused on ensuring the technology not only meets today’s HSE demands but also helps organisations stay ahead of future challenges. He founded the software consultancy Insiso, which merged with STC Global to become STC Insiso—and eventually rebranded as COMET. He’s also held senior roles at Riskwell and Columbus Technologies, working across everything from cloud infrastructure to mobile applications.

Arrash is passionate about building software that’s simple, efficient, and helps businesses improve safety, compliance, and performance—while minimsing technical complexity.

Keen to connect with Arrash?

Connect with him on LinkedIn or send him an email at arrash.nekoman@cometanalysis.com