Developing a Bespoke Information System for Ubuntu Solar In 2024, Ubuntu Solar, a South African renewable energy company based in Cape Town, decided to overhaul its outdated information systems to support its business expansion plan into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The decision to upgrade their information system was primarily driven by the need to streamline operations, improve decision-making, and gain a competitive advantage through superior data management and customer service. Ubuntu Solars current system, a combination of fragmented spreadsheets and legacy software, was proving insufficient for handling the increasing complexity and volume of operations associated with their growing order of solar projects and after-sales services across multiple countries. The system lacked integration, making data retrieval and reporting a cumbersome process, often leading to delays and errors in customer service delivery. The company's leadership team convened to explore various acquisition methods for a new Business Information System (BIS) that could seamlessly integrate their supply chain, customer relationship management, and financial operations. After several deliberations, the decision was made to commission a bespoke development of a new information system. This choice was primarily influenced by the unique operational needs of managing renewable energy projects, which required customization beyond what available off-the-shelf solutions could offer. Moreover, they anticipated that a tailored solution would facilitate direct integration with their existing technologies and allow for scalability as the company grew. The project was spearheaded by Jennifer Mbatha, the newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO), who brought in a wealth of experience from leading similar projects in the technology and utility sectors. Under her leadership, the company engaged local software developers renowned for their proficiency in custom system builds. A primary goal was to follow a hybrid Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)-Agile approach to ensure both structured development phases and flexibility for incorporating changes based on ongoing feedback from users. As the development began, several factors were considered critical to the successful acquisition of the system. These included aligning the system functionalities with Ubuntu Solar's strategic objectives, ensuring user-friendliness to facilitate adoption by the staff, and implementing robust security measures to safeguard sensitive customer and financial data. Throughout the system development lifecycle, various stages such as feasibility assessment, systems analysis, design, and implementation were meticulously planned. Identify the main reasons Ubuntu Solar decided to develop a bespoke Business Information System instead of choosing an off-the-shelf solution.