I just came back from a major retail event, where I had the chance to talk with several other software development companies. Each time, I asked the same question: how does AI affect your business, positively or negatively? Does it increase or decrease demand?
Here is the biggest takeaway from those conversations, and what is coming by 2030 in software development in Québec.
Quick answer
AI is lowering the cost and time of custom software so much that more and more SMBs are dropping their SaaS (Monday, Asana, Pipedrive, Salesforce) to build their own solution, which they own. That is what we call the SaaSpocalypse. My prediction: hundreds, even thousands of Québec SMBs will build their own custom web applications by 2030.
Summary: the answers in 30 seconds
- ✓What held SMBs back? Return on investment: hard to justify $150,000 for a CRM or ERP, with months of development.
- ✓What did they do instead? They paid for a SaaS (Monday, Asana, Pipedrive, Salesforce), sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars a month, for a solution they don't own.
- ✓What is changing? AI cuts costs and delays: software can be built in a few weeks for a fraction of the price.
- ✓Is custom software more expensive? Upfront, yes, because it has to be built. In the long run, no: no more monthly subscription per user.
- ✓An example? I built my own CRM in two weeks with two Oriana Solutions developers: only the features I need, and no monthly fee apart from hosting and tokens.
- ✓Why is it an advantage? Software built around how you work becomes a competitive advantage.
Why did so few SMBs build their own software?
For several years, what stopped many SMBs was quantifying the return on investment. It was hard to face a board of directors and say: we will invest $150,000 in a new CRM, an ERP or a scheduling system.
Software development was expensive and slow: building software could take months. So companies put the idea on hold, abandoned it, or chose instead to pay for a SaaS (software as a service) such as Monday, Asana, Pipedrive or Salesforce.
How much does a SaaS really cost in the long run?
By choosing a SaaS, many companies still end up paying several hundred dollars, even thousands of dollars a month, for American technology solutions they don't even own.
That era is ending. We call it the SaaSpocalypse. For a comparison, see our article Salesforce or a custom CRM?.
At the scale of a large company, Zylo's 2026 index shows that only 54% of SaaS licenses are used, which represents on average $19.8 million of wasted spend a year.
The word SaaSpocalypse appeared in February 2026, when software vendors' stocks fell sharply after the arrival of AI agents such as Claude Cowork, launched in January.
Can you really build your own software today?
I see more and more people around me, myself included, dropping their SaaS to build their own solution in-house.
In my case, I built my own CRM in two weeks, with the help of two Oriana Solutions developers. It is a mix between Pipedrive and Salesforce (see also our article on the CRM built with vibe coding).
The advantage? I only have the features I need, instead of paying for software of which I use 20% of the features. And apart from hosting and tokens, I pay no monthly fee: I literally own the solution.
A competitive advantage
When you build your own solution, it becomes a huge competitive advantage. Example: JA Hypothèque created its own management software, and mortgage brokers now want to go work there, just for that tool.
SaaS or custom software: what is the difference?
| SaaS (Monday, Asana, Pipedrive, Salesforce) | Custom software | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low or none: you subscribe and start | Higher: an investment to build the solution |
| Monthly fees | Recurring, often per user | Hosting and tokens only |
| Long-term cost | It builds up every month and grows with the number of users | Lower: the investment is paid off and there is no more subscription |
| Ownership | You rent | You own the solution |
| Features | Many, of which about 20% are used | Only the ones you need |
| Time to start | Immediate | A few weeks |
| Competitive advantage | The same as your competitors | Built for the way you work |
Key takeaway: more expensive upfront, cheaper in the long run
- 1A custom software solution requires a higher investment upfront, because it has to be built. But it costs less in the long run: once built, you only pay for hosting and tokens, instead of a subscription that builds up every month and grows with every user you add. The longer you keep the tool, the more the gap works in your favor.
When a SaaS is still the right choice
For a very small team with a standard need, a SaaS often remains the best option: no development, immediate start. Custom software becomes interesting when you pay a lot for a tool of which you use only a small part, or when it doesn't fit the way you work (see also Salesforce or a custom CRM?).
What will happen by 2030?
My prediction: with costs and delivery times dropping, hundreds, even thousands of SMBs will gradually decide to build their own custom web applications.
We already see it. Several companies contact us and tell me: "Mathieu, back then I was quoted $150,000 for the same project. Now I know I can get it for 10 times less." And they are entirely right.
Analysts are divided on the scale of the phenomenon, but the trend is there: according to Gartner comments reported in July 2026, about 20% of what companies had planned to spend on software could shift to AI-driven alternatives by 2030.
What is Oriana Solutions' vision?
In short, this is why, at Oriana, our mission is to bring to life the ideas that transform tomorrow's world. But above all, our vision is to make custom software accessible to everyone.
Because we believe every business should be able to own its own software to support its growth, and not only big multinational companies.
What is the SaaSpocalypse?
It is the movement by which companies drop their subscription software (SaaS) to build their own solution, made far more affordable and fast thanks to AI.
Why build your own CRM instead of paying for a SaaS?
Because you keep only the features you need instead of paying for software of which you use 20%, and you own the solution: apart from hosting and tokens, there are no monthly fees.
How long does it take to build a custom CRM?
In my case, two weeks, with the help of two Oriana Solutions developers.
How much does custom software cost today?
Much less than before: several clients tell us they were quoted $150,000 for the same project, and now get it for about 10 times less. A first version of a web application starts at $5,000 with us.
Which SMBs benefit from building their own software?
Those paying several hundred or thousand dollars a month for a SaaS of which they use only a small part, or whose way of working doesn't fit their tool.
Ready to replace a SaaS with your own software?
Tell us about the tool you pay for today. We tell you what it would cost to build it to your needs, at a clear price.
Sources
- 1.Zylo : 2026 SaaS Management Index · Only 54% of SaaS licenses are used in the average enterprise, i.e. $19.8M of wasted spend a year
- 2.SDxCentral: Gartner reckons AI agents will swipe $234B from software vendors by 2030 · Article of July 3, 2026 reporting Gartner's comments
- 3.Long Angle : Software vs. AI Q1 2026, SaaSpocalypse Examined · Timeline of the 2026 software stock sell-off
