Blog | Jonathan Simpson & Co. | Jonathan Simpson & Co.

15 July 2026

Custom-built vs. off-the-shelf: which actually works better for growing businesses in Southeast Asia

Off-the-shelf tools promise speed, custom promises fit. For Southeast Asian SMEs with unique processes and platform risk, the conventional wisdom is backwards.

10 July 2026

Why off-the-shelf CRM systems fail for businesses with physical + digital operations

Most CRM tools are built for online-only, lead-based sales teams. For businesses that manage in-store, marketplace, and WhatsApp orders simultaneously, they break down fast.

8 July 2026

Why going custom is actually cheaper than 'discount' agencies for business-critical systems

Cheap agency builds at 5-10M Rupiah often require 6 months of fixes and a full rebuild later. A proper custom build at 15-20M works for years — here's the real cost comparison.

3 July 2026

How to rank for the searches that actually bring buyers, not just traffic

The difference between ranking for 'music shop' and 'electronics store in your city' is everything. Here's how to target the keywords that lead to sales.

1 July 2026

Your business has been open for years — why can't customers find it on Google?

Thousands of regional businesses have physical locations and loyal customers but remain invisible on Google. Here's why — and the practical steps to fix it.

26 June 2026

The hidden cost of spreadsheets for inventory: why mistakes happen even with careful people

Spreadsheet-based inventory management creates invisible costs through formula errors, version conflicts, and data reconciliation — regardless of how careful your team is.

24 June 2026

The hidden cost of managing orders in WhatsApp: what you're losing without a system

WhatsApp is Southeast Asia's default sales channel — but manual order management costs 10-20 hours per week in duplicate entries, missed messages, and staff turnover chaos.

19 June 2026

The hidden cost of Canva templates for your business website

Template-based websites feel cheap to start, but slow load times, missing features, and lack of ownership mean you'll rebuild within a year. Here's the real cost comparison.

17 June 2026

The hidden cost of 'affordable' SaaS tools: why 500K/month becomes 10M/year

Five 'cheap' SaaS subscriptions at 100-200K/month each quickly add up to millions — plus the hidden costs of integration, lock-in, and forced upgrades.

12 June 2026

The hidden cost of Amazon and Lazada for Southeast Asian sellers

International marketplaces like Amazon and Lazada come with currency conversion losses, cross-border logistics fees, and compliance costs that eat away at your margin.

10 June 2026

The hidden cost of TikTok Shop: why viral traffic can still mean losing money

TikTok Shop promises discovery and virality, but high return rates, algorithm dependency, and zero customer data ownership make profitability a moving target.

5 June 2026

How Shopee's algorithm traps sellers into a pay-to-play loop

Shopee's search algorithm increasingly rewards ad spend over organic quality. Here's how the visibility game works, what it costs, and how to break the cycle.

3 June 2026

The hidden cost of selling on Shopee: what your dashboard doesn't show you

Shopee's admin fees, shipping subsidies, and advertising costs silently eat 30-40% of your margin. Here's the real math behind the dashboard numbers.