Table 1.

Advantages and disadvantages of the currently available ways to acquire registry software^a

Option	Advantages	Disadvantages	Example
Partnership: work with a ‘partner’ registry which has developed an IT system designed for registries.	Inexpensive. Partner has previously encountered potential difficulties.	The system may not support the business processes in your registry. Partner registry may always prefer their own interests and their own requests for change. IT support may be an issue.	The New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Singapore Bone Marrow Donor Program and Thai Stem Cell Donor Registry use the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry software system.
Home grown: develop new software with the registry’s ‘in-house’ IT team.	Independence. “Made-to-measure” solution.	Costly and time-consuming. High level of expertize is needed. Often exceeds project plan and budget.	NMDP/Be The Match, ZKRD, France Greffe de Moelle (FGM), Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (IBMDR), Australian BMDR and others have their own IT team who develop their own software solutions.
Commercial system.	Clear customer–vendor relationship (deadlines, guarantees, budget limit). Experience of other users of the system. The supplier guarantees implementation of changes on schedules set by the community.	Limited number of vendors exists. The prices charged may be high if the registry has limited funding.	Registries in Belgium, Finland, Sweden, South Africa and the UK (BBMR) use a commercial system.

^aAdopted from WMDA handbook with permission