At Vertical Advantage, we’ve been hiring digital talent for consumer brands and agencies for over a decade, and in that time, the landscape has evolved dramatically.
We’ve helped numerous brands build digital, marketplace, and eCommerce teams from scratch as they bring capabilities in-house. But timing this transition isn’t always straightforward.
On one hand, the benefits of an internal team are clear -greater ownership, (potentially) lower costs, increased digital expertise, and the ability to move faster.
However, digital skills evolve rapidly, and agency support remains essential. In fact, between 32-39% of UK employees believe their skillset will be obsolete within five years – a sign of just how quickly the space is shifting. Agencies, by nature, keep pace with these changes, especially as AI reshapes the industry.
So, what should businesses consider when deciding whether to build an internal digital team or continue leveraging agency support?
Key Considerations
1. Assessing Your Current Digital Capability
Bringing in junior talent without an experienced leader to guide them often sets them up for failure. We frequently hear candidates frustrated that they report to someone with less expertise than them, which drives them to look elsewhere. Hiring a senior leader – ideally someone with experience on both the agency and brand side – is crucial to building a successful team.
2. Training & Development
According to Capgemini, 55% of digital professionals say learning & development is their biggest motivator for a job change. Without strong leadership and access to ongoing training, retention becomes a challenge. Ensuring your team has opportunities to grow- both internally and through external training- should be a priority.
3. Strategy & Leadership Buy-in
Your decision to expand your in-house digital team should be driven by your broader business strategy.
- If D2C is still in a “test & learn” phase for your brand, agency support may be the better option.
- If your Amazon/marketplace presence is growing, an agency with dedicated expertise in logistics, SEO, content, paid media, and technology integrations might be more cost effective than hiring multiple specialists internally.
At Vertical Advantage, we take a consultative approach, helping brands assess whether a permanent hire is the right move or if agency support would be more effective at their current stage.
We also have a network of trusted agency partners, so if an external team is the best fit for now, we’re happy to connect you with the right experts.
And if you need a permanent hire later down the line? We’re here when you need us.
