Working notes
Does this need a plugin, custom code or neither?
The best solution is not always the most impressive build. I'm happy writing code. I still want a reason to write it.
The short answer
Use the simplest thing that reliably solves the job. That may be an existing plugin, focused custom development or a change to the process.
Why it matters
Some problems have a perfectly sensible existing solution. Others need a focused change because the business works differently from the assumptions in the software. The useful question is what solves the job without creating more responsibility than it removes.
Check the existing process first
A field might already exist, a setting might be wrong or the data may be reaching the site in an unhelpful format. I'd look at those before adding another layer.
Separating the data from the website problem can save a lot of unnecessary development.
Use a plugin when it fits the actual job
An existing tool can be the right choice when it covers the requirement, is appropriate for the site and can be maintained sensibly. I'd check the parts you need rather than judge it by the size of its feature list.
The cost is not just the licence. Configuration, compatibility, testing and the ongoing job of looking after it matter too.
Use focused code when the requirement is specific
A small reporting need or a particular catalogue rule may be better handled with custom work. Occupancy reporting is an example where the business question needed more than a standard order count.
Custom code is not maintenance-free either. It needs an owner, clear behaviour and a sensible way to test changes.
Tell me what you need to sort out
If you need this checked or fixed on a real site, send me the URL, a safe example and what you are trying to achieve.
Be willing to choose neither
Sometimes a corrected spreadsheet or a clearer workflow is enough. It doesn't need to become a software product just because it could.
I'd agree the outcome first, then choose the tool. That is the approach behind working with me and custom WooCommerce work.
HAVE SOMETHING AWKWARD?
Tell me what you need to sort out
Send me the URL, what is happening, what you have already tried and what a useful result would look like. A small anonymised sample is enough to start - do not send passwords, credentials or sensitive customer data.