an hybrid trade execution solution is really effective when deploying new models and I experienced that first hand.

also you can build one in a few hours (less with experience), and start harvesting right away whatever edge you think you have.

I am executing cross exchanges, different models, different markets, etc, and each have their own idiosyncrancies that I am only discovering when I've traded there for some time.

a simple mechanism:
button to push exposures > execution algo > exchange

at the end I can check if everything is executed accordingly.

sure I could automate that. and eventually I could. however, I sleep a bit better knowing I have both my control and also my risk manager at the same time.

also had I tried to automate 100% of everything first, I probably wouldn't still have finished it, and also, would've paid a pretty penny in errors I found when I was executing them.

but I understand I am trading edges that have low sensitivity to speed, which means I can do that. it would be different if what I traded was higher frequency in nature.

80/20 solutions that get you the quickest to harvest whatever effect you think you have.

caveat in there and why I don't compete at speed.