In today’s competitive business environment, companies need to decide how they are going to approach powering their operations with software. There are two main considerations in the world of software selection, namely custom software developed for the specific needs of the company or off-the-shelf options, which are more readily available.
In the following guide, you will find more information about the pros and cons of custom software and off-the-shelf solutions. That way you will know which one fits your company’s processes and needs to stay ahead of the competition.
What is custom software?
Custom software, also known as bespoke software, is made from the ground up for a business according to its specific needs and unique operations. The main goal is to ensure it fits the specific preferences and unique workflow and integration requirements. It closely aligns with the business model and strategies of the company, enabling growth, scalability and efficiency.
What is the custom development process?
The process of adopting custom software is more involved and often requires working with a specialised custom software developer.
Choosing a software developer
Most companies cannot develop their own custom software solutions. It is a matter of having the right expertise, which is exactly what custom software developers provide. This is the first and most important step – finding the right custom software development partner that shares the same business values and has the potential to deliver the right software solution. You need to evaluate your options and what they offer before drawing a software development agreement.
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Setting your goals
Creating custom software solutions is not a straightforward process and it requires a comprehensive evaluation of the company’s needs and specific requirements. At this stage, software developers converse with the client to find out more about the company’s needs and corporate objectives. It is a collaborative effort that aims to cover aspects of the project, such as scope, development approach, timelines, necessary resources, etc.
Designing and planning
The stage at which planning and designing the custom software occurs is where the software developer utilises their resources and expertise. They create a detailed map of the software, with all of its required features, interfaces and elements. They customise it to fully fit the needs of the business and ensure the user experience is easy to use and smooth. The developer works very closely with the client for frequent input and tweaking of the software.
Testing
Once the final software architecture is finalised, the developers move on to construct and test the software. At this phase, the developer needs to ensure the software solutions run seamlessly and are user-friendly. Before they officially release the software, they put the solutions through thorough testing and fix problems and vulnerabilities. Testing and quality assurance are vital to guarantee there are no software malfunctions.
Deployment and ongoing support
The final step of the process is deploying the custom software and providing ongoing maintenance. That is when the service is officially released and added to the company’s operational ecosystem.
The advantages of custom software
It’s custom-tailored
Custom software solutions fit a company’s unique business processes and specific workflows, user roles and business goals. The company does not need to adapt their processes to the software, because it’s already designed to fit them perfectly.
Flexible
Custom software allows for modification and expansion as the business evolves and changes. This kind of adaptability makes the software relevant in the long term.
Competitive edge
Custom software gives a company a competitive edge because of the added functionality and improvement in user experience not available in competitors.
Own solutions
Custom software is owned by the company that uses the solution. They have full control over it and can decide how it’s used and modified.
Cost benefits
While custom software requires an up-front investment, it is more cost-effective in the long run. It creates more efficient processes and enables greater savings.
Integration
Custom software can be integrated with other software solutions the company already uses. This seamless integration allows the data to move from one system to another and reduces the need for manual data entry.
Disadvantages of custom software
Higher investment cost
Custom software solutions require a higher upfront investment. It takes a lot of resources to develop such software from scratch and not every company out there is ready to commit.
It takes a longer development time
Sometimes developing custom software requires a long time, often measured in months. This may not be a feasible timeframe for companies in dire need of immediate solutions.
Developer dependency
Custom software can sometimes be heavily reliant on the developer for support, updates and maintenance. If the developer goes out of business, further use of the software might be at risk.
What is off-the-shelf software?
Off-the-shelf software contains solutions, which are pre-packaged and available to a wider audience of companies with common needs. The solutions are ready-made and can be utilised by anyone who purchases them.
Off-the-shelf software is developed with one goal in mind: to serve the most common tasks of its potential users. The features it comes with are available for all users.
Advantages of off-the-shelf software
Immediate solutions
Off-the-shelf software is readily available and can be deployed immediately after purchase. This is of use for businesses that require a solution right away.
Low initial price
Packaged software has a lower cost than custom software. The development costs are covered and spread across many users, which makes it more affordable.
Disadvantages of off-the-shelf software
Generic solutions
Off-the-shelf software only caters to the most basic needs of a company. It may not be a good fit for more specific needs.
No competitive edge
Off-the-shelf software is available to all, meaning that there is no way to leverage different technology to separate one’s business from their competitors. There is no unique selling point as an advantage.
In conclusion
Custom software solutions have an edge over off-the-shelf software in many areas of business. While they do require an upfront investment and some time to develop, custom software solutions are developed to give a company the ultimate edge over competitors and to make their operations much more efficient over the long run.