Custom software development is an approach in which applications or other solutions are developed specifically for customer needs. Unlike standard products, these applications are not for a wide audience. In terms of outsourcing, bespoke production can be developed both by the internal team and by third parties.
Out-of-the-box solutions bring the range of commonly used features to the market. Bespoke software development companies target individual customer needs. For example, Skype meets the needs of many users, but even so, it may not meet the specific requirements of each.
NEED FOR CUSTOMIZED SOFTWARE
The first question that arises here is why not use the standard solutions? There are many reasons for this. First, custom tools are eagerly developed to meet your requirements and needs. Custom developed, it has no useless features that you can deal with as it has commonly used applications. In terms of the evolution and expansion of your business, custom software is the part that also evolves. This type of program is flexible for the characteristics and details of the product. And that is the reason why companies of different branches, from private to government, are using customized programs.
Unlike common tools developed for the masses, custom development is accompanied by specialized support. This makes it possible to provide stable application work and, in the case of problems, an instantaneous reaction. For the avoidance of doubt, here are some brilliant examples of custom software usage.
Amazon, eBay, etc.
The two largest e-commerce platforms in the world, such as eBay and Amazon, are excellent examples of bespoke software. Rather than simply selling a variety of items using any of the out-of-the-box e-commerce solutions, these companies have developed their own bespoke e-commerce platform for connecting sellers and buyers. Its beauty is in its simple wearing experience.
Banking mobile app and online web apps
Most of us have used banking apps or are at least familiar with their work in general. This is the brilliant example of a custom developed application on your device. No bank is allowed to use lateral programming or share it with its competitors. Instead, they will try to tailor the functionality of their program to get the best customer experience.
In short, any application that is designed for a particular customer / business can be seen as an example of custom software.
However, each solution has its advantages and also its difficulties. You should not be afraid of this fact. But being aware means being prepared.
ADVANTAGES OF CUSTOMIZED SOFTWARE
Wherever you look, any solution will have its good and bad sides. The same is here: having great profit as a result, during the development process it will accompany with some problems. However, the advantages and disadvantages of custom software are easily recognizable and the most important are detailed below.
1. Your personal solution
That is a common situation when businesses are licensed by their vendor, but then it becomes clear that this solution is not suitable for the business. Each company has different business requirements. The result of cooperation with the custom development provider: the product that meets all your needs. Companies often try to adapt to the programs they use. Here you are doing the exact opposite – creating the tool that will stay on the rails of your workflow. Developing custom programs will keep you competitive. In addition, it has a significant influence on your work rhythm since its functionality adapts to your needs. Having a solution like this will free you from “sharing” the tools with your opponents. With bespoke business solutions, you will be guaranteed that the software makes a meaningful fit for all your business needs.
2. Updates and support
Custom applications are welcomed for their scalability and adaptation to general business changes. Obtaining a custom application is not dependent on the vendor’s development work plan. You are in charge of all necessary updates and upcoming enhancements. Working with the in-house developer team is efficient in the case of close personalized support, as the team is aware of your individual requirements. Regarding the adaptation to the existing server environment, the customized program does not need a specific hosting. You no longer need to pay double to rent it because you will have one created specifically for you. In the case of standard solutions, you never know if the company faces bankruptcy. If that happens, your entire structure based on third-party software will be ruined as well. To prevent that from happening, custom software coexists with your business.
3. Security guarantee
Using a common product is quite risky. If someone tries to hack the program, everyone who uses it may be in danger and their personal data is vulnerable. Custom software can only be hacked with targeted attack. Your application may have additional security measures to ensure your safety. A custom service application development company can also improve the integration of its solution with other tools. It makes your team’s work much more intuitive and easy. Custom applications are often protected from external threats. The first reason that hacking attempts on commonly used programs are successful is that the perpetrators are familiar with the code of that program. Custom tools are less affected by hacking, as it will take much more time and effort to break them. The custom software is specially made to run on your business and hardware. It is almost never the case that several commonly used programs interact perfectly and seamlessly with each other; Licensing of commercial programs that are not tailor-made for the software environment your company runs in can lead to a drop in productivity for your employees as they continually experience errors and are unable to complete their work effectively. .
4. Gradual production
Custom production can be produced step by step. This will also allow you to gradually move forward into production and fine-tune your custom software during the development process based on experience and user feedback received in earlier development stages.
You should remember that in custom development the 80/20 rule can also be applied. This rule states that 80% of users use 20% of the functionality. Your goal is to define this 20%, even if you create the program for internal needs and are short on time. Custom applications are more scalable and have the ability to grow with your business. With a ready-to-use product, you generally run into the problem that the software is inexpensive to buy but not suitable for large companies or that the software can support large-scale companies but very expensive to license.
DISADVANTAGES OF CUSTOMIZED SOFTWARE
1. Time and energy
People are rarely aware of the needs of their business. Sometimes it will take some time to do an internal research on it, to see its characteristics. Custom tools are meaningless if they don’t match those characteristics. Ready-made solutions, in this case, are good because of their versatility. All you have to do is buy it, adapt it, and keep working.
2. High initial cost
It may seem that buying 100 licenses for a year is cheaper than developing your own solution. And it really is. The initial cost is relatively high, but what if you had to extend the number of users, plus the support price, plus the price for, say, three years and you will find that the custom program is much more attractive? in the long-term perspective.
3. Less possibilities
It has already been said that standard programs are designed to meet the needs of the masses. In terms of business development, it is a great opportunity. As for small equipment, it is very convenient to have the solution like this because sometimes pre-made products have characteristics that may even surprise their user.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Almost every successful business on its evolutionary path becomes the scenario in which specific software is required for its most profitable existence. Most companies don’t bother too much and provide their staff with, for example, ready-to-use tools. But as said, it cannot match 100%. Sometimes it has a large number of functions that are never used. Sometimes it lacks. You will never guess. But still, most of the time it is chosen as the solution for one reason: affordable price. The second is time. You just buy it. At the same time, custom development will require a bit of time and effort. The advantages and disadvantages of custom software are not limited to the list above, of course.
But despite the downsides, the benefits are still paramount. The first and foremost fact about having custom software is that it will be tailored to your needs and requirements so that it works exactly the way you need it. The result of its operation will not only be 100% delivered, it can also be very useful. However, in that case, the experienced team is required for its development to translate your ideas. Of course, you can leave this task, as your own application development, to your internal IT department. But as it happens, the teams available are specialists in one sphere but not ready for a step like application development. That is a common situation, which is why for custom software development, outsourcing is frequently used.