Benefits of Custom Software Development

Today’s empowering world is driven by technology and its innovations. The IT technology space is already leveraging the benefits of custom software solutions in their organization. The proof of these ever-increasing custom software requirements is observed in many industries and domains.

Through the years, most businesses have understood how off the shelf software falls short to meet the customized and diversified buyers’ needs. This has definitely inclined businesses towards building custom software products and apps. This would help businesses to meet the specific business solution of every organization. Apart from exclusiveness, what does custom software development ensure?

Customized software development or bespoke app development or customization of apps, these are some of the common ways you address the development of bespoke apps within an organization. Traditionally, businesses had two options to develop an application- COTS (Custom Off the shelf software) and Bespoke Software Development. If a ready-made application fulfills all the business requirements then can be used for applications. Otherwise, the custom software works best for every business model because of scalability, flexibility, and customization.

Gartner’s research and records state the Custom software development service market is huge with a market size of $70 billion. Also, it is clearly growing at a rate of 5% per annum. Gartner

To clear this ambiguity of what customized software is and its advantages, let’s understand it from the grassroots level.

1. What is Custom Software Development?

Custom software development is a process of planning, designing, and creating an app that addresses the pressing priorities of the market imbibed in bespoke software. Customized software can be developed for all types of devices and operating systems as per your specific business needs.

All types of businesses can harness the power of software applications to automate workflows and perform critical functions. An organization can be of both types B2B, and B2C that can use bespoke software for their convenience and updates.

• Custom software solutions that include a specific technology to create unique apps that are scalable and easily upgradable.
• Fits perfectly to the custom needs and is typically innovative and unique.
• Software development teams can create bespoke apps in masses but it will still be unique for the concept and the intent of services that apps deliver.
• Custom apps can also be further customized if the app permits and is upgradable for various environments.

Now that we have diced each aspect of the custom software from all sides. But there are still instances where businesses are unsure of why they should use tailor made software applications.

2. Why Do Businesses Need Customized Software Solutions?

One of the prominent reasons why custom software applications are the need of an hour is because businesses are driven by customers’ needs. The first and foremost reason that businesses utilize custom software products is clearly to meet their unique business demands as opposed to what  ready made software offers. Businesses fail to achieve their objectives and one of the key reasons is off the shelf software solutions. Thus the application differs in terms of functions with other changing market needs. Here are some of the reasons why businesses use custom software solutions for long run business operations.

• To easily meet unique business requirements and streamline processes.
• Stand still with changing market dynamism.
• Provide easy app integration with existing systems.
• Gauge market trends to replace consolidated solutions and make them unique.
• Have a competitive advantage in comparison to peers.
• Make the app faster and responsive.
• Meet the privacy and security standards of developed custom software.

Now that you know why businesses are turning more towards custom software apps and what do they expect from this approach. There is a constant hustle observed in businesses while deciding to “Build or buy”. So to give a clearer picture, our team decided to invest time and filter out the top 5 benefits that a business will receive if they opt for software development.

3. What are the Advantages of Custom Software Development Projects?

3.1 Focused on Business Needs

For specific business requirements that customers have, they can prepare a document named as a Software requirements specification. Undoubtedly businesses have the option of readily available apps with fully functional features but it doesn’t ensure to fulfill all types of business processes. Thus instead of canning applications, businesses choose to personalize their solution by contracting outsourcing partners. 

Personalization in the custom application is an added advantage for businesses to smoothly handle their daily operations. So personalized software development is an ideal choice for business that caters to unique needs, enhances productivity, hassle-free management, and higher business profitability.

3.2 Focused Business Agenda

Custom applications strongly promote the enhancement of business apps using in-house expertise or third party business. COTS show faster results and specific benefits but software apps’ benefits are huge. It comes with a focused approach and commitment to meet deadlines, project schedules, quality benchmarks, and updated technology scopes.

A focused bespoke software development company would offer successful results. A good software developer will bring out the following traits in your bespoke software application.

• Consistent- This means the app will remain updated throughout the market & changing technologies.
• Complete- You can convey the complete picture of ideating the software.
• Crystal Clear- All functions and designs of the developed apps are clear and unambiguous to use.
• Modular- You can change and modify the processes as per the changing business requirements.
• Traceable- This will allow you to easily patent, track and uniquely identify the app.
• Competitive edge-This enables organizations to have an upper hand compared to competitors.
• Cost-effectiveness- Organizations benefit in terms of software development cost when they choose this.

3.3 Scalability & Reliability

Custom software strongly needs flexibility and constant growth to withstand market trends. So to easily accommodate change businesses need to change their processes, modify their approach, and enable the integration for a seamless flow of the application. Scalability in custom software has all rights reserved for businesses to allow ease of app advancement and meet cutting-edge business-specific needs.

3.4 Improved Security

Security is one of the key aspects for businesses to opt for customized software services. The off-the-shelf application might offer multiple features but may not offer enhanced security as compared to custom apps. When you build custom software, you make sure that the developed app is highly secure and no attempt of any kind of breach will affect the business data.

Specifically, as an example of industries like finance, medical or legal, data protection is of utmost importance. Due to the sensitive nature of these records, data security in custom app development services is extremely essential. Thus, you cannot oversee the benefits of custom software applications. Custom app development solution facilitates businesses with higher potency of utilizing security standards, safeguard app development and prevent any unforeseen vulnerabilities.

3.5 Room for Improvement

If off-the-shelf- apps are compared with custom software applications then in any case you cannot add functionalities in ready-made apps. However, in custom software applications, they have a high scope of improvement in their apps and can be changed and modified as per the changing needs. 

Companies can upscale their business and tap on all the potential opportunities using software apps. This is an efficient way to grow and expand your business with higher productivity obtained from software apps. The flexibility and scalability of apps allow a business to adhere to all standards and trends of the market. So your onus on all source codes like enhance functionality, make improvements on the codes, customize, upgrade, and maintain apps as per the changing business processes. 

4. What are the Disadvantages of Custom Software?

As the coin has two sides, similarly for bespoke software apps. Let’s see what are some of the disadvantages it offers.

4.1 Expensive

Small and medium-sized companies hesitate to take up custom software development because of the cost of initial investment. This is one of the reasons why businesses restrict themselves from adopting it. Also, there are certain COTS options available in a company that makes their tasks easier.

4.2 Time-consuming

Developing a bespoke software app comes with time constraints. It takes more than the time expected and most of the businesses look for long-term business benefits within a short time. Hence they can’t wait for such lengthy business processes. So they expect cheaper software solutions that decrease the possibility of complicated issues that consume time.

4.3 Demands Proper Planning

The custom software comes with unique features, setup, and implementation tactics. Thus your business infrastructure needs  to make a complete plan to execute the whole plan of developing software solutions.

4.4 Dependency on Technical Proficients

If you decide to go for custom software development, then your company would need high-skilled professionals for these bespoke requirements. Off-the-shelf application is convenient and easily provides faster benefits to businesses. But for software apps, you would need specialized skills within your company to configure, build, and achieve efficiency more than the existing ready-made apps. 

4.5 Inactive Business Visibility

For custom software, you need to contract with third-party companies that are high-skilled, manage the development process well, and reduce risks. So Taking a deeper look into the implementation process, scope, functions, and updates is must for business. Outsourcing restricts businesses from having clear visibility in the internal process. This lacks their vision of app development, its advancement, functionality changes, and future scope in the market.

5. Conclusion

Custom Software is a key differentiator for most of the businesses that take advantage of them. Yes, it is a business strategy that has benefited most of the business in aspects relating to technology, cost, and time. If you are investing your time and effort, it should be worth it and hence choose the right outsourcing partner. Collaborate with a partner that is efficient and supportive at all phases of the business lifecycle. A custom software development company can help you accomplish faster business results with a higher rate of successful customers.