Custom Software Development Services: Pros & Cons
Businesses need software solutions to deliver to clients more and run their affairs better. When it comes to the software, you can either get the off-the-shelf or custom-made software. The off-the-shelf software is ready-made to fit general functions. Custom software development services enable businesses to design software to fit their use.
You could be having a hard time selecting the best option for your business or unit functions. Several factors determine the viable option for your company. These include; the size of your business, plans, the complexity of your work, finances, and so on. Also, the pros and cons of either option are key in making the choice. In this article, we discuss some of the pros and cons of custom software. These will enable you to test and determine the best way to go for your business.
Pros of Custom Software Development Services
Improved security
Due to the common properties of the off-the-shelf software, it becomes a target for hackers. They have a higher chance of finding a way through your software, and into your systems. But custom software reduces the chances of intrusion as the main users are your team. While building the software, you can opt to have inbuilt security.
Ease of operation
Custom software is easy to operate as it only has enough features for your business needs. Off-the-shelf software may have more than necessary features to fit any business. These may be overwhelming for the system yet not every tool is in use. Ease of use allows you to automate repetitive tasks, reducing business costs and improving business productivity.
You have control of the entire process
When you start a custom software development project, you have control over the program’s design. But you also get a chance to determine the software’s features and when the development team can release updates. Yes, there are times when you will want to work together with your software development team to roll out updates. Having custom software makes it easier for your software development team to respond to your business’s new and growing needs.
Return on investment
At first, the custom software option seems very expensive due to the prior investment. Also, you might end up incurring an annual cost for a license. This may seem a lot, but you will end up getting higher returns in the long run. Custom software improves productivity, which increases your returns. In the end, the software will pay for itself and reward the business.
Customization
According to the Kansas City software development company experts Active Logic, off-the-shelf software has generic properties. This helps to fit the category for which the developer created it. But the developer may not have built it around your business needs. This is because it might not fit the exact operations in your business. Specific problems need specific solutions. During creation, you can also discover other opportunities to enhance the software. The unique features you create on your software may also give you a competitive edge.
Compatibility
When you introduce the software to the business, you could be having other tools in place or new ones coming. You want all the tools to work together. To ensure data transfer from one tool to another, you may also have to create interfaces. Such functions are hard to find in ready-made software. However, this is not the case with custom software, as you can easily get the functions you need.
Flexibility
In case of business changes, the developer can enhance the features of your software. But off-the-shelf software remains constant with minimal chance of manipulation. You have to wait for the company to optimize their properties to enjoy better services, making custom software better. Ensure you include maintenance in the contract if you’re outsourcing a building team.
Cons
Time-consuming
Developers build custom software from scratch, which takes a lot of time to complete. The business explains the wants to creators, the custom software development company builds it and runs tests. Off-the-shelf options are available for business, and they have undergone all the tests and are ready for use. But custom options might have you waiting for months or even years.
Too expensive
A considerable investment is necessary to have custom software in your business. You may have to buy high-end servers, more hardware, and run updates for efficiency. As earlier discussed, good custom software will bring a return to the business. But this may be overwhelming to some companies that may not survive until return.
Managing your software development project
To manage the challenges of custom software development, most companies outsource this task to a specialized custom software development company. Now, the custom software development company gathers specific information from the client regarding their goals and needs. This information is vital in making the necessary plans to deliver the final custom software. The company can even provide tutorials to help your business and IT team on the best ways to use the new software.
Last words on Custom Software Development Services:
Suppose you want to balance the benefits and drawbacks of custom software development. In that case, it’s imperative to choose a software development company or hire offshore developers with a wide range of skills and experience in custom software development. Only such a company can give you the balance you need in terms of product quality and price.
