Customized software and off-the-shelf software are the two main options to choose from when it comes to business applications that enhance productivity and efficiency. Small and middle-sized business owners should think about the differences between the two before choosing the option that best fits them.
If your business is designed to target a particular niche, finding solutions for daily business operations, for business development, or for customer service should get in the hands of specialized software designers. One of the major advantages of customized software development is providing the full set of features required to cover the needs of your business.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of customized software to help you decide whether it is the right choice for your business or not.
Although commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) packaged solutions are often cheaper, being made for the masses results in extra costs over time due to their inefficiencies. Not to mention any ongoing maintenance and subscription fees.
Customized software gives businesses the freedom to use and modify their application to meet the needs and also allows complete control of the software. Custom software will also allow future personalization to meet the company’s specific expectations.
Businesses invest in custom software development to obtain a unique asset, because they have different operational needs or because they can use their technological advantages to differentiate their business from the competition.
Your custom solution is something that your competition can’t have. And as long as it’s well-designed by your development team you should see yourself getting ahead of your competitors in no time.
Choosing to hire professionals to create and implement customized software means you’re only paying for the complexity of the features that are necessary for your operations. And you’re not getting anything you don’t need. This is a major advantage, but it may also mean higher initial investments and also more time and effort.
Given the extra time to implement, with customized software development you will likely find that you’ll be able to use the application for all of its features more efficiently in the long run. Also, keep in mind that COTS solutions are not as easily modified or upgraded as customized ones.
Custom application development companies pay particular attention to security measures, while off-the-shelf software can be more easily hacked. This may lead to access to sensitive business data by using application vulnerabilities.
The safety of a business is one of the main priorities of every owner. All companies are focused on long-term relationships with each of their clients, and customized software brings a higher level of data protection.
But on the other hand, you must be careful to choose the right development team. Unprofessional and low-quality solutions may result in blown budgets and missed deadlines, which are crucial for the future of any business. That is why you shouldn’t rush when choosing a developer. Overpaying at this stage wouldn’t particularly be a problem since it’s better than getting a custom software solution that doesn’t meet your requirements.
Customized software development gives you the ability to adjust to changing conditions. And in case of need, the development company can always adapt your app to the ever-changing business environment.
Haven’t yet decided what would best fit your business’ needs? That’s okay. building something from scratch is not always easy and there are plenty of hybrid solutions that allow you to take off-the-shelf software and customize portions of the existing framework to meet your requirements.