Using software in business management is a familiar thing. Even more, it is easier to imagine running a business with software. By automating processes, work is accelerated, the risk of human error is eliminated, and so forth.
But when it comes to choosing software, entrepreneurs choose between buying off-the-shelf software or hiring a software development agency to develop software geared specifically for their business. Let’s break down what custom software is and go into more detail.
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What is Custom Software Development?
Custom software development is a process of building software tailored to a particular need of an enterprise or person. The custom software aims to provide features and functionality that will automate and facilitate some processes, jobs, and tasks. At the time, it relieves the employees’ workload and helps them concentrate on other business-related tasks.
Addressing particular needs is the core difference between custom and off-the-shelf solutions. So let’s view what else differentiates these two approaches.
Custom vs. Off-The-Shelf Software
When buying an off-the-shelf solution, you buy a limited and defined feature set, while custom software allows you to customize the app and outfit it with the feature required for the business. Yet, paying for the off-the-shelf solution means paying for the features one will not use in practice.
We’re not saying that out-of-the-box software is a bad idea. On the contrary, it’s good and works well for small businesses where the demand is primary and can be addressed with pre-made CRM, Excel Sheets, etc. But as the industry evolves, the need for automated processes increases too, and the off-the-shelf software may need to be tighter to fit the demand. So here goes the custom software development.
Custom software creation allows space to add the features needed for efficient business running. Moreover, with the company growing, the software can be scaled, and new parts and functionalities may be implemented.
Yet, there’s something else to the differences. These two approaches run counter concerning cost, deployment timeframe, security, and maintenance. So, we listed them in the table to simplify the perception.
| Distinction point | Out-Of-The-Box Solution | Custom Software Solution |
| Features and Functionality | Defined by a particular software | Customizable pivoting on the business needs |
| Scaling | Low scalability that requires efforts | High scalability with the opportunity to add new features and functionality as the demand arises |
| Costs | It gets more expensive if one utilizes software on a long-run basis but cheaper in the short run | Contrary, cheaper in the long run and more expensive in the short run |
| Deployment Timeframe | Variable relying on the task | Quick in most cases |
| Secuirity | Ensured the high-level | Lacks in security id compared to ready-made software |
| Support and Maintenance | Maintenance is a care of the software provider | Provided by the product’s or the third-party developer |
Benefits of the Custom software development
If one finds themselves in a situation where the out-of-the-box software is failing to meet their needs but is still trying to decide whether going for custom software is a good idea, here’s the list of benefits that will aid in making up one’s mind.
Less Expensive if Used Long-Term
Expense is a crucial point to consider when you want to make a wise choice between ready-made software and custom software.
The ready one obliges to pay a fee for the whole package of features regardless of whether they will be used. Moreover, some platforms set the costs for each user to use the medium. Consequently, the monthly payment reaches quite a significant sum, which may strain the company’s pocket.
Regarding custom software development, you pay only for the development services and use the software limitlessly.
Scaling and Updates
The benefit of custom software development is that upon request, the software development services agency can scale the software or fix bugs if they are found. Also, in terms of speed, it’ll be quicker than the off-the-shelf software because you can contact the development team directly. Thus, the lack of functionality or bugs won’t be a long-run issue for running the business.
As for the ready-made software, the bug fixing and updates are carried out according to the developer’s plan. Therefore, it may take a while until the desired feature appears or a bug is fixed.
Easier to Adopt
Another benefit of custom software being tailored to the business needs – it’s easier to operate since it has only requested features, integrations, etc. However, for out-of-the-box software, the user must navigate several features, learn the user’s path to reach the goal, etc. Sometimes, hiring a training specialist is required to adopt the software.
Security Matters
Due to ethical concerns and the law, security should be ensured at the highest possible level. Leakages may severely insult business, which is why we considered this point in the article.
When it comes to security, there’s no one-for-all way to ensure it. Security measures in the custom software can be customized based on the regulation a business is to follow in a specific industry. On the other hand, ready-made software may need to catch up to the actions to safeguard the data appropriately.
The Best Way to Search for a Custom Software Developer
Finding a development studio can be divided into three stages: a general search, a technical examination, and an interview.
General Search
A general search involves an initial examination and selection of candidates using various channels to search, including Google. To see if a company is right for you, visit their website, review case studies, and go to the company’s clutch page and reviews. The cases will help you understand if the company has expertise in a similar area, and clutch will tell you about the cooperation experience of other customers. This way, you can make a selection of suitable developers.
Technical Examination
You can examine these developers’ technical stack when you already have a pool of selected agencies. Companies may work with different technologies and tools, so it is essential to pay attention to this. This way, your list of development companies will become even shorter. In addition, you can schedule interviews with companies that meet your requirements coming from these two steps.
Interviews
Interviews are a great way to learn more about a company deeper. Learn about their methods and approaches to work, individual qualities, and much more. During the interviews, you also have a chance to discuss an idea, find out what the company can offer you, agree on any aspects of the work, etc.
However, if you want to avoid spending time on searching, there’s a solution.
A Reliable Custom Software Development Agency
We have good news for you – you can save time looking for a reliable team to develop a custom one because the solution is already found – Celadon. Our team develops software for businesses in different industries, uses a comprehensive technological stack, and, most importantly, is focused on the success of your business. Entrusting us with the development of software, you can be sure that your goals will be achieved, and you will get software that fully meets your needs, works smoothly and rapidly, and is easy to operate.
