To maintain a competitive edge and continue growing your business without impediments, it is necessary to have the right tools. Many businesses rely on software to perform their daily operations. Often, this software is of the commercial variety, meaning you and countless other businesses are using the same off-the-shelf programs to do business. While commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) may work for a select few, most businesses run into obstacles when using these standard programs. Custom software development differs from your run-of-the-mill commercial software.
Understanding Custom Software Development
Commercial off-the-shelf software is designed to provide a broad set of requirements which means it provides basic functions that most businesses look for in software. However, not all businesses are the same.
Custom software development focuses on meeting the specific needs of businesses, such as an equipment maintenance program designed for a specific manufacturer. Packaged commercial software often lacks many of the important tools and features that custom software possesses, making it an inferior option for growing businesses.
The Importance Of Custom Software Development
There are many benefits of acquiring off-the-shelf software and can be a viable option for start-ups. However, most businesses find that as their business grows, so do their needs for software which is able to scale and integrate easily with other systems.
Custom software gives businesses the ability to add new features, adjust functionality, integrate with new systems and avoid issues that can arise when their infrastructure expands and evolves.
Built To Support Processes More Efficiently
When you purchase commercial off-the-shelf software, you may discover that you need to do a lot of adjusting to make the program work the way you want it to. This can result in a lot of wasted time and in some cases, the software may never function as it should, based on your needs.
Custom software development is specifically designed to support your business’s unique process in a swift and productive manner. There is no need to adjust or modify your applications or waste time making the software work the way you want. Instead, the software is personalized from the very start.
Software That Can Scale With The Company
When choosing software for your business, you want to ensure that it can grow with your company. Businesses are not meant to remain stagnant over time and those that do often do not last long in the industry. To meet the needs of your growing and evolving business, you need custom software that can be modified to meet your ever-changing needs.
Software developers are able to assess the future needs of their clients and can design software that will grow as you grow. This can help prevent the need for purchasing and learning new commercial software each time a major change occurs.
Integration Costs Are Considerably Lower
Another major benefit of choosing custom software development services is lower integration costs compared to commercial software. When comparing software for your company, you need to ask yourself a very important question: Will the software work with my existing and legacy applications? If you answer no, then you may want to consider a custom solution, including application modernization.
Getting commercial software to properly communicate with your existing infrastructure can be a big investment, both time-wise and financially. Custom software can be built to seamlessly integrate into your existing environment which can save you time, stress, and even money in the long-run.
Independence From Software Vendors
Businesses that invest in custom software development can also benefit from the independence that comes from ditching commercial software. Without off-the-shelf software packages, companies can avoid hassles like price increases for support services and licensing. You can also avoid having to maintain the packaged software in the event that the vendor goes out of business or chooses to terminate the product.
However, there are also a few downsides to consider before choosing custom software. The expenses involved in maintaining and supporting custom software is left in the hands of the organization that created the software. That means you should take the time to ensure you are working with a reputable organization.
Speak To The Professional Custom Software Developers
No longer are businesses confined to commercial off-the-shelf software with its basic features and limited capabilities. With advancements in technology, companies have the option to personalize their software to meet the unique needs of their business and individual departments. While custom software might require an upfront investment to build the right solution, most companies find that the benefits of custom software are well worth the cost.
Business operations can be complex and every business has its own set of needs that can only be addressed through customization. For more information about professional custom software development, contact the expert custom software developers at Orases by calling 301.756.5527 or by scheduling a consultation online.
