Benefits of Custom Software Development
Custom development software is built to suit your company's specific needs, making it intelligent, intuitive, and adaptable. In short, custom software allows you to create a system that works just for you. It will help design efficient projects for your business, let you access data and work on the go from anywhere in the world at any time of day or night - providing your company with such a competitive edge that it’ll be hard to break into that space.
You see, custom software is different than the usual off-the-shelf programs that you find in stores. These programs are created to meet a specific need and are often very limited. They can't be altered or modified to become your own unique application. In some cases, they can't even be accessed without the internet!
What is Custom Software?
Most folks think the meaning of custom software is the same as branded commercial software; this means that someone else designed it and purchased it. While this is somewhat true, custom software doesn't have to be tied to such a large company. In fact, custom software can be a part of your own company, built directly to suit your needs.
The term custom software has been overused to the point where it no longer makes sense. It is not what it used to mean and most companies have not developed their own products. However, they are building their applications on top of someone else's application or service such as SharePoint or Office 365. Sometimes referred to as host-customized apps, these are a great means of keeping current while still providing something that you need and want out of the box.
What Custom Software is Not
The word custom indicates that the software was built to fit a specific purpose. It would be impossible for someone to create software that can fit any and all situations, so custom software is usually designed with a single purpose in mind. Sometimes it may be as simple as managing customer relationships, showing sales performance over time, or even assisting with processes and data flow.
Having said that, custom software doesn't have to be something out of this world. It is not the latest mobile app craze or the fanciest gadget on the market. Custom software isn't limited to large companies that have unlimited funds and huge development teams. In fact, it is often considered to be small, niche, or specialty software that helps improve efficiency for businesses of all sizes. Custom software is about creating something unique for your company rather than buying a program off the shelf.
Workflow in Custom Software
Custom software is built on an agile framework with an iterative approach. This means it's not written all at once but rather maintained over time. It works best when created with future updates and modifications in mind to ensure that the end-user experience is always smooth and efficient. Over time, the application will grow and expand according to the needs of the business but always based upon its original premise.
The need for custom software is often driven by business objectives and sometimes even hampered by the typical workflow of a business. When companies run into these issues, they are probably ready for a change that will improve their bottom line. The best way to do this is to look at ways that you can streamline data collection and provide more efficient solutions.
What Custom Software Can Do
A custom software application is built with a specific focus which allows it to be highly specific and robust. With it, you get the ability to do so much with so little! You have access to all the features that are available on your platform such as security, contact management, time tracking, and even social media integration.
While the custom software will still have limitations, you are able to perform tasks that you may not normally be able to accomplish with a more traditional application. On top of this, it will help with workflow and provide a more efficient way of keeping track of data across the organization.
Custom software has become so common that many companies have ceased to make them part of their business. It is something that they would rather use than something from another company or third-party service provider. There are some cases where it's still necessary for your business, but in many other cases, custom software is about providing your company with an edge over the competition.
What Custom Software Can't Do
Many times, businesses want their apps to do just about anything. They want them to be the one and only application that can handle any and all applications no matter how simple or complex they are. While this is a valid request, it is also extremely difficult to accomplish because so many things are involved.
For example, a single app may be used in multiple ways. It could be used by sales personnel as well as field service staff or even by a project manager who is also tasked with selling proposals. All of these users need different functions and sometimes handle very different data sets. Custom software cannot create an app that can do it all; it has to fit into your company's current workflow.
Using custom software, you will still have limitations that keep your company from being able to do everything they would like. This is why it's important to focus on an application that will address your needs and work with your current set-up. Once you have a good idea of what you need, you can find ways to make the process more efficient without having to change the entire setup of your company.
When You Need Custom Software
The need for custom software may come about for a number of different reasons. Whether it is a problem that has been around for ages or something that was recently discovered, custom software can be a great solution for many problems. This is especially true when people are trying to work around limitations in an off-the-shelf application or workflow process.
To better understand the situation and see if a custom solution will be useful for you, consider the following questions: How specific is the problem?
Many times, business problems are not very specific. This can be a problem in itself because it means your company is attempting to solve something that does not actually exist. Sometimes an application or service can make it easier to handle or process certain tasks but this doesn't always mean that it's necessary.
Ask yourself if your challenge can be handled in some other manner or by another application or service. It would probably make more sense to use one of these instead of writing your own custom code.
Conclusion
While custom software can be a very useful tool for businesses, there are some things to keep in mind before starting work. First of all, it requires a lot of upfront time and effort. This can be difficult when there are other business concerns that need to be addressed first, but it is something that you need to consider if you have the right decision-making skills and resources.
If you are new to the idea, consider getting a free consultation with a trusted team member so they can help guide you through the process. You should also utilize an agile development framework to ensure your custom software is as efficient as possible.