Custom written software is an innovation chosen by more and more companies who want their business to run effectively, have a competitive advantage and offer top quality services or products. If you are thinking whether this solution is for you, keep reading. We’ll explain what bespoke system is and discuss its most significant advantages and disadvantages. So check it out and see if it’s something you need!
What is custom written software?
Custom written software (also known as bespoke system or tailor-made software) is a dedicated solution created for a given organisation or group of users. It is usually custom-built at a software house or developed internally (if a company has the resources and knowledge to create a given project within its organisation).
Unlike off-the-shelf software, it is fully tailored to the needs and preferences of its users and is not available to others.
Custom software — pros and cons
The decision to create a bespoke system should be well thought out. So it’s key to know the pros and cons of this type of solution.
Custom software – pros:
1. Perfectly tailored to users’ needs
Probably each of us has been in a situation when, while using some software or application, we have thought, “I wish this feature (e.g. screen recording) was here” or “I wish this feature worked differently”.
It usually happens when we use software created on a large scale for many users with different needs. Producers cannot create a solution that would be able to adapt to the expectations of all the people using their product. What’s more, getting the extra feature you want often requires you to purchase an expensive license that includes many additional features you don’t need.
These problems are vastly reduced when you order a bespoke system which main purpose is to meet all your needs and expectations. This solution is beneficial for companies or organisations whose specificity of work requires individual customisation.
While deciding on custom development, you should consider all your project requirements. As a result, you will avoid overpaying for functionalities that are redundant. What’s more, if your needs change during the process of building the custom-written software, you can add new features and extensions or remove unnecessary ones. It gives you great flexibility and the ability to meet all of your organisation’s demands.
2. Easy implementation and full compatibility with other tools
While you may think that implementing an off-the-shelf tool is the easiest possible solution, the reality can be quite different. Quite often, the software may not be compatible with the hardware or operating system your company uses or may not offer integration with other software you need.
If you decide to build your bespoke system, you will avoid these complications. It will be fully optimised for your business’s technological and hardware requirements.
3. Reduced risk of errors and failures
When you use off-the-shelf solutions, you don’t influence possible errors or defects in the software. Of course, you can send your opinions to the customer service department, but you have no guarantee when and how they will solve this problem.
This problem does not appear when with custom-written software. If you cooperate with a reliable technology partner, you receive a guarantee of the quality of that solution and immediate support in case of possible problems.
Professional software houses thoroughly test products before handing them over to end-users. What’s more, most of them also conduct special testing sessions, during which customers can check the given software to make sure that everything works as they wish.
4. A long-term investment
Although the price of a dedicated solution will undoubtedly be higher than buying an off-the-shelf product, it is worth thinking about this investment long-term.
Most software systems available on the market are work on a license basis, which means a fixed cost for your organisation. You have no control over a possible price raise by a particular vendor, so you can’t predict the final cost of that solution. What’s more, the lack of full support for potential problems and the ability to tailor the software to your organisation’s needs can lead to additional losses in terms of time spent by your employees on the tool.
Nowadays, when organisations are trying to automate as many processes as possible, it is worth investing in solutions that will save your team’s time and be more “predictable” when it comes to the total cost of a given product. And it is only possible with custom-written software.
5. Building a competitive advantage
If you want to build a competitive advantage in the market, you need to be one step ahead of your competitors. How can you do this?
In the context of software, you can get ahead of the game by using perfectly tailored software rather than off-the-shelf solutions that your competitors are probably using. Custom-written software gives you more opportunities. It can improve the work of your team and have a positive impact on your customers’ satisfaction.
With them, you can personalise your tools more and enhance your services with features that your competitors don’t offer.
6. Security
The security of processed data should be a priority for every company. But, unfortunately, even with an excellent cybersecurity strategy attacks can happen. You have undoubtedly heard about the data leak from Facebook or Sony. So, how to ensure the highest possible security of the processed information?
One thing is sure: using a dedicated solution created only for your company is much safer than sharing data with external providers who handle a vast amount of information from different clients.
7. Scalability
To keep your business running efficiently, you need tools to grow with you. Off-the-shelf solutions may be suitable for the moment, but what if you want to expand your services or integrate your software with other tools? If you’re thinking about growing your business, scalability is significant. And this is one of the advantages of custom software that will enable you to expand further.
It is worth mentioning that off-the-shelf softwares usually have a license for a specific number of people in a team. Therefore, as the company grows and hires new people, the license may become more and more expensive. Such a problem does not exist with custom-written software that provides easy scaling.
Custom software – cons:
1. Cost
A dedicated solution is, of course, much more expensive than off-the-shelf tools. Nevertheless, most providers do not allow a lifetime licence and charge a fixed amount to use their product. Therefore, analysing the cost, it is worth considering that the price is predictable in the case of a custom-written software. Whereas it may vary in the case of ready-made solutions.
2. Time
The most significant disadvantage of a tailor-made solution is the time. Creating customised software takes much longer than buying an existing tool. To shorten this process as much as possible, you should cooperate with a company that has experience creating software for a similar industry. In this case, there is a chance that they already have ready-made tools or even reusable models that they will implement into your product quickly.
Create your custom-written software tailored to your needs
As you can see, tailor-made software can bring your company many long-term business benefits. Contact us if you are looking for a technology partner to help you through this process. Our experts will be happy to advise you on which tool will best meet your needs.
