10 October
Today, people are more interested in understanding what custom software is and how it can benefit organizations or users. With the rise in technology, organizations of all sizes now have the opportunity to construct their own systems and fulfilll their specific goals. It is worth understanding how such software can be deployed for our usage. The following blog covers all the essential points that you should know about custom software development. Stick with us and read on.
What is Custom Software Development?
The term “Custom software development”is used to describe the process of brainstorming, designing, creating, and overseeing software to be used for particular functions by users or organizations. It is contrary to commercial off-the-shelf software that is designed for a wide range of functions.
Microsoft Outlook, for instance, fulfillls the generalized requirements of the users. On the other hand, custom software can target a specific set of needs. For example, a bank might need an application to bridge the communication gap between its customers and employees. This can be achieved by employing custom software.
Custom software development is usually undertaken by outsourced third parties or in-house developers. The focus of the process is to achieve the goal of the users or organization. Although a custom project employs familiar steps of creating software like code construction, testing, and deployment, it meets the market and user demands.
What is the Difference Between Pre-Written and Customized Software?
One of the most critical questions is what exactly is the difference between a custom and off-the-shelf software. The answer resides in understanding the overall features and functions of this software. As outlined above, custom software is developed to meet the specific functions of the company while a pre-written software is readily available in the market for immediate usage.
However, the differences between the two are beyond the definitions. Another way to look into the differences is to identify the benefits and disadvantages of such software. For instance, custom software has unlimited options for creativity. It is also scalable and easy to maintain. Further, depending upon the terms of the Custom software development company, the users can get its complete ownership. However, it is also very costly.
On the other hand, an off-the-shelf software Is more affordable than custom software. It can be easily installed and used. It is also more reliable as the software is tested before it is sold. However, it might cost a lot to customize it, and specific features of this software might be annoying to the users.
Advantages of Custom Software Solution
There are even more benefits to employing a custom software solution. These benefits make custom software a sustainable and advantageous investment.
- Easy Integration
- Efficient
- Profitable
- Enhanced security
- Personalized User Experience
A significant benefit of custom software is that it can efficiently work with the existing systems in the organization. You can integrate it with other applications without disturbing the original operations.
Businesses prefer custom software because it enhances the productivity of the operations. It can fulfill the needs of the company and adapt to the changing needs of the functions. It can also make the job of employees more comfortable.
Custom software is also profitable since it reduces the operational cost and increases the efficiency in the business processes. You can also license the software and sell it to other organizations.
Custom software ensures greater security than off-the-shelf software. This is because itwill be used only by your business, and it can be designed in the way you want.
Many custom software is meant to foster communication between customers and the organization. A personalized software can provide more useful experience to the customers and meet their unique needs.
Process of Custom Software Development
The process of custom software development is quite similar to the conventional ones. But it usually involves the customers’ input to formulate its features. Here is what goes behind when creating a custom software solution:
- Brainstorming where the functionality of the application is discussed and outlined
- Specifications, be it functional or technical, are made to identify what is expected from the software
- Designing to envision how the software will look like and work
- Development to finalize and implement the design, databases, and coding
- Testing, which ensures that the software is free from all mistakes and bugs
- Training to help the users in using the software
- Launch that involves making the software live and giving the ownership rights to the users if included
Future Needs
The role of software development services is widening in the corporate world. With millions of software applications already piling up, it is not hard to grasp that custom software will continue to explode. There are currently 2.7 million apps in Google Play Store alone, while Apple App Store bags around 2 million apps. In 2017, there were approximately 178 billion app downloads. According to experts, this number is set to surpass 258 billion.
This number not only includes publicly available software, but businesses and developers are also stepping up to create their own apps for use. Now there is an application for almost everything. Whether you want to build a budget, check headlines, update your inventory, track your on-field team, sell products, or get directions, you can find to do it for you.
As the corporate world is becoming challenging, more and more applications will be designed and launched every day. As your business also scales up and expand its operations, you will need the support of custom software to undertake the processes efficiently. However, it is also expected that the process of custom software development will become easier as developers won’t have to spend much time writing codes.
The basic operations will come down to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that involve various routines, protocols, and tools for creating applications. Accordingly, the future market will be full of APIs serving specific purposes. But innovation and functionality will continue to remain central for all future software development.
Market Scope
Software development services in Singpaore and the rest of the world are now in high demand because businesses are becoming more complex. With the increasing competition in the market, custom software serves as a unique selling proposition for businesses similar to services and functions.
Custom software development is becoming more prominent among the organizations that want to scale up their operations. The market for custom software is also driven by innovation and creativity, as businesses can align their vision with emerging technology. Features such as open-source solutions, chatbots, and PaaS solutions are also a crucial perspective for the industry.
Example of Customized software
Customized software can be employed for various purposes. Here are some prominent examples of customized software:
- E-commerce
- User Base
- Microsites
E-commerce or e-procurement businesses are benefiting from various software such as Big Commerce, Shopify, Volusion, and Squarespace. They allow companies to build storefronts and make products available to customers. These platforms can be customized as per the needs of the business and improve customer experience.
If your business deals with numerous product lines and audiences spread across different countries, then it needs something to cater to the multiple user bases. A custom site can be created, allowing you to decide the content relevant for a specific audience, such as based on their geography and role. In this way, the site can ensure useful customer experience and reduce the time needed for the users to find relevant content.
Numerous open-source CMS solutions can help in creating a microsite. Various services provide them as cheap mobile site. Businesses can work with these providers to develop a single back-end CMS and customize the CSP. The custom sites can ensure the organization updates its site quickly and manage all the operations from a central structure.
What are Custom Software Maintenance and Support Agreement?
A custom software maintenance and support agreement basically increase the rights of a business to upgrade and support the application after the warranty period. The SMA basically entitles the customer to unlimited technical support from the vendor. It also increases access to updates and new releases, such as security fixes, within the agreement period. In the majority of the cases, the latest releases are made available in the customer portal for download.
SMA customers can also access the terms of their agreement with the help of the customer portal. This simplifies the management of license information. It is suggested that you sign a maintenance agreement with your software provider or vendor in order to avail these benefits within the agreement period. Doing so can ensure that the software is correctly deployed and maintained.
IT Support Contracts
Another contract you should know about is IT support. This agreement involves one party to provide tech services to another party in exchange for a specified payment. The agreement ensures that the business can continue to run without facing technological problems. Hiring an outside service can reduce the cost needed to operate a full-fletch tech department in the company throughout the year.
The contract ensures that the technical problem can be resolved quickly. It usually involves the details about the software, hardware, and services that will be maintained. It also outlines the IT support exclusion and contract tiers.
Major Fields Using Custom Software
Although custom software is now employed in almost all kinds of organizations, there are specific fields that rely more on this technology.
- Construction
- Retail
- Hospitals
- Other Fields
The construction industry relies on custom software to manage projects, report progress, manage teams, and track changes. The software can be customizedfor the unique needs of the project and customers. It can also help in managing the tender calls, approving changes, and assigning tasks.
Retail companies use custom software for billing, inventory management, generating invoices, and shipping purposes.
Hospitals employ custom software for a variety of purposes, such as keeping electronic health records and maintaining the patients’ database. In this way, communication between the medical staff can be streamlined.
Software Development Trends Amidst COVID-19
Custom software development companies have also been affected by the emergence of a global pandemic. Software development in Singapore has also experienced its fair share of losses. However, businesses that failed to adopt digital transformation faced the most damages.
Many businesses are now experiencing problems in communicating with their customers and providing their services because of a lack of digitalization. However, the pandemic has served as an important reminder that digital solutions like custom software can make business operations easier and sustainable.
In The End
Custom software development has always remained prospective for potential businesses. With the emergence of COVID-19, the central question is how companies will align themselves with the technological advancements to get on their feet. Many companies are now looking forward to investing in custom software development. Let us know how your business is making use of this technology.