In today’s technologically savvy world, every now and then, businesses need custom software solutions that can be too specific to the issue at hand, so much so that they necessitate a nuanced and experienced development process. Such software that are specifically made for your company with your needs in mind are called custom software and are developed by a custom software development company. So, how do you know when it’s time for you to upgrade to a custom software developer or seek out a software development company?
Is Your Business Model Unique or New?
If your business caters to a specific audience or provides a specific service that hereto before has not been put into practice, you will not find pre-existing software capable of incorporating all your needs. For instance, when Uber started, it was a new concept as no phone app-based taxi services were available then. So, it had to opt for a custom software developer to help build the software it needed.
Does Your Business Need Added Security?
When using open-source or off-the-shelf software, one is always susceptible to hacking and other forms of cybercrime. Once the hacker has breached a software’s security, they could collect sensitive data from any and all businesses using that software. However, if you were using custom software development outsourcing, you could design your own security measures which would not only require a cybercriminal to hack into your server separately but potentially also crack every application individually, which if nothing else would be quite inconvenient and cumbersome. Therefore, added security is a fintech company’s top priority.
Has Your Existing Software Become Outdated?
While the developers of any software are responsible for providing regular updates for it, they can also choose to stop those updates and discontinue software support. If this happens, any company using that software is forced to find a new software in little to no time. Conversely, as custom software users, these companies would never have to worry about their software being discontinued or outdated. Custom software are made for you and will continue to support your needs unless you wish otherwise.
Are You Tired Of Following Up On Maintenance Requests?
Every software and application needs regular maintenance to function smoothly. Therefore, if you were using a third-party software, you would be dependent on them for regular maintenance no matter how glitchy or bug-ridden the application may become. But, with custom software, these maintenance checks are regularly performed by your custom software developers, who keep your software up-to-date, bug-free, and functioning smoothly.
Is Your Software Scalable To Your Company’s Needs?
From time to time, a company can grow faster than its current software’s ability to adapt. Since a software is supposed to assist its users in their needs, and not the other way around, hence a business’s growth cannot be limited by the growth ability of its software. Although off-the-shelf software are upgraded regularly, they may not be able to keep up with the growth rate of your company. This would lead to efficiency issues and production failure, which in turn would hinder the business’s growth potential. On the other hand, this issue would never arise with custom software, as they can easily be scaled up or down based on your company’s requirements.
Do You Wish Your Software Was More Flexible?
Every software changes with time, mostly through minor or major tweaks made to its features, which can sometimes become detrimental to your business’s needs and requirements. When it comes to specific details and in-depth performance every third-party software has its limitations as it is made to cater to the needs of a broader audience. In contrast to this, custom software is custom-made to fulfill your company’s changing demands. For example, Netflix started out as a DVD-on-demand service provider before transitioning into an online streaming service. An off-the-shelf software would not have been able to adapt to such a change, and Netflix would have needed a custom software to make this shift feasible for themselves and their customers.
Do You Own Your Software?
Wouldn’t you prefer to be the sole owner of the software you were using so that its past, present, and future were completely at your disposal? If you owned your software, you could make any number of changes to it, without having to ask for permission from its original developer. At the same time, if you thought that the software had outgrown its purpose or if you wished to revamp the entire system, you could sell or rent that software – maybe not the entire thing, but at least a basic version of it – to other companies, thereby gaining a return on your initial investment. Since your custom software is made for you, you are the sole owner of the software – all that it is and all that it will/can be.
Are You Tired Of Investing In Extra Hardware?
Many off-the-shelf software have rigid hardware requirements which force a business owner to invest in additional hardware, over and above those in use for other purposes. Once again, this would not be a problem with custom software because they can be developed while keeping in mind the company’s existing hardware and can be designed compatible with said hardware.
Can Your Software Be Integrated With All Your Applications?
A predesigned software normally comes with a list of other software or applications it is and is not compatible with. While this list might change with time, it might still not include the applications and software integral to your company’s day-to-day activities. It might never become compatible with the other applications that are in use in your office space. This limited integrational ability of a third-party software hampers workflow and reduces performance. Software development services come to your aid here, as they can be created with integrational capabilities with all of your existing and future software needs.
Are Your Software Solutions Cost-Effective?
While custom software can initially be expensive, they prove to be a good long-term investment. You can start small and scale up your software as and when the need arises. You can continue to make changes, carry out maintenance and update checks without any unnecessary added costs throughout the life span of your software.
Conclusion
In case any of the above-mentioned indications stand true for your business, then a Custom Software Development Services upgrade might be in order, during which, consulting a software development company and utilizing their expertise in providing custom software solutions could come in handy.
