Software is traditionally divided into two categories: packaged or custom. Custom software, also known as “Bespoke” software, is a type of application developed specially to suit a business or an organization to fulfill its specific business-centric requirements. Customized software is generally designed for a single client, or a group of clients (customers) who decide what kind of functionality and processes the software should possess.
Through the years, companies have learned how packaged software products have fallen short when it comes to meeting diverse buyer needs. This has prompted greater demand for custom software products designed to meet specific needs of each organization. With these accommodations, exclusiveness in the solutions of business issues is guaranteed.
Benefits of custom-building software
Simplicity
Bespoke software is designed specifically around your business, so you don’t have to worry about unwanted features or unfamiliar terminology that is not appropriate to your business. This reduces learning time and is obviously more efficient to use.
Personalization
When it comes to business operations and software development, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Although there is a lot of high-quality ready-made software available, there’s a pretty slim probability that it will fit seamlessly into your organization. Modifying some built-in features of your packaged software might meet a small need but it can’t compare to a software solution that has been built from scratch specifically for your business.
Custom software development ensures that your software will be able to handle all your daily processes. Personalized software can be as complex or intuitive as you like, and this makes it the ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. When you have software that is designed to do exactly what you want it to do, it helps make your day easier.
What works best for one business doesn’t necessary work for another. You may be following certain processes which others don’t. Software that is developed exclusively for you ensures that all of your activities and processes are properly addressed to and automated exactly as per your requirements.
Branding and Identity
With unique tools, such as forms and auto messages in your brand voice, you will stand out from the crowd. Sometimes even a simple detail can be a key differentiator between you and the competition.
Efficient Workflow
You don’t have to mold your working to suit a particular software – Your software can be changed easily to suit your requirements as and when required provided it is custom made. Bespoke software is typically developed based on an iterative, Agile process to ensure constant alignment with business needs. As the finished application will have been matched to your specific working practices, it is both faster and easier to use.
Complete Development Ownership
When it comes to changes or improvements, you are firmly in the driver’s seat. There is no pressure to upgrade just because there is a later version – with new features and changes you may not want or need. This also means you won’t have problems such as new versions not being backwards compatible with old data or the screen layout changing and incurring a new learning curve. It’s your software, and your decision.
Security
A major concern for many B2B and B2C companies, data access and security concerns affect many end-users in the market today. It’s often a prime target for hackers because it’s easier to attack multiple companies all running the same programs.
Because off-the-shelf solutions are widely used, they’re more susceptible to external threats than custom built applications. With a custom solution, you’re the only one running your program
People transacting online want to ensure their transactions are safe and secure at all times. Supporting expensive security protocols can make you pass on added costs to the services you offer to your customers. This can make you lose your competitive edge in the market. Moreover, the flow of data within internal processes of the organization also needs to be regulated by implementing strict security standards. With customized software development, you have the power to decide which data-security technology or protocol is ideally suited for your business and integrate that in your software.
Potential Marketability
In some scenarios you may want to white label and sell a software product that you have played (and paid!) a part in developing – even though it was originally designed for internal use. A bespoke solution for you could become an off-the-shelf solution for other businesses.
Expansion of existing tools
Often a business or department will use documents or spreadsheets to log data. This may work for an individual or a small team, but often there is huge benefit to transforming repetitive tasks into automated, tailored multi-user tools that store data in a central repository. This would not only save time for the individual but helps with transparency, data validation, access and reporting across the business.
Cost effectiveness
With customized development, you can plan and phase the development process. You’re not required to invest a huge sum of money first on to reap the benefits of automation. Based upon you budget and funds availability, you can start automating individual process flows in an organized and timed manner over time to make development affordable through affordable software development services.
The takeaway for organizations and businesses is even though you’re required to spend some time to define your exact automation needs and wait while your software is developed, it’s worthwhile to opt for customized software development since you can benefit from an automation process that is tailor made to suit your unique needs and business-centric requirements.
Integration
Another advantage to using custom applications is the ability to integrate with your current software.
Businesses often require multiple programs to run optimally, and adding software that isn’t made to fit with those programs – or needs additional third-party support to integrate properly – will only add to the bulk.
Additionally, templated software usually requires you to adjust your processes, not the other way around.
Bespoke software can generally be customised to integrate smoothly with any other key software used within the business – and introducing new applications doesn’t mean the previous integrations will stop working.
Custom applications are built to be compatible with the software you already have installed. In fact, it can even automate processes that weren’t previously integrated in your setup, simplifying the process further.
It can also help in cases where technology is developing faster than you can keep up with. Instead of dropping thousands of dollars to replace your whole system, custom software can be used to update the areas you need while still being compatible with the rest of your system.
At the end of the day, new applications should make your life easier, not harder. Custom built software can do that for you.
Invention
Since the software is totally customized, you have the option to decide what kind of software development technology to use to design your own app. You have the power to decide and opt for trend-setting disruptive technologies to design you customized app and make it work the way you want it to.
Business operations can be complex and every organization has different needs and issues. Custom software plays a key part in your organization’s growth and efficiency. It The numerous advantages of custom software development include integration, personalization, scalability, support, and security.and cost effectiveness. It’s better to create tailor-made products than to go off-the-shelf.
Every organization has different needs. Most of them realize that off-the shelf software will fall short of their expectations and is not going to make their dreams come true. By using custom software, companies can turn their ideas into reality and get advantage over their rivals who are still stuck with off-the shelf solutions.
At AnAr we make sure, custom built software will give you an advantage over your competitors who are stuck running off-the-shelf solutions that simply can’t meet all of their needs. It is our passion. We build custom software to fit your unique needs and improve your business processes.
Regardless of the industry you’re in or the size of your company, you can always rely on AnAr for successfully implementing your requirements.
