Custom Software — is it right for your business?
As the Co-Founder and Digital Director of awesome., I get asked what businesses can gain from investing in custom software — and what makes it the right choice over other types like SaaS and licensed options.
It’s a powerful tool with benefits that most off-the-shelf solutions can’t match. And it can be built around your unique requirements to help you reach your business goals.
I’ve created this guide to take you through the pros and cons of custom software, so you can decide for yourself if it’s right for your business.
Or if you prefer, skip to the end and get in touch — I’ll talk you through it.
The Pros (Why We Love It):
Tailored Solutions:
Custom software stands as a tailored solution built to meet your exact requirements and needs. Unlike alternatives including SaaS and licensed software, custom software doesn't force your business to fit into an existing structure. Instead, it’s shaped around your existing processes and crafted to your business, to support your strategic and day-to-day operations.
Basically, it’s built to fit you. Not the other way around.
Enhanced Efficiency:
Custom software is designed to work with your company's unique workflows and tasks. It's designed to enable your team to work within a centralised system and not have to juggle multiple platforms.
The result? Enhanced efficiencies, increased productivity and time saved by everyone. And a happier team, too.
Scalability
Your software should evolve with your business. Unlike off-the-shelf Software as a Service (SaaS) or licensed products, custom software can grow as your company does, whether you are extending your product offering, enhancing customer support systems, or expanding your user base.
Integration Capabilities
One of the key advantages of custom software is that it can seamlessly integrate with internal and external third-party systems. This integration ensures that customer data is automatically synchronised across platforms, eliminating manual data entry and creating a cohesive technology infrastructure. It also empowers businesses with flexibility to adapt to changes or updates from these third-party providers.
Security Measures
Want to fortify your digital defences? Choose custom software. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, this type of software can allow you to tailor security measures to your unique requirements. Also, custom software offers the flexibility to adapt to evolving security landscapes, enabling proactive measures against emerging threats. This level of customisation is important for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring regulatory compliance within the intricate frameworks of large companies and educational institutions.
Also, custom software offers the flexibility to adapt to evolving security landscapes, enabling proactive measures against emerging threats. This level of customisation is important for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring regulatory compliance within the intricate frameworks of large companies and educational institutions.
Ownership and Control
The ownership and control afforded by custom software play a huge role in mitigating potential risks associated with dependence on external vendors, a scenario commonly encountered with Software as a Service (SaaS) providers. In contrast to SaaS solutions, where businesses rely on external vendors for updates and maintenance, custom software puts organisations in the driver's seat.
With complete ownership, businesses retain autonomy over their software, allowing them to implement updates or modifications promptly and tailor the system to evolving needs.
Competitive Advantage
The flexibility of custom solutions empowers organisations to implement distinctive features and functionalities tailored specifically to their customer base — and reflects their brand identity. In a market landscape where customer experience is so important, this bespoke approach sets businesses apart by offering unique, personalised interactions.
This level of customization not only enhances the overall customer experience but can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.
The Cons (as we see them)
Cost
Custom software is built for your exact business requirements, so it may cost you more than the alternatives. Hosting, maintenance and updates can also come into the picture and need to be considered.
It's important to recognise that custom software is not a one-time solution; it requires ongoing investment, attention and expertise.
Custom software is built for your exact business requirements, so it may cost you more than the alternatives. Hosting, maintenance and updates can also come into the picture and need to be considered. It's important to recognise that custom software is not a one-time solution; it requires ongoing investment, attention and expertise.
Finding the right developers
Another challenge that comes with custom software is choosing the right developers for your project. While hiring an in-house development team can be an option for some companies, it can be a costly commitment and may not align with the specific needs of every business.
When to Choose Custom Software:
- If your business has specific and complex needs that cannot be met by off-the-shelf solutions.
- If you view software as a long-term investment and can allocate resources for development.