During the last 10 years, corporate organizations all over the world invested almost US$4 trillion into their information technologies. In 2022, the worldwide spending on software development is estimated to only grow further. This only shows that businesses start to understand the value of a quality product that is created specifically for their needs.
With the help of custom projects, companies have an opportunity to stand out among their competitors. You will most likely attract more clients and investors with something that is made for them. You can’t underestimate the personalized approach to your customers. And with more clients, more business opportunities and more profit will follow!
Still not convinced that you need to use a custom software solution from a leading IT company? Here are 6 advantages of bespoke software development!
What is Custom Software Development?
So, first things first. Let’s talk about the definition of a custom-built product. Basically, this is a process of designing, developing, releasing, and maintaining a project that is made for a particular set of customers. It can share some similarities with the commercial pre-made software. At the same time, bespoke always means more personalized and tailored to your needs.
You probably use lots of commercial software. One of the examples is Microsoft Office and its many services. They might be widely used, but they are very basic. If you are looking for something more customized, you can try Zoho or LibreOffice Suite. You, as a client, will get a touch of personalized approach that will fit your business more.
Now you understand how important it is for the clients to feel like an app is made specifically for them! Some companies offer their CRM custom solutions. This means that developers work closely together with the marketing department to better understand what their target audience wants.
Benefits of Custom Software Development
It is obvious that most businesses need to hire a development team to create their own unique product. In many cases, business owners think that this approach is too expensive or time-consuming. This is not always the case! Together with other benefits that will be discussed here, custom CRM will save you a lot of resources in the long run.
1.Customer Loyalty
First and foremost, business is about customer retention. If you don’t have a good enough client base, you won’t make any money. And today, people get tired of the big corporations that all look the same and lack a personal touch. So it’s your time to shine! Small and medium businesses have the opportunity to cater to the needs of their target audience.
You need to work together with the marketing and IT department. With the right software, business owners can see the demographics and purchase history of their clients. This way, they can adjust their ads or email marketing in a personal way. In this case, consumers will have no choice but to buy what you have to offer!
2.Better Performance and Productivity
With off-the-shelf commercial products, productivity could always be better. They might be fine when you don’t have many clients. This way, the system doesn’t get overloaded, and you can still keep track of your business. But as soon as your company grows, it needs to include more users. In this case, commercial software might not be enough.
Also, with the progress of your business, you might consider adding more services into the mix. You can buy more pieces of pre-made software, of course. Or you can create a system that will be perfect for your future growth and still provide your clientele with personalized experiences of a smaller company!
3.Improved Security
Of course, as compared to the pre-made software, any custom-built project will be much safer. With off-the-shelf standard products, you don’t know the origins of the code material. You also don’t have a specialized team of developers who will be responsible for any maintenance and support. In other words, if standard software goes down, nobody is responsible.
When you hire a development team, the workers will give you consultations every step of the way. Making software from scratch is much safer because you can actually track the progress from the very beginning. Also, you need to discuss who will own the finished product. When you have full rights to the project, nothing can be better from the point of view of security.
4.Targeted Functionality and Interface
One of the primary reasons for going bespoke is that you will incorporate anything special about your business into it. For some organizations who have a narrow business niche, off-the-shelf products can be completely unusable. The clients will be looking for a specific experience with your website or app.
Also, from another side of the business process, customized products mean that your daily procedures will be automated. This way, you and your workers will have more free time for improvement instead of doing repetitive tasks all day long. This is what progress is made for, to make your life easier!
5. Better Compatibility With Your Other Systems
When a business is already started, it definitely has some systems in place. With standard products, you are more likely to run into some problems with integrating them with the rest of the software. On the other hand, custom-created projects will definitely be compatible with other systems. You need to give them to your developers so they can take everything into account.
Also, sometimes when business owners are satisfied with the results of your IT team, you can request to redo your whole system. This way, all info will be stored in one place and easily accessible at any point in time. This transition might take some time, but with an expert team, it will be smooth and barely noticeable!
6. Less Time and Money Spent in the Future
Some say that standard software is way cheaper than creating your own system from scratch. This might be true, but in the long run, it might cost way more as compared to something customized. You would constantly need to upgrade, pay for security, and use mediocre services with no profit.
When you think about long-term goals, a custom-made system will make more profits for the business. It creates brand recognition and client loyalty, who would want to spend more money on your goods and services! Also, your developer team will likely manage all updates if it's in their contract. You will save a lot of time in this case!
Custom-Built vs. Off-The-Shelf Products
So, what is better? Employers and their personnel have to consider everything before making a decision. If you can spare some funding and get some referrals from your colleagues, it’s always better to go custom. Setting milestones and a clear roadmap will also help in this process, so you and your team will understand each other better.
Takeaway
So there you have it, 6 advantages of bespoke software development! Just remember to find a competent IT company that can handle the technical side of things. Every company is unique and has different needs and resources. So, create your vision, state your requirements, and change your business for the better!
