By userIn this technological era, surviving a business without software and applications is next to impossible. Software and applications play an important role in every step towards the success of an organization. Right from a simple task to a complex one, everything is taken care of by the software.
There are different ways by which an organization gets its software developed. They can be simply categorized into two categories, namely, custom software and off-the-shelf software.
WHAT IS CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT?
Custom software development is the development and designing of software and applications to meet the specific requirements of users. They are commonly used in organizations. They meet a defined set of requirements as opposed to the traditional off-the-shelf software that caters to a wide range of requisites.
Organizations that need Custom software get it designed by specific third parties in terms of a contract or by its in-house team of developers. Unlike off-the-shelf software, custom software is not made available to a larger audience through packaged reselling.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT?
1. INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY.
Custom software is designed especially to cater to the specific needs of your business model. Thus, it allows your team to perform organizational tasks faster and efficiently.
2. YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU NEED.
Since the software has only the features that your business model demands, it saves you from paying additional charges for features that you might never use or need. In a way, you pay for only what you need.
3. OWNERSHIP OF THE SOFTWARE
You can make any change in the software if your business model demands. You don’t need to depend on the developers for the same as in the case of off-the-shelf software.
4. IT IS MORE SECURED.
Custom software is comparatively safer and difficult for hackers to attack since they are not available publicly. Hackers do not generally target custom software as it gains them access to only one company, which is not very rewarding.
5. SUPPORT.
When you get custom software designed, you get the support of a dedicated technical team that was engaged in the development of your software. They understand your software and can provide technical assistance whenever you need it.
LIMITATIONS OF CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
1. IT IS EXPENSIVE.
A custom software development project is expensive both in terms of money and time. In some cases, there are many solutions available in the market that are relatively cheaper and capable of performing the same tasks. Further, the longer time involved can delay the operational process.
2. HINDRANCE IN SUPPORT.
If you are not in contact with the original developer of the software, then it might get painstaking for other developers to get your software’s features modified as per your business needs. This is a major issue to ponder upon.
3. TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY.
Developing custom software requires developers with higher technical proficiency. It is not always possible to find expert developers capable of building custom software with high-end features. Relying on less-skilled developers might result in failure or ineffective software.
