Have you ever used certain software in your organization and felt like it didn’t do everything you needed? Or maybe you thought it was a good option in general but not very helpful for your specific task. You’re not the first one with such an issue, and we have a solution.
If your existing software does not meet all your requirements, you can have your very own custom-made one. The trend for custom software development services is expanding, and the global market for it is projected to be $120 billion by 2026. All over the world, organizations are looking for unique software to optimize their processes and distinguish their services in the marketplace.
In this blog, we will discuss everything about custom software development, establishing what it offers, and why you should choose it for your business.
Custom VS Prebuilt Software
The biggest distinction between custom and prebuilt software programs lies in how they are procured and deployed. Standard solutions are easy and fast since they can be bought “off the shelf” and need only registration and/or installation. Some examples of suitable ready-made tools are Salesforce Service Cloud, which provides a central customer service agent dashboard, and Asana, which offers AI-driven work management.
However, this basic approach leaves little to no flexibility regarding updating the software, building it out as business needs change, or catering to specific user requirements.
Custom Software Development Solutions for Different Industries
Almost any industry that you can imagine is being revolutionized by the potential and possibilities of custom software development. Here are just a few examples of current use.
Healthcare
Technologies that bridge electronic health records between care providers, creating integrated and unified care and consequently improved outcomes, are being introduced. The patients are also enjoying better healthcare services through the telemedicine software, which offers virtual visits and even private encrypted messages.
Finance
The custom banking apps have expanded customers’ access to a more sophisticated level of functionality — making it easier to access your bank account, finances, and a whole host of financial services. In investing, AI’s place in portfolio management is helping professionals and consumers alike to invest more timely and efficiently.
Retail
In a digital age when customers want to be in control of their buying process, customized eCommerce solutions help businesses customize their online buying experience according to individual user needs. Behind the scenes, retailers have also succeeded with customized inventory management solutions tailored to the uniqueness of their supply chains.
Manufacturing
Custom software is also helping integrate different aspects of production and supply chains into one system allowing for easier, more accurate tracking and control. And the same goes for quality control, making sure that chances of bad or faulty items reaching their customers are reduced even more.
Delivery
Most of the delivery and tracking apps we all use every day are developed as custom software to give you more information and comfort for your end users.
Main Pros of Custom Software Development
If you’ve got the right team behind your code, then custom software development solutions can be nothing short of revolutionary for your business, offering the following benefits.
Personalization and user experience
Custom software development is the perfect platform for creating exclusive designs and individualization that will make a business unique among the rest. Good development team will be able to align functions and capabilities with requirements and processes, and refine and automate them in close collaboration with the business. This is especially true as end-users increasingly demand tailored experiences designed to meet their specific needs and desires.
Exclusivity
Any custom software that you commission will be built for the business that requests it. This is going to prevent competitors from accessing any key capabilities or features unless the company explicitly allows them to use it or purchase access to it.
Scalability
It’s much simpler to build and rework custom software to evolve with business demands than it is to replace packaged software with something different. The modern era of business is very dynamic and it is never easy to see what’s to come in the next few years. Having custom software allows you to respond quicker, smoother and cheaper to whatever the future might bring.
Efficient development
Companies can get more involved in custom software development if they want to. They can work with their software development partner to define key requirements and are kept updated on progress. Likewise, it’s not difficult to pass data on scope changes in the feed and be absolutely certain that the software being produced will satisfy all requirements.
Return on investment
Although custom software development is often much more expensive than buying a pre-built product, it is far more likely to yield a high ROI. This shows that it’s usually worth the effort in the long term.
The Process of Custom Software Development
Many factors contribute to successful custom software development. Our vast experience tells us that the best projects go through this five-step formula:
1. Planning
By gathering requirements and figuring out the bigger picture, every application development activity can still get close to what people need from the get-go. The problem to be resolved with the software will probably be known to some degree prior to the project’s start, but specifying it explicitly will be just the thing to ensure things get off the ground. This step should lead to a Software Requirement Specification (SRE) agreement, signed by all parties, describing the requirements and objectives of the project, the cost estimate, and the execution strategy.
2. Design
After specifying a timeline for execution on the SRE, the custom software development partner can evaluate the scope of the project and determine how best to move forward. They then can dive into the basic design work like coming up with tool and technology specifications, and investigating existing modules for integration.
3. Implementation
Now that the design phase is complete, we can move on to the code, which is fairly easy if the first two phases are executed correctly. How that’s accomplished is actually different for every implementation based on the approach (see below). Still, the business should have regular progress reports so the project can remain on track and on budget.
4. Testing
Like any software, it’s essential that custom software products are thoroughly evaluated. Functional testing will encompass all the application features through an assortment of automated and manual instruments. Non-functional testing, on the other hand, considers performance, security, reliability, and ease of use in greater detail. All these threads work together to reduce, if possible eliminate, all bugs and glitches that can seriously impact users and processes.
5. Deployment
The finished application can then be deployed from the built environment into production, going through a series of steps from packaging to configuration and finally distribution to the end users. Maintenance and upgrades can be ongoing without breaking the end-user experience.
6. Maintenance
During that time, your custom software development partner will watch out for any issues that might come up and implement some quick fixes when needed. This will be continuously monitored over the longer term, allowing room for updates, new functions, and bug fixes.
Key Strategies for Successful Custom Software Development
There is no cookie-cutter method for developing custom software. Every project will be unique, and each development team will likely do things differently. That said, there are three major methods that the majority of developers will employ.
Kanban
A Kanban board allows you to visualize workflow and deconstruct work into sections and clusters based on what has been done, what’s still under development, and what’s coming shortly. This is excellent for clarifying workload over time.
XP
XP is short for ‘extreme programming’, which means that programs should be designed using short development cycles and regularly scheduled releases. There are already built-in checkpoints along the way, so new customer needs and desires can easily be accommodated. The goal in all of this is to render the intricate coding and development processes as quick and easy as possible.
Agile
Agile means that everything is regularly evaluated and improved by all interested parties. It’s about always double-checking what’s scalable and what isn’t and figuring out what can be improved. This can be much more useful for specialized software development, as any modifications or bugs that come up in the process can be easily accommodated.
Top Pitfalls to Watch Out for in Custom Software Development
Any custom software development project can go awry, but not all the standard problems are inevitable. The software has the best chance of satisfying all the demands, provided that it’s given due attention and time and the development partner stays in line with the objective the whole way. There are some subtle traps, though, like the following ones.
Faulty Planning
This can be solved by involving everyone at the outset and creating an organized and specific roadmap to define the issues the new solutions will address.
Managing Cost Overruns
A useful way to keep costs under control is to specify the ‘minimum viable software product’, that is, the core components of the software. This determines which ‘add-ons’ should be included but can be eliminated to lower costs.
Poor testing
Testing requires the right skills and technology, and nothing should be left to chance. A development partner should be heavily focused on Q&A.
Failed Communication
It is important that all stakeholders are aware of what is going on throughout, and a development partner should be doing their part to promote this. Involved progress reviews and open lines of communication are key to enabling visibility and transparency.
Lack Of Maintenance
For many custom software projects, support post-release isn’t considered. It should, however, be factored in at the initial planning stage, and a good partner will incorporate fixes and upgrades into the wider development process.
Innovative Tools and Techniques in Custom Software Development
Custom software is proving to be an excellent way for companies to implement new technology and innovation. These include:
Leveraging AI and Machine Learning
Custom software development can give AI deployments some much-needed attention, whether that’s for efficiency, decision support, or repetitive tasks.
Implementing IoT
With customized software, IoT devices and applications can perform better and be more reliable as solutions are engineered from the very start to address the needs of IoT. This increases connectivity and processing speed, which increases efficiency and productivity.
Using Blockchain to Boost Security
Using the blockchain can provide an extra layer of essential security and protect data, systems, and applications.
What's Next for Custom Software Development
The above-mentioned technology stack will be the core of specialized software development in the coming years. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things will continue to be major trends, but other trends will likely emerge. Examples are low-code and no-code frameworks, which make it fast and easy to develop new software without requiring costly and limited expertise in coding.
Certainly there will also be greater emphasis on security, as the likes of AI disrupt the process of data generation and usage. We believe stronger security (multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption) will soon be standard for custom software solutions in the coming years.
Understanding the Expenses of Custom Software Development
Custom software development is a major project that will incur substantial costs. This is why controlling costs and eliminating any extras is crucial.
The following factors can contribute to the total project cost: project size, scope, and complexity; development team size and location (e.g., an offshore team may cost less); how fast you have to do the project; and whether you can save on costs using open-source technologies.
A good development partner will collaborate with a business to maximize ROI and cost savings throughout the journey.
Tips for Selecting the Best Custom Software Development Provider
The custom software development market is extremely crowded; numerous firms offer basically the same things, and you don’t know which to pick. But here are a few markers to watch for that will show you which development team is a better fit.
Qualifications
Not only must a development partner have sufficient expertise with custom software, but ideally, they must also demonstrate good examples of successful projects.
Good tech stack
The partner’s tech stack should be on a level with yours for software development, scalability, and future maintenance. That involves researching programming languages, frameworks, databases, and libraries on an exhaustive level.
Methodology and communication
The partner should be committed to one method (ideally Agile or Scrum) and able to show how they’ll keep you informed of where they’re going. They’ll also welcome your stakeholders' direct impact and engage with them at each step of the development cycle.
Support and resources
Any decent partner will provide post-go-live support, and they should demonstrate that they have the right resources and people at the right places to successfully complete the project.
Why Partner with Us for Your Custom Software Development?
We specialize and have an enviable track record in custom software development and product engineering in various fields, from finance and retail to iGaming, manufacturing, and medical. Our worldwide software engineers apply proven methods, innovations, and technologies to translate your ideas into practical, cost-effective technology.
We’ve introduced fully customizable software architecture to thousands of companies across the globe, some of which felt that was beyond their capabilities. Contact us today to see how we can achieve the same for you.