In today’s age of digital transformation, businesses need exceptional software solutions to stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s ERPs or CRMs, there are many options they can use to their advantage to make their processes more efficient and win more customers. 

 

Sometimes, off-the-shelf solutions are sufficient depending on their needs, while other times, something highly specialized is needed. However, deciding between these two approaches is not straightforward, so we will try to make things a little simpler for you.

 

But before we get into the meat of the matter, let’s start by discussing what we mean by Custom Software and Off-the-shelf solutions.

 

WHAT IS CUSTOM SOFTWARE?

 

As the name suggests, Custom software can refer to certain types of mobile and web applications made to order and designed to help a business achieve specific goals. They are not readily available online, so you can purchase, download and deploy them throughout your business.

 

If you need such a highly specialized solution, contact a custom software development company like Intagleo Systems. They will carefully analyze and understand your specific needs and requirements and suggest optimal features and implementation strategies to meet them best.

 

WHAT IS OFF-THE-SHELF SOFTWARE?

On the other hand, off-the-shelf or generic applications are ready-made, making them suitable for rapid deployment and immediate use. Unlike customized solutions, they address relatively general business problems and target a broader audience of business and individual users.

 

Standard software can have multiple editions, giving potential users some flexibility by choosing between price and features. In some cases, however, it is also possible to customize them.

 

Some unique off-the-shelf software solutions include Microsoft Office, Salesforce CRM, Quickbooks, SAP ERP, etc.

 

With the formal definitions out of the way, let’s get into the pros and cons of custom and off-the-shelf software development before deciphering which solution would be best for you.

 

ADVANTAGES OF CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

 

| CUSTOM SOFTWARE MEETS YOUR EXACT BUSINESS NEEDS

 

Perhaps the most prominent and primary reason why most businesses choose custom software is that it is tailors to their exact requirements and specifications. The granular control that custom development gives allows the finished products to integrate seamlessly with your existing systems, processes, and workflows without disruption or change.

 

Furthermore, if multiple stakeholders are involved, it can be challenging to find a standard solution that satisfies everyone. With bespoke solutions, the scope for customization and integration is virtually limitless, and you’re likely to get them developed in a way that benefits all your users.

 

|TAILORED SOFTWARE IS MORE SCALABLE AND FUTURE-PROOF

 

Given the dynamic nature of today’s business landscape, the importance of solutions that can quickly respond to new challenges and opportunities cannot be overstated. In addition to external shocks, your organization’s internal needs will also evolve as you expand your workforce, add new processes, etc. 

 

Bespoke software development is inherently more responsive to all your ongoing business developments. Furthermore, as you own the software, you are free to integrate and extend it with all the features and technologies you need to remain competitive.

 

| CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT HELPS REDUCE PRODUCT COMPLEXITY

 

Custom software development is about adding all the features you need and removing the ones you don’t. You can model your custom software after an existing solution but release any unnecessary or redundant elements and screens that distract you and your team from the task at hand.

 

Removing all the extra can make your final solution less complicated and tedious, which in turn can help it adopts across your organization.

 

YOU HAVE FULL OWNERSHIP OF YOUR BESPOKE SOFTWARE SOLUTION

 

Depending on your agreement with your software vendor, you may have complete ownership of the solution you develop. It gives you an unprecedented amount of control over the software, how it uses, and its development. More importantly, you don’t have to worry about a third party changing the terms of your relationship, forcing you to upgrade, or simply ceasing to provide support for your solution altogether.

 

| Differentiate from your competitors with customized software

A solution designed to address a unique business challenge or problem should deliver more incredible benefits in performance, operational cost savings, or both, compared to a generic, non-optimized solution. And since you are the only one with access to a customized solution, your competitors will have no choice but to use off-the-shelf solutions or develop their personalized solutions to keep up.

 

| Custom solutions are a business opportunity.

But the applications of custom software development are not limited to improving internal processes. The specific problem you are trying to solve can also apply to other companies. Many companies have stated that typical applications do not sufficiently meet their needs. It is an excellent opportunity for you to save the day by offering a customized solution. By selling customized software to other companies who need it, you can expand your business and increase your revenue.

 

| High initial investment costs

Although a custom solution can provide a higher ROI in the long run, the initial investment required to implement it can be pretty high. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions where costs are allocated based on a large number of users and recurring contracts, custom software is often developed for a limited number of users to achieve a specific goal. Costs also vary according to the size of the project and the complexity of the technology involved. 

 

| Time-consuming because software  develops from scratch

Because custom solutions develop from scratch, it can take months or even years, depending on the project’s size, scope, and complexity. Moreover, it is not practical to implement a customized solution if it has to deploys the next day.

 

Benefits of off-the-shelf software

 

| Less initial cost

Because off-the-shelf software mass-produces to reach a wider audience, it is more affordable, and individuals or companies do not have to bear the development costs.

 

| Easy to acquire and implement

Another advantage of commodity software is that it is readily available and deployed across the organization within days. All you have to do is visit your preferred vendor and choose the edition of the software and the pricing plan that best meets your requirements.

 

| Excellent community support

Like custom software companies, off-the-shelf software providers offer extensive ongoing support. Like custom software companies, off-the-shelf vendors also provide comprehensive ongoing support, but a strong user community can easily complement this support in the latter case. It means that you can easily find solutions to problems you may encounter when using commonly used applications, as other users may have already experienced these problems and solved them.

 

| Less risk

Because ready-made applications are intended for a broad audience, you can quickly determine how well a ready-made solution will perform by checking online user and expert reviews and following community forums and social media. And how well ready-made solutions perform. In addition, most off-the-shelf solution providers offer free demos and tests for a limited time so that you can try out their answers before you buy them.

 

Disadvantages of off-the-shelf software

 

| Off-the-shelf products are not optimized for your systems and processes

 

Off-the-shelf software designs to meet the needs of many people, so even if it has different levels, it may not fully meet your requirements. Moreover, they may lack functionality and contain duplicate functionality, leading to reduced productivity, implementation difficulties, and wasted system resources.

 

As a result, multiple software solutions and extensive customization require to achieve the desired results, which can cost a lot of time and money.

 

| License fees and ongoing costs

Although off-the-shelf solutions cost little initially, the bill can be substantial as you continue to use them. You do not own the product, so it is normal to have to pay license and subscription fees, but you may also incur additional costs for ongoing support and maintenance.

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU PREFER CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT OVER GENERIC OFF-THE-SHELF SOLUTIONS?

 

In summary, you should opt for custom development if:

 

  • They have specific requirements, and no off-the-shelf solution can adequately meet them.
  • You want to streamline your processes and differentiate yourself from the competition.
  • You want to use custom software to generate revenue.
  • You need a solution that perfectly matches your current and future needs.
  • You want more control over the development, maintenance, and updates of your solution.
  • Budget for initial costs and development time.

 

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU PREFER OFF-THE-SHELF SOFTWARE OVER CUSTOM DEVELOPMENT?

 

You should choose a ready-made solution if:

 

  • The business problem is solved adequately.
  • You are short of money and need to solve your business problem urgently.

 

 

If you still can’t decide and need help there are many custom software development in India, who can help you out in making your big idea a reality.