What Is Custom Software Development?
When you need a suit for a special occasion, you may decide to buy one, or you may decide to have one tailored for you. There is nothing wrong with buying a suit, but there’s nothing like a to-measure suit! The same happens with custom software development!
Custom software development consists of building a software product following specific requirements for a project. Instead of adapting existing software to a project, custom software development creates a tailored application for the exact needs of the client and the target market.
There are many aspects to consider when creating a custom software application. In this article, we will break down all the details you need to know. Let’s go!
What is Custom Software Development?
Custom software development is building a to-measure application to cover a specific need. In some cases, it might be some functionality for the application. In others, it might be the whole project.
Many startups need a custom software development to create their products. Even though some off-the-shelf software could suffice a part of their requirements, the idea is to build an in-house solution.
Creating software from scratch can be a complex process. Building an in-house software development team can be daring for an emerging startup. This is the reason why many startups choose to outsource their software development to a third party.
Check out this article on software outsourcing companies to learn more about this service.
Although custom software development can be time-consuming, you end up with an application that covers all of the needs of your organization. Opting not to develop your own software could later hinder your scalability.
Benefits of Custom Software Development
Custom software development can be a powerful tool for emerging startups and larger organizations. The main benefits are:
- Scalability
- Cost-effectiveness
- Easy Integration
- Efficiency
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Scalability
When startups opt for off-the-shelf software, they may encounter problems when it comes to growing their product. Unfortunately, not every software solution will have the capabilities to adapt and grow with your product.
However, when you have a solution that is completely tailored to your product, it will always work toward the progress of your business. As the needs and requirements of your application evolve, the software team behind it can adjust, adapt, and further develop the product to meet expectations.
This way, your product is always scalable and can always be taken to the next level.
Cost-effectiveness
Even though creating a custom software product can be expensive, once the solution is built, it belongs to you. You will be paying to maintain your own product and not to use someone else’s.
Plus, depending on the solution you build, you may be able to license it and sell it to others as a white-label product. Since the software belongs to you, the ball is in your court!
Easy Integration
Since the solution will be built for your business, it will have seamless integration with your product. In some cases, off-the-shelf software can have integration incompatibilities and cause delays and risks for your product.
Since you won’t have to do major changes to your product to allow integration, it will also improve your productivity and help you save time.
Efficiency
When you have custom software development, everything is made to work for your business and your product. In this sense, everything will be tailored to be as efficient as needed. Every requirement will work exactly the way you want it to.
If you don’t use custom software development, chances are, you will have a solution that was not thought precisely for the needs you have. Even though it may work in many regards, it won’t be tailored to your business.
Mistakes to avoid when building a custom software product
Even though there are many benefits to custom software development, there are some mistakes you will want to stay away from. The most common are:
- Not having clear requirements
- Trying to implement too many functionalities
- Not testing your software
Not having clear requirements
When the requirements are not clear, your software development team will be working blindly. In these cases, the communication can break, and you might be deceived by the final product.
Having clear requirements allows you to align your expectations with the team and ultimately have the product you envisioned.
Trying to implement too many functionalities
Creating a custom software product is hard. And creating something that users need and want to use is even harder. Sometimes, entrepreneurs try to cover too many needs and end up creating a software solution that nobody uses.
The best approach is to build an MVP and iterate the product according to market research. Imagine building all the functionalities of the product and then realizing that the target audience needed something completely different.
Check out this piece on why you should develop an MVP to learn more about the subject.
Not testing your software
Many emerging startups neglect the importance of testing software before launching an application. When this happens, users often encounter critical issues that imperil them from having a correct experience while using the product.
Testing is a central part of software development and should not be overlooked. Check out this article we wrote on the importance of testing.
Wrapping Up
Done correctly, custom software development can help you scale your business, own an effective software product, and improve your productivity overall. Plus, you will have an original product that will set you apart from the competition.
Why build a custom software product with Bixlabs
Bixlabs is the perfect partner for your custom software development needs. We have been working with emerging startups for over eight years, taking over their tech needs and working together with an entrepreneurial mindset.
We have a team of senior engineers and creatives ready to take on any project and help your startup reach the next level. Why spend months to find an in-house team when you can have a ready-to-work team in two weeks? Contact us today.