Custom software development is a personalized service with great customer participation. It is the client who has the knowledge of the processes, and the development phase. Custom software caters the need of specific clients with unique performance. If you are looking for best in town developers, have a look at our compilation of top 10 custom software development companies in Montreal.
Standard Software vs Custom Software
If after understanding what a custom software is and how it can benefit or negatively affect a company, there is no firm decision, we can answer one last question. Opt for a custom design or is it enough with a standard software?
It is the question that companies face at some point in their professional career. Therefore, it is a priority to know both offers and perform a detailed analysis of which will meet our requirements in the short, medium and long term.
Standard or canned software is a generic computer program that meets multiple needs, but none customized. It has a long list of options to cover as many recipients as possible with a single product. Therefore, its use is usually more complicated because it has many options, sometimes unnecessary for our sector and that we will never use.
In addition, it usually happens that we only use a very small percentage when we have really paid for 100% of its capacity. Of course, the cost is usually cheaper than custom software if we consider the final package. However, if we add to the costs the time taken to find the solution to solve the problems that arise, the custom usually has a shorter response time.
Going into detail, management is the main value between both systems. In the case of standard softwares, employees do not have a trainer to solve the doubts that may arise during their implementation. Of course, once they handle the software there is no need to have a specific developer.
On the other hand, in a personalized software we are subject to the professionals of the company that has designed it to solve certain questions. As for the evolution, the standard software as its name indicates is very little subject to the personal changes that are needed and that depend on the professional path that the company takes. On the contrary, in the custom software where it can grow at the same rate as the client.
In short, to make the right decision, the level of specialization and the evolution of the company must be taken into account. The more level, the greater the needs. Therefore, our option must be customized software. If those levels are not so high we can opt for a standard software.
Software Development Analysis
This stage begins in the negotiation. Ideally, the analysis would be a set of activities prior to the quote and paid by the client to the software development consultant or provider that could deliver a previous design before starting the development. However, it is customary in our market to skip this step in some way and quote without going deeper into this stage. This is partly because otherwise the client would have to pay additional work first and then know how much his software would cost.
We do a preliminary analysis based on previous experiences and the conversation with the client to be able to make the quotation. This analysis is deepened once an agreement is reached with the client.
Software Design
This stage consists of activities that are important to ensure the usefulness of the software for the client. In other words, it really fits your need. That is why during software design is when the client has greater participation. This is done through joint meetings and minutes of commitment. These activities do not necessarily have to be completed before continuing to the next stage since some modules may be of competence of different personnel within the organization and therefore the meetings are usually throughout the project.
Software Development
This consists of mainly programming and documentation activities by us for the solution to be delivered. The result of this stage is the source code and all deliverables.
Software Implementation
This phase is where the quality, service and delivery by the software development provider begins to contrast the most. Customer support is very important for us. During this stage the software is installed, it begins to be used and perfected.
Support for your Software
Support and guarantee in custom software development is many times more important than in generic software. By its nature the software is imperfect and tends to evolve or change to adapt to new needs. Software development, whatever it may be, requires monitoring and evolution.
Custom Software Features
The decision to order custom software is taken taking into account what each company needs and also the sector in which it works. There are professional areas where there are commercial software that with small adjustments are valid for the company. However, sometimes this standardized computer support can give more problems than solutions. That’s when, the customer chooses a custom design.
Some of the characteristics that must be taken into account when hiring the development of a customized software:
- It is a custom made suit. All the requirements of the company must be matched by this product.
- The optimization will be very high, since redundant processes will be avoided.
- Its implementation may last over time, but it will be more effective since it is unique.
- It can evolve at the same pace as the company does. We may add or remove certain parameters according to the future that is decided for the company.
As a software provider we offer scalable and maintainable solutions in the long term. The support for the doubts, for the improvements and for the correction of failures is so important for the software development service that without counting on them it is practically certain that the project fails. For this reason it is important when hiring this service to look for companies with trained and professional work teams that can provide support for your investment. We offer you all that, delivery, our corporate values and the knowledge that stands out as part of the reasons to be chosen as your software development provider and strategic ally for everything related to information technology.
Noesis Digital is another company with very successful business cases in delivering fully customized software solutions for its customers.