To define it precisely, custom software development is the process of conceptualizing, designing, developing and deploying software meant for a specific user or a group of users within an organization or as a third-party arrangement. Such software is meant to address the needs of specific users and is considered a notch higher than the traditional way of off-the-shelf offerings. The commercial off-the-shelf software is for a wider audience because it works on a broader perspective. These Off-the-shelf solutions are marketed and promoted in a manner that many businesses can embed in their routine business applications.

A good example of these packaged solutions is Microsoft office which meets the general needs of the audience at a larger scale.

A custom application development also is referred to as bespoke software. The term means tailor-made meant to fit your needs in the best possible manner. Larger companies usually have in-house development teams that cater to all needs of custom software development. But for businesses where such complexities cannot be converted into solutions, third-party providers are looped so that the solutions so designed are a perfect fit for their needs.

In 2018, global spending on software is going to reach $391 billion. The second biggest segment behind communications services, the IT industry, is expected to reach $1003 billion. ERP revenue was valued at $82.27 billion in 2016 and the growth will be organic and unparalleled in the future.

For any custom project to become successful, it should follow the requisite steps of garnering codes, then constructing it, testing it, deploying and maintaining it with the use of simple and complex methodologies like Agile, DevOps and Rapid Application Development.

Why is custom software development an important step?

The packaged commercial software helps meet the general needs of the audience but custom software development comes at a later stage when enterprises need to streamline their needs and move higher than the general offerings.

Custom software development is important because it helps meet unique requirements at a cost-competitive with purchasing, maintaining and modifying commercial software. several accomplished software development companies offering this service because of the innate benefits it offers.

1. Flexibility – The best thing about custom software is that it is scalable. It grows when your business grows only accelerating your position. So, all you need to do is to assess future needs in the gathering process. Once that is done, then these factors can be indoctrinated into the applications instead of shedding out extra currency to purchase licenses.
2. Efficacy – It also proves to be efficient because it has been made keeping in mind the changing needs of businesses. It has been built to support a particular purpose. With the focus set, time does not get wasted resulting in system efficiency.
3. Independent – A commercial software has its set of advantages and disadvantages. While custom software development helps in reducing the burden of sourcing licenses and also merge with commons, it can also prove to be an expensive affair for companies who get it developed.
4. Profit-earning – Companies that have designed or got their software designed by a software development company, can reap rich rewards for investing in custom software. They can build their own custom software and license it. With this, they can also sell the same to other organizations who are willing to fit in with their business.
5. Low Integrations costs – With commercial software organizations might face the issue of integrating it with existing applications. In doing so they can incur additional costs and the investment can be heavy too depending on the need. Custom software can be built in such a way that it integrates automatically the legacy applications and the intended environment.

5 KEY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED FOR CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Que 1. When to make the decision: Custom Software Vs Commercial packaged software

First organizations need to define whether they really need to go for custom software development or not. 

The question you need to ask yourself is whether the current packaged software is enough to suffice your needs?

If you think your existing solutions cater to at least 90% of the functions mentioned below, then hey, you need not build.

These functionalities below should be your reference points that will trigger your decision. 

• Automation of exclusive business processes and transactions.
• Ability to meet privacy and specialized requirements.
• Lower cost consolidation of current solution.
• Greater productivity achieved due to existing solutions
• Flexibility with growing and changing environments
• Having information that is specific to the industry

Software development companies are soon going to dominate every little nook and corner and will be omni present in all industries. Every year, many existing technologies are digitized while a considerable number are enhanced thanks to the need for custom software development. Some of the hot software categories are

Que 2. Why is collaboration a major factor?

According to IBM®, collaboration means “collaborating with business users on requirements, sharing knowledge among global development teams, and working hand-in-hand across development and operations teams to improve quality and responsiveness.”

If you have resolved to build your custom software, then it is important that before the development process starts you include all the key players and stakeholders including sponsors, users, developers, business partners, and even customers to give their key-ins for the same. 

Que 3. How to go about specifying your requirements?

It is important that the organizations have clearly defined their requirements so that their custom software has met the customer needs. They need to stay on budget and follow strict timelines while addressing compliance issues. Managing everything is an essential skill because a snag anywhere will directly impact your ROI. 

The requirements so expressed need to be concise and crystal clear. It has to be technically sound and within the legal parameters of conducting business. Any ambiguity with respect to specifying requirements can make it chaotic and will be detrimental to the progress. The requirements also should be in sync with the other organizations and should not clash with your macro business goals. The requirements also should be feasible in the sense that it should be accomplished with the specified cost structure also. 

Que 4. Which development methodologies can be used

Now that you are clear about the requirements, it is important to define which methodology from the below-given ones will best fit your motives:

• DevOps: This is a blend of development and operations. It is an agile-based methodology that integrates software development and other IT functions in the design and development process. 
• Agile: The best part about this methodology is that is breaks apart the requirements into bits and swiftly deliver along those lines. Feedback loop helps in error detection and also ensure incremental build-up to the project is not harmed.
• Rapid Application development: It does not follow a precarious approach and compresses the design and code making into an intermingled functionality.
• Scaled Agile Framework: This methodology helps in scaling down of the agile methodology to a bigger enterprise like the Global development team. 
• WaterFall model: The traditional process of explaining the flow of the software in a linear pattern is what defines the Waterfall model. Although the model is not much in use, but it considered easy to understand and highly functional also.
• Prototype Methodology: This is also a specialized procedure that lets the developers make samples of the resolution in order to validate its functional elements for the customers in general. This implies that any changes made after the sample is seen, it will be amended then and there. 
• Scrum methodology: SCRUM is the most widely preferred agile software development approach.This development methodology is suitable for those projects where constant alterations are required with complex development requirements. The Scrum Software development model starts with transitional planning, conference and completes with a concluding review.

Que 5. What technologies to consider?

A lot of things are clear now, but a major decision is yet to be made. 

Which technology will go with your requirements and style of functioning? 

You either decide by yourself or leave it to a top-notch software development company like ours to do the thinking. Let us consider them one by one.

• Open source – This is a source code that is open to the public. Linux is an open-source operating system that helps in improving the overall productivity of the custom software application development.
• Artificial Intelligence – This is a software that has revolutionized business and brought it to attention to capture the digital space. AI with the help of ML, NLP, Chatbots, has enabled them to emulate human emotions and intelligence to improve the decision-making process and to engage customers in the best possible manner. Understand how ML and AI are different yet a part of the same process. 

Read more- Artificial Intelligence in Web Development

• Cloud computing – The benefits of cloud-based development are that it helps in supporting coding, integrating and testing to build applications keeping in mind its cost and development time. It gives the convenience of not restraining yourself to a location and produces work on the cloud to enable faster implementation. Our cloud computing solutions will enable you to achieve progress in the custom software development irrespective of your location. 

Read more- Strategic Importance of Cloud Computing in Business Organizations

• Blockchain – Developers are increasingly switching over to blockchain ledgers to build secure applications so that no hindrances can put roadblocks on your business processes whatsoever.
• Data Analytics: Making sense of the data so received is yet another challenge that haunts the best of businesses. With the onslaught of data, it is extremely important that you incorporate data analytical tools for predictive analysis and customer engagement strategies. 

5 best practices for developing custom software

1. Define the current process and your future needs

To build anything from scratch including software, its crucial that you define the current process, elucidate your expectations and illustrate clearly the parameters of success. For the overall project management clearly defining these factors will enable the organization to embed it in other key strategies. 

You must know the following

What your current process is. Do not make any suppositions; it is better if you ask the experts who handle work on a day-to-day basis.

Question why you want to make these changes. You have to first test the process change, get stakeholder feedback and proceed. Do not assume because a non-workable software might prove detrimental to your plans. 

It is recommended that you sketch out the desired workflow and processes which the software is meant to support. 

2. Choose the right people for the work.

Custom software can be developed by the following people:

• Your internal IT team.
• Independent developers and freelancers
• Software development companies 

You are brave enough to say that your in-house team will create that custom software. But we know you are looking at saving costs. But, this might have drawbacks also. Your team already has some obligations and pulling them away from their requisite daily work will harm your regular operations. Also, your technology personnel may not be trained or experienced in custom software application development. 

Outsourcing this to a software application development company sounds sensible. Here you can work with efficient teams that have a track record of developing software. That expertise and experience will be a gold mine for you. 

3. Define milestones with realistic plans

Milestone planning allows you to check the progress of software development. Ensure that you make the plan and time it in accordance with the requirements of the project. You can then review the work at each designated milestone to understand if the proceeding is fine or some things need to be fine-tuned at your end. 

4. Conduct testing

Testing usually happens at two levels before implementing the software:

• Technical testing is conducted by developers and IT professionals. It tests that the foundational elements are working.
• The other level of testing is User testing which is conducted by business beta users. It tests that the software is working as planned.

5. Documentation of the process

This is one of the most important stages of development and implementation. Every piece of information about your project should be documented which enables you to share accountability. Your project plan must document who is responsible for what at various stages, expected date and also expectations. It should also have the following:

• Proper vetting of the software and a plan to support it
• The scope has to be defined by a statement just to ensure you are not moving away from the requirements. 
• A proper implementation plan implying who will use the software and when.
• A training plan with detailed user documentation to ensure that people are able to make the best out of the resources. 

The article has provided the necessary information need to know before hiring a custom software company. Nowadays, custom software development services have become more and more popular because of the need to adapt IT systems to specific business needs.

Feel free to explore the key features of the basic software development categories to start adding new functionality. Start with us.