In this fast-paced and digital-first business landscape, technological innovations and advancements are no longer exclusive to large organizations. Small businesses and start-ups are more and more finding it imperative to adopt the latest technological innovations and digitalized working conditions. One such innovation is bespoke custom software solutions which are the key to ensuring a competitive edge in the market.
These custom-built software applications are helping organizations bring resource efficiency and streamlined workflows at all stages- production, marketing, sales, and post-sale support services. In this blog, we will make it clear that the deployment of custom-built software solutions would prove as productive for small businesses as for large-scale enterprises. Without any further delay, let’s dig into the topic.
Let’s get the ball rolling!
What are Bespoke Custom Software Solutions?
Well, first of all, we will discuss what is bespoke custom software solutions and how much they are different from other classes of software- Off-the-Shelf Custom software applications.
Simply speaking, bespoke, custom-built, or custom software is a software product that is designed, developed, deployed, and maintained to cater to the unique needs and requirements of clients. These software applications are developed from scratch and software developers make sure that unique workflows, challenges, and processes of client’s work can be taken into consideration while developing them.
Custom software development involves many solutions such as Content Management Systems, Customer Relation Management (CRM) systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Human Resource Management (HRM) systems, mobile app development, web app development, and more.
Unlike Off-the-Shelf or Pre-Packaged software, custom-built software is not produced for the mass market. Nothing is redundant, and all software features and tools have some specific tasks to perform. Every line of code is written with a purpose in mind. Hence, no feature remains idle in custom software. This optimum utilization and specifically designed features ensure streamlined workflow and enhanced ROI.
How Can Bespoke Custom Software Solutions Help Small Businesses:
Moving on. Now we will discuss how the application of custom software can help small businesses make wonders and quick turnaround in their business. These small businesses can deploy custom software solutions for many purposes such as:
To Outgrow Your Legacy Systems:
The outdated and legacy software infrastructure causes many problems. It will prove a bottleneck in your plan to expand to new geographical markets and attract new customers. Under such conditions, small businesses need to replace that old and outdated legacy system with new and more efficient specially designed and implemented custom software.
To Automate Manual Operations:
Automation becomes imperative when businesses expand their operations. With the increase in expansion, comes complexity. When organizations attempt to perform complex tasks, there are many challenges, and on top of that are human errors and mistakes. Therefore, automation of complex tasks is key to ensuring optimum performance and smooth execution of tasks.
Here comes custom-built software in handy. It helps small businesses ensure spare their human resources for higher-level tasks and perform repetitive tasks through these pieces of software.
To Customize and Personalize Your Software Infrastructure:
Initially, OTS software applications work well, in fact, they look like a game changer intervention, but in the longer run, they could not provide all the requisite features and functionalities.
Under such conditions, when ready-made pre-packaged software solutions are no longer able to keep pace with the growing needs of your business, you must go for custom software. The customization and personalized of bespoke custom software applications ensure increased productivity and optimum resource utilization.
Though at the initial stage, the price can pinch your heart, in the long-term perspective, custom-built proves extremely helpful in meeting growing and dynamic needs.
To Adapt to Current Market Demands:
One of the most prominent benefits of using custom-built software is that you have full control over the software. You can add, change, remove, and amend features on tailor-made solutions so that your organization can keep pace with changing needs of the market.
The highly customizable nature of bespoke software means that you can practice industry-best market strategies and thus gain a competitive edge in the market.
Likewise, custom software solutions also are good at adapting to existing operations within the organization. They are easy to use, convenient in design, and quick to learn, and thus offer business steady growth and expansion without any major hiccups.
To Ensure Higher Reliability and Robust Security:
Robust security and higher levels of reliability are other factors that compel small businesses to go for customized software. Multiple studies show that data breaches are rife among businesses, especially businesses like healthcare, e-commerce, and insurance are more vulnerable.
Therefore, security is essential for the growth and development of small businesses as well as large enterprises. You cannot rely upon OTF software because they are vulnerable to hacking due to their widespread access, easily breakable code, etc. Custom-built software applications offer more protection.
Their higher reliability and robust security stem from many factors. For instance, they are not publicly available, companies have exclusive access to codes, and more importantly, custom software development companies incorporate peculiar security features and encryptions in light of specific security threats being faced by businesses.
To Reduce Costs Over the Longer Run:
Initially, the cost of developing and implementing custom software is high, there is no doubt about it, but in the longer run, it proves cost-effective. This cost-effectiveness is partly because you have to pay a subscription and license fee for Off-the-Shelf Software. This payment regular payment of annual or monthly fees continues to cause stress on the already scarce resources of small businesses.
You can avoid the continuous bleeding of resources by exploring the option of custom software solutions. though it seems paradoxical, it is a proven fact that in the longer run, they prove cost-effective.
Furthermore, you can also cut the costs of customized software development. First, begin with the Minimum Viable Project or a scaled-down version of the software, test it, and then decide which essential features you need. In this way, you can reduce the cost as much as possible.
In addition, the competitive edge that you will enjoy by using exclusive software would make this investment further worthwhile. Hence, if you are looking for a software intervention that should be long-term and scalable, customized software may be the right choice for you.
To Enhance Productivity and Efficiency:
Improved productivity and efficiency are other factors responsible for the mounting use of custom software by small business owners. For small businesses to remain profitable, the employees must work at their maximum efficiency and productivity. Studies show that the introduction of software designed specifically to facilitate and automate their workflow has a positive impact on their productivity level.
Custom software solutions help employees complete work within a shorter period, reduce errors to the minimum possible level, and boost their confidence as well. Furthermore, you can mobilize various resources more effectively. In this way, custom software can prove a win-win situation for both employees and employers which is a great way to ensure the optimum performance of a business.
To Enjoy Support and Maintenance:
Custom software development comes with another important benefit for small businesses: support and maintenance. When you use an OTS software application, you are not in a position to troubleshoot or resolve the software much quickly. That leads to longer rundown time, causing you both material and reputational damages.
Contrary to this, custom software companies can resolve the issue much more quickly since they know their products. You can include support and maintenance services in service-level agreements with vendors. In this way, ongoing support and maintenance services help you minimize downtime and ensure that your business continues to run smoothly.
To Secure Competitive Edge and Maximum ROI:
Custom software applications are designed and implemented specifically for you. You have full control over it, and you can leverage its potential for streamlining your workflow. You can add or remove any feature you like.
In other words, your products and services would have a unique selling proposition. In terms of quality, in terms of time required to execute a project, in terms of offering cost-effective services and products, you can have a competitive edge with the help of well-designed and developed custom software solutions.
Similarly, an increased competitive edge would help you improve customer engagement, enhance customer conversions, and finally boost your sales and revenue. In the end, you will be able to maximize ROI conveniently and systematically.
These are some low-hanging benefits that you can reap with the help of the right bespoke custom solution. However, not every organization needs a custom application under every circumstance. We have enlisted some scenarios when you don’t need to go for customized software development. Read them, it will help you make the right decision between “buy” and “build” options.
Scenario When You Don’t Need Custom Software:
But accessing and deploying bespoke custom software solutions is an investment-intensive affair, and small businesses would sometimes find it hard to digest. Therefore, before we move ahead to enlist some benefits of using custom-built software applications, it is equally important that we discuss some scenarios when you should not go for customized software development.
Limited Budget and Resources:
Businesses with limited budgets and resources would be better off in case they prefer existing Infrastructure. Custom software has a very steep upfront cost, it may overshoot your budget.
Lack of Time:
Custom software development is a long process, therefore, if you are looking for a quick resolution of a particular problem, don’t go for it. Secondly, if you want to get up and start your business, you should avoid custom solutions. It has a comparatively longer Time-to-Market, which can cost you under certain conditions.
Sufficient OTS Solutions:
If available Off-the-Shelf software applications meet your requirements readily and that is also within your budget, you don’t need to explore the option of custom-built software applications.
Standardized Business Process and Workflows:
It should be noted carefully that only small businesses that have unique and highly specific requirements need customized solutions. Otherwise, if you have a standardized and relatively simple business process, Off-the-Shelf applications would be enough to meet your needs and requirements.
Minor Customization Requirements:
Sometimes, a business needs minor adjustments and modifications in the existing software infrastructure, in that case, it is advisable not to seek customized software development.
Compatibility and Integration:
Integration and compatibility with the existing infrastructure are also major factors that should be given serious thought before making decisions concerning the choice between Off-the-Shelf and Custom software.
Custom software applications could have problems in integration whereas OTS applications are known for better compatibility and integration.
These are some scenarios, among others, where you should avoid using custom software, but it is a generalized picture. In summary, it is neither essential nor suitable for every organization to opt for custom software applications. They should carefully evaluate the budget, needs, expertise, and other factors before making a final decision.
Final Thoughts:
In this digital-first business environment, continuous adaptation and technological advancement are essential to survive the fierce competition and earn profit. Small businesses can no longer afford to remain oblivious to this reality of our time.
One such adaptation is custom-built or Bespoke Custom Software Solutions. Small business owners can get many advantages by choosing custom software rather than a ready-made pre-packaged software solution. Improved cost-effectiveness in the longer run, enhanced productivity, streamlined workflows, replacement of legacy IT infrastructure, and competitive edge, among others, are some advantages that small businesses can secure with the help of purpose-specific software applications.
But not every business owner opts for custom software. They should carefully analyze and evaluate their budgetary constraints, requirement level of customization and personalization, and other factors before making a final decision concerning buying a ready-made solution or developing custom software applications.