Bespoke software
Definition
The software was developed to satisfy the needs of the individual customer. It is the exact opposite of the off-the-shelf (OTS) software product. OTS software is normally developed towards the generic needs of a large group of customers, and the development expenditure is financed by all the products of the software and the bespoke software is developed to specifically fit the needs of a specific customer which is paid out of customer per se.
Read Also: Software as a service, Managed it Services
Why do bespoke software created?
The reasons that cause a customer to want to have tailor-made software developer as opposed to buying off the shelf product may vary and some of the reasons may include:
- They have an intention of developing a new innovative product
The development of something new, different and unique will make it possible to get out of competition and form new income streams.
They desire the software to precisely meet your business processes
Efficiency in the running of your businesses will save you plenty on your costs enabling you to undercut your rivals and steal customers.
They desire their clients to be having unusual experience
Improving the experience of a customer is also the strategy to be ahead of the game and allow you to win new customers and leave the competitors behind.
They are unable to find an off the shelf product, which adequately meets their requirements
Businesses with niches are not likely to get off the shelf products, which will suit them well because they are produced to suit the business needs of the generic companies.
- They should combine the software with other third party products
Combining software products assists in ensuring that the usefulness of the software in use is utilised.
They are so reliant on the software in their business to the extent that they cannot take that chance of ensuring that the software provider who provides them with the software can assume control of their data and have access to their data by relying on a third party to provide them with software.
Use of software may sometimes be completely essential to the operation of business and dependence, which is not wholly within your control, may pose a great threat to your business.
Bespoke off the shelf
Custom software and packaged software do present their merits and demerits. This all depends on what is best in business.
Amounting to the Advantages and Disadvantages of Bespoke Software?
Advantages
- Your business becomes very efficient because the software can be laid to suit your best business processes
The software is able to include special features that are not found in a commercial product
The software will not contain more features than you want, and you would not need to pay to program features that you never use
The software could be developed with the ability to take into consideration all your requirements not necessarily your requirements showing its functionality when you use it. You might need certain issues regarding safety, hosting, reporting, future growth, performance, integration etc.
The connection with the vendor will be close allowing working relationships to be intimate and collaborative
These can be protected by source code and IPR
- The Service Levels are to your needs
Disadvantages
- May seem expensive in comparison with the use of off the shelf product software, although, the entire ROI has to be taken into consideration
- Demands specificative process of specification
Maintenance is required continuously
What does off the Shelf software have as Advantages and Disadvantages?
Advantages
Value of money can be seen to be high as a lot of functionality can be achieved at a somewhat cheap price
- The products can contain extra features that your company can utilize later on in time
- Having so many customers will make the probability of the edge case scenarios being solved by other customers higher
The deployment process must take a short time, as the software is pre-written.
Service Levels are normally to a level which will not be satisfactory to your business requirements
Disadvantages
The software being produced may consist of features that are unnecessary, and the implication of such a development will be factored into the selling price of the products
The software would most probably have features which are not exactly as you would want.
The process of product selection may be challenging and time-consuming depending on the availability in order to validate the software and compare weights on differences
We are most likely to be forced to design our business processes in line with the functioning of the software. Workarounds will have to be done manually at various stages of the process.
The emergence of new business requirements in the future might or might not coincide with the way software operates and present complications in respect to how the business will handle the constraints.
- The direction of product development in the future might not live to your expectations or needs.
The vendor relationship is normally arms length in that vendor issues come out of the blue.
The data outside of one product to another may be challenging and expensive to migrate.
All the source code and IPR belongs to vendors and cannot be accessible even under the liquidation of the vendor
In need of custom-programming software that fits your business?
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