With the creation of the first software by “Ada Lovelace”, the software industry’s digital revolution has advanced significantly, and after that our industry has created millions of software up to this point. Both the demand and the supply of software development solutions are constantly expanding.
To provide fresh and updated technological solutions to businesses throughout the world, custom software is built differently every time. Among many software development trends, custom software development solutions are the ones that have been adopted by software developers and software development companies largely to meet special requirements.
Custom software is a type of software that allows you to customize its features according to business requirements. With the changing dynamics and needs of people, businesses are coming up with new features and functionalities to provide out-of-the-ordinary services to make a mark in the industry.
But wait, do you exactly know about the custom software we are discussing? Custom software is designed specifically for a particular purpose or task.
“One such example of custom software is to create a customized version of Microsoft word that only lets you edit certain types of documents; this is called a template. But it surely can help to make changes according to your requirement.”
Custom software is also known as software customization. It is usually created using programming languages such as Visual Basic, C++, Java, Python, etc. The main advantage of custom software is that it saves time and effort.
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What is Custom Software?
The custom software is the process of arranging, creating, launching, and maintaining a peculiar/special set of functions for businesses. For example, a company might create custom software to manage its inventory, track sales, purchase records or run payroll.
Custom-built software is usually made using programming languages such as C++, Java, Python, etc. A custom software development company can help you in customizing the program or solution to meet the unique needs, according to the particular requirement of an organization.
According to a survey, 52 percent of IT people choose customized software applications over off-the-shelf software applications. Custom-made software provides solutions according to business needs.
Businesses can customize the solutions according to their project necessities which leads to increasing demand for custom software developers. Whereas off-the-shelf software provides already-built solutions where some functions remain unused, and some functions fall short to cater to the needs of the business.
Benefits of Custom Software Solutions
As noted in an earlier survey, 97 percent of people have shown belief in custom software development services, and 94 percent respondents of to the survey recommended the use of Customized Application Software.
Here are some key benefits to look for before you dive into custom-built application development. How can your business benefit from custom solutions? Get to know here-
1. Business-oriented
Your business is different, so why can’t the solutions to it? It is understandable to have custom software to help you with business requirements that will lead to streamlining business processes. With the help of custom software solutions, businesses can add or make changes after receiving customer feedback. Acquiring custom business software and website development services can help complement your business more than off-the-shelf software.
2. Client Retention
The percentage to which your customers feel treated like an individual affects your level of customer satisfaction. Every user or client wants expect a personalized experience when they choose software development company. A business adds value to the customer-business relationship when it offers more personalized solutions. This extra value increases the client retention rate and fosters customer loyalty.
3. Reliability
In comparison to off-the-shelf software, custom solutions provide more reliability and security. When you build custom software solutions for your business, you own all the rights which means any maintenance and change in the software solutions can only be made with your consent. It will help you in being updated about the modifications of your software.
4. Scalability
Custom software can be modified according to the expansion of the business. In off-the-shelf software, organizations can’t make changes themselves, it will simply mean a violation of licensing agreements. Whereas in a custom solution, you can incorporate any changes as the software is designed with specific configuration and execution needs in mind without any violation of the agreement.
5. Integration
With the help of dedicated developers, custom solutions can be integrated into your business software, website, or your platform according to your business requirements. So that, it can share information or data with platforms that are utilized by the organizations. APIs integrated solution can help in improving speed and performance of your business operations.
6. Security
Custom software has better security than off-the-shelf software. Off the shelf is a ready-to-use product that is built on open-source code, such software has been usually at higher risk of getting hacked. whereas custom solutions are built on user requirements, and only shared among their team. So, it is proven to be safe than off-the-shelf software.
7. Cost-Effective
Customer software is built with the features that your business requires and nothing extra added features that can go in vain. With the help of custom solutions, you can tailor the solutions and as well modify them, and help you recognize new ways to add or change solutions as your business grow.
Market Stats of Custom Software Development Services
Some stats to look into to decide whether you want to choose custom solutions or off-the-shelf solutions.
- $122 million is wasted out for every $1 billion capitalized due to unsatisfactory project performance. Custom solutions help in building functions that are needed in the project to boost performance.
- 1 in 3 projects have no baselines, Custom built software helps you to have solutions based on your baseline.
- Software developers take up to nine months to build software solutions, and it takes 4.5 months to build custom software. This helps businesses with reduced cost of custom software development and resources.
Following custom software development which is currently in high demand and implements necessary software development trends. Enterprise software is leading as 84.20% have developed custom-built software for their clients.
Types of Custom-Built Software
If you are thinking of having customized software, here is a list of custom-built software types that can benefit your business.
| Custom Software Type | Features | Best For Industries | Top Companies Use |
| Content Management Systems |
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| Customer Relationship Management System |
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| Enterprise Resource Planning Software |
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| E-commerce Software |
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| Operation Management System |
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| Enterprise Software Solutions |
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1. Content Management Systems (CMS)
There are a lot of times when we have to make changes in websites such as adding blogs, articles, posts, videos, or any other piece of content.
A content management system helps you to make changes without writing codes from start. WordPress, Wix, and Zoomla are an example of content management systems.
Features of Content Management System
Content management systems have lots of characteristics other than customization, what are they-
Responsive and Colorful Themes
Many themes are provided in the CMS. It is important to choose a theme according to the business niche. CMS provides you with ease of downloading, building or purchasing themes according to your requirement.
Fitted SEO Tools
CMS has in-built SEO tools which will be helpful for your website, but you need to check whether it uses fundamental practices such as proper HTML markup and SEO permalinks to improve your chance ranking.
Various Tools and Themes for Content Creation
With CMS, the addition of Images, Blogs, Videos, and more became very easy. As it is also enriched with a powerful content editor, multiple custom layouts, and entrenched resources which will give you more time to provide high-quality content.
Multiple Language Support
With the translated pages of your website, you can create a multi-language switcher module to attract more and more customers and reach other countries too.
Strong Integrations
Integration is facilitated in every CRM in form of “Plugins and extensions. More plugins mean more impressive selections. You can add dropdowns or customize metatags just like Drupal. Companies like WordPress provide 50,000 plugins.
Abundant Analytics Detail
Many CRMs provide detailed analytics such as targeted audiences, trendy content, and devices used. With the help of this, you can easily have a look and measure performance through your dashboard.
Content Enactment
With the help of CMS, you can easily preview those changes before applying them and how they will look to visitors.
Top companies using custom-built content management systems:
1. New York Times – New York is one of the most renowned news agencies that own ‘top 100 Alexa websites” in the world. Times has applied a custom-built content management system named “scoop” which helps in maintaining workflow, budgeting, photo manipulation, and more robust content APIs.
2. Say Media – Say media is a media company that has custom-built software “Tempest” to help advertisers to integrate organic content and paid advertisement through story templates.
3. Gawker – An American blog has its own CMS ‘’Kinja” which provides more customizability and limitless possibilities to create content.
2. Customer Relationship Management System
A customer Relationship Management System is a system to connect with customers, vendors, colleagues, as well as potential customers which helps to build better & long-lasting relationships.
CRM helps in building connections, improving sales, management of the respective department, and as well as smooth business processes. If you believe current customer relationship management systems do not align with your business requirements, you can build a new one according to your project’s needs.
Features of Customer Relationship Management System
Better Management
Helps in improving businesses by managing vendors and customers. Optimum use of resources and maintaining transparency will help in achieving excellence in the business. By maintaining on both ends, you can serve your customers better, and sustain them for the long term.
Customer Retention
Helps in customer retention by constantly updating services, it helps the customers not to diverge to competitors’ business. When using a new product or service of any company, if a customer finds it satisfactory and similar to his/her requirements, they stick to the brand without searching for another brand. The better services you provide to fulfill customer needs, the better the growth of your business.
Improved Customer Base
Hearing Customer complaints and solving them with the predefined set of methods in CRM ultimately lead to building a loyal customer base. While dealing with them, it is important to clear up their misunderstandings. It doesn’t matter how small or big their problem is, it always comes up with the best solution. To maintain the relationship, your business must set up with the customers.
Better Customer Service
With the help of CRM, businesses can meet customers’ expectations, ultimately leading to better customer service. Being better in customer service means clearing and discussing details of the service as well as sticking to conditions made by the organization. Better business with the customer will lead you to a long run in the market.
Needs of customers
CRM helps in analyzing and understanding customer choices and preferences directing to providing goods and services according to customer needs. A market is an unsure place where if you don’t listen to your customer’s needs, you may fall behind. With CRM, you can bond with your customer better while providing them with an amazing experience.
Top Companies using Customer Relationship Management Systems:
1. Coca-Cola – Coca-Cola employs Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to foster collaboration and handle consumer complaints swiftly and effectively. Every member of a Coca-Cola team can find out issues, have an eye on consumer behavior, and use social media to push offers and promotions by using CRM software.
2. Apple CRM – It offers insights into customers and their preferences, So, Apple CRM is employed in comprehensive target marketing.
3. Amazon CRM – Amazon CRM offers the most comprehensive CRM database that records consumer behavior while shopping to improve the customer experience and personalize this data to create email campaigns and marketing targets.
3. Enterprise Resource Planning Software
Enterprise Resource Planning Software helps in maintaining day to day activities of any business from the supply chain, procurement, and accounts, to risk management & compliance.
Being a component of the ERP suite, Enterprise performance management software is helpful in functions like creating plans, financing, predictive analysis, and budget-related report analytics of the organization. ERP systems comprise a transparent business process while examining all aspects related to production, finances, and logistics,
Features of Enterprise Planning Software
Enterprise Integration
A completely integrated, user-friendly platform is offered by ERP software so that you can evaluate, track, and perform data-driven operations. This information is transformed into statistics and insights to be used by the corporation in another way that helps in reallocating resources & seizing new market possibilities. ERP systems offer the ability to produce business intelligence. Throughout departments and business units, business processes are connected from beginning to end.
Automation
Your employees may concentrate on vital tasks by spending fewer hours on operations, all thanks to automation. Making the right use of most of your employees’ time allows for more productive workdays. Process automation can minimize human error & efforts. Your staff members are prone to making a mistake or two when they spend most of their days performing the same work. Automation makes it possible to send error-free data from one section of the system to another.
Data Analysis
ERP systems can help in analyzing and collecting data and spin it into actionable insights. For instance, ERP systems can systematize payroll processes, eliminating the need for an extensive payroll department.
Inventory Control
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a crucial component of inventory control since it aids in data maintenance, reduces waste by streamlining manufacturing processes, and manages inventory while focusing on employees’ efforts.
Top Companies using Enterprise Planning Software:
1. Amazon – Amazon uses ERP software called system analysis and program development which helps in maintaining logistics, finance, human resources, and order management.
2. Starbucks – Starbucks uses CLOUD-BASED software solution which helps in managing processes such as revenue, expense, inventory, and human resource management.
3. Toyota – Toyota uses Microsoft dynamics 365 to reach more clients by providing them with better services like paperless work, reducing work hours, and improving the efficiency of work.
4. E-commerce Software
An e-commerce CMS is an efficient system that helps you generate, manage, and publish a digital website without writing any code. If you have any different requirements for your business and want to have different functions, you can also get custom E-commerce software solutions by top ecommerce development company to help you with your business processes.
The E-commerce management system comes with features like record-keeping vehicles, changing mail addresses, shipping and payment gateway, and inventory organization.
Features of E-commerce Software
Marketing tools
You can use your e-commerce software tools to boost your marketing and promotional activity. You can also provide details about the next sale or discount coupons.
Skilled Management System
While starting, you want to scale your business in any way possible. If you are thinking of handling it by yourself, you may not be able to. Management systems come with lots of functionalities such as gauging current market requirements, studying various accounts, analytics, and as well as detailed reports on them. They will help to fill the gap of market exposure and connect with new customers.
Search Function
E-commerce platforms come with lots of functions to make it easy for customers. These functions include listing and categorizing products according to their description, picture, and functioning list. A sophisticated search function makes it simple for shoppers to search for items according to their requirements.
Analytical Tools
Ecommerce Software can help you with analytics, it can help you know about the patterns or trends that are capturing customers more. It can also help you in providing insights, keyword results, demographics, gender preferences, and what changes you can do to generate more revenue.
Top Companies using Ecommerce Software
1. Shopify – Shopify uses an omnichannel management solution to analyze customer buying behavior, trends, reports, and sales insights to keep making updates according to customers.
2. Big-commerce – Big-commerce has a scalable e-commerce solution that provides features like drag and drop, user interface, and payment gateway. It is working with business apps such as Mailchimp and Zendesk to restructure marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction.
5. Operation Management System
A company’s operation management system is a set of practices and procedures that aid in business management and high levels of efficiency in day-to-day operations.
The objective of OMS is to improvise the organization’s performance while managing business operations to attain the best possible productivity. Operations Management (OM) focuses on how the company will turn inputs or assets into outputs.
Features of operation management system
OMS can turn your resources into profit, below is the list of benefits of OMS in your organization-
Cutting Down Cost
Due to the use of slow and outdated business processes, a lot of time companies face a waste of resources and redundant expenses which reduces companies’ revenue. With the establishment of OMS, you can manage and rationalize the business processes and also reduces the wastage of resources.
Improving Productivity
Operations management systems make sure your production and fulfillment processes are efficient and liberate your time to do more beneficial tasks. Organizations can improve their current workflow while also receiving real-time input from consumers and team members about what is working and what isn’t.
Connectivity Among Departments
Through the use of operations management systems, many organizational divisions may collaborate to accomplish company goals and enhance management processes for better outcomes. For the effective and comprehensive administration of a firm, an OMS combines the gathering of data, business operations, and customer expectations and requirements.
Top companies using operation management systems
1. Motorola – Motorola uses an operation management system to improve the quality of its products and process control.
2. Dell – Dell is using the operation management system to better their applied technologies with innovation.
6. Enterprise Software Solutions
By concentrating on the entire organization, enterprise software refers to the programs and tools that businesses utilize to support their tactical and strategic goals. CRM and business intelligence are two examples.
Business operations can be optimized with the use of enterprise software solutions. Different kinds of business apps can support the monitoring of such operations. Additionally, these applications can help managers in learning more about critical performance metrics.
Features of Enterprise software
Enterprise planning
Enterprise Software helps in breaking down business goals, from creating business plans to how they will achieve them. This Enterprise Software helps you in checking your production, business analytics, and reports. All the data are combined in structured form and shown on the dashboard. You can easily see the results of your plan and make changes according to that.
Flexible
It makes the work of every department flexible by combining all data. Employees can utilize the collected data in different works. One main benefit of enterprise management solutions employees has access to all the data to automate detailed progressions easily, which makes them more productive at work.
Analytics
Make informed company decisions on personnel, account payables, revenue, customer feedback, payables and receivables, and other factors by measuring and evaluating KPIs with in-depth analytics. To get more benefits, you can also use custom analytics.
Top Companies Using Enterprise Management Systems
1. ClickUp – Click up uses a custom enterprise management system that helps employees to plan, assort and collaborate with different departments for various assignments. Gantt charts and Gantt dashboard are available in it to assist the user.
2. Microsoft – Microsoft uses office 365, and outlook of its own. Through this, you can share valuable data, maintain records, and exchange information without the fear of a breach of privacy.
3. Zendesk – Zendesk is an all-in-one sales platform. Zendesk helps to keep track of leads, smoothen sales processes, keep records, and enhance pipelines.
Conclusion
In the above article, we have shared a guide to custom software development that shows why businesses should go for custom software over off-the-shelf software. The demand for custom software developers has also increased due to a lot of benefits and advantages provided by these solutions.
Before making any custom solutions, you must have a well-prepared plan for what features and functions you would like in your custom software solutions. It will lead you to utilize the resources and money properly.
If you are planning to have custom solution development and looking for custom software development companies, you can look out for SemiDot Infotech. Over the years, we have made several custom solutions for different businesses with the help of our expert developers. You can also contact us in case of having custom software development services or to know more about them.
FAQ
For clarity about custom software development, you need to go through these FAQs.
What is the difference between custom software and an off-the-shelf solution?
Custom software is usually made on the demand of a particular company according to the requirement of their specific project, whereas an off-the-shelf solution is a ready-made solution that is not customized and is readily available to companies. Due to unused features in off-the-shelf solutions, it often lacks to satisfy the requirements of the customer base.
How much time does it take to build custom software?
It depends on the features you want to include, business requirements, used technologies, etc. But still, there is a general Software Development Life Cycle to follow for custom software development that takes somewhere 4 to 9 months from commencement to completion and release. It can also take more than 9 months according to the requirements.
How much does it cost to build custom software?
A custom software development solution can cost from $25,000 to $80,000. It can take more than that depending on the elements added, the experience of the company, location, and other factors. The best way to know about it is to discuss your project with an experienced software company.
How many types of custom software are there?
There are six types of custom software which are content management systems (CMS), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning system, operations management software, enterprise software solutions, and e-commerce software.
Which big brands are using custom software?
Some big companies which are using custom software are Amazon, Coca-Cola, Say Media, Gawker, Apple, Starbucks, Toyota, Motorola, Dell, Shopify, Click Up, and Microsoft.
