Under the current business climate, most people want efficiency rather than sophistication. This need for efficiency causes a dilemma when choosing what business software to use, especially customer relationship management software. There are usually two types of business software: custom-built software and off-the-shelf softwares. In this post, you will learn how custom developed software improves business efficiency compared to off the shelf software.
What Is the Difference Between Custom Developed Software and Off the Shelf Software?
Off the shelf software is a ready-made product that contains expanded functionalities and is usually designed for mass commercial use; good examples include Salesforce and HubSpot. Custom software is created from scratch but specifically based on the client’s specific demands; such software is also known as bespoke software. Most businesses worldwide have embraced bespoke software to help them improve their productivity, customer relationships, and efficiency.
How Custom Software Development Will Benefit Your Business
Tailor-Made Features
As a company, you always have specific requirements you want your software to meet since those requirements go hand in hand with your business needs and technical assets. Achieving such a goal is always hard, especially if you are using off the shelf software since they are built for the masses, and most tend to have some functionality that you won’t ever use, and all they do is make the software much more complex. As a result, custom CRM software is recommended since they are based on your company’s needs. Also, with custom software, developers can easily adjust them to suit your company’s evolving needs.
Increases Efficiency, Performance, And Quality of Work
Bespoke software development is mainly dedicated to workflows over close fit solutions, thus improving workplace efficiency and performance. Since custom software only provides you with features you only need, the number of errors is greatly reduced. With reduced errors, high-quality work is assured compared to when you use off the shelf software like HubSpot and salesforce, which are filled with features you may never use. Furthermore, with bespoke software, you are assured of a dedicated tech support team that you won’t have to wait long for a solution whenever you run into a problem.
Saves Costs
One thing that is quite common with most off the shelf software is the need to annually renew the licenses or the charges you have to pay in case of an update. Once you add up these costs, you’ll find that these charges are quite high compared to if you chose a custom CRM software.
But you have to keep in mind that the initial charges that you’ll incur during the development of the custom software are quite high, but once it’s done, you won’t have to pay any other charges, thus making it the cheaper option compared to an off the shelf software.
It Gives You a Competitive Advantage
Bespoke software development is usually designed to suit your specific needs, thus giving you a competitive advantage over those firms using off the shelf software like Salesforce and HubSpot, mainly because you can solve problems they can’t. Even if said firms come to embrace bespoke software, you’ll still be miles ahead.
You might also decide to purchase the software rights since it was designed using your guidelines to ensure you keep your competitive edge. Also, when you own the rights to the software, you can turn it into a source of income and sell access to the software to other firms and charge them annually or monthly.
It’s Flexible, Agile, And Adaptable
Most off the shelf software like salesforce and HubSpot are usually quite rigid in that you have to get extra features that will cost you even more in case you want to expand your business or incorporate other services. But custom-made software allows you to change its features and functionalities at a moment’s notice.
Custom software is so agile that developers can experiment with new features and fix errors, all without compromising the software’s foundations. Also, as the business grows, you can expand the software modularly to ensure it meets your growing needs.
Security
Over the years, multiple reports have shown that data breaches are at an all-time high, and the most commonly affected victims are usually off the shelf software. This problem has rarely affected bespoke software because they use codes that are usually unique to a particular individual or firm, making it hard for unauthorised access. Also, most bespoke software is built, with security being the top requirement.
Embracing custom-made software will bring you multiple business and technological benefits that will ensure you remain competitive in your specific industry. But always be aware of fraudsters, so for quality work and more information about full stack software developers, check out Dev Partners.
