From traditional custom web software development processes to Agile methods, many companies have explored different ways of developing software. The result? Failure and frustration for many, but some companies also succeeded in implementing new software development processes that have helped them succeed. In this blog article we’ll explain what a custom software development is, why it’s so important for your company and how you can start adapting it today.
What is a custom software development?
The main difference between a custom software development, a pilot project and an in-house project is the size of the company and its resources. With a custom software development you outsource the development of a specific software or an online application, usually to a company specialized in this kind of services. Sometimes, you’ll also see the term “custom software architecture” or “custom application development” used, which means the same thing, but using different terminology. If you outsource the development of an internal application (e.g. a CRM), your company will work together with a vendor to create the software. This development will be done in-house, with your resources, and then you’ll either integrate the new application with your current systems or offer it to the company as a service. With a custom application, you’ll work with a vendor to design the application upfront. Once the design is ready, the vendor will develop the application for you.
Why should you do a custom software development?
– A different approach to business problem-solving: When you start looking for solutions for an internal problem, a custom software development will often bring you to a different view of the problem and, hopefully, a better solution. In a regular project, the business problem usually stays the same, even though the technology might change. With a custom software development, you’ll have the opportunity to shift the focus of your team and get them excited about using new technology and solving a new type of problem. – Learn and adapt: A software development process is a set of tasks, practices and tools that are used to make a product. You can learn a lot from other companies that have made the same mistake you have and you can also adapt your process to address the specific needs of your company. – Better communication and collaboration: A challenge in any project is the communication between team members. A good software development process will help you build an effective communication chain between your team members and the vendor. If the vendor speaks a different language, the chain can break. A custom software development will often bring together a team composed of different teams within your company, so you can benefit from the different skills of each team member.
5 benefits of doing a custom software development
– Better quality: A custom software development will almost always result in a better product. This is because, with a smaller team and less pressure to deliver, the product will be more focused and its quality will be higher. – More control: When you do a custom software development, you’ll have more control over the process. You can decide how the development will happen and how the product will look. This means that you can control the process to keep the product more focused and the budget lower. – Greater innovation: Because you’ll be designing the application upfront, you’ll have the opportunity to innovate and try new things. This can lead to new and more engaging experiences for your clients. – Lower risk: If a product doesn’t deliver the expected value, you can just stop the project and move on. This is not the case with in-house projects where you often have limited resources and you can’t easily stop the project.
4 steps to do a custom software development
These are the main steps to implement a custom software development: – Identify the business problem: The first step will be to identify the business problem that your product will solve. This problem should drive the product and shape the core experience of the application. – Identify the business requirements: Once you know the business problem, you need to identify the requirements of the application and, more precisely, its user story. User stories are the functions that your customers want your product to provide, and each story has a number of requirements. – Create the product: Once you’ve identified the requirements, it’s time to build the product. It’s important to follow a process and use specific tools to ensure that your product is delivered as expected. – Test and optimize: As you’ve probably understood by now, a custom software development results in a better quality product. To maximize the benefits of the development process and lower the risk, you need to test and optimize the product. This means that, when you’re done, you should be able to deliver the same product or with small changes that have a big impact on the user experience.
3 challenges in doing a custom software development
– Communication: A key challenge in doing a custom software development is communication. In a custom project, your team and the vendor will speak different languages so communication will be crucial. A good software development process will help you get better at communication, but you need to practice from day one. – Time: Another challenge in doing a custom software development is time. You can’t expect to have the same level of velocity when you start with a new process. You’ll likely experience a delay in the delivery of new features and a longer time to release new versions of the product. – Risk: Finally, a custom software development is a risky process. You can’t just hire a vendor and run the project. You need to identify the problems that your project will face and prepare for the challenges they will bring.
Wrapping up
The transition from traditional software development to a custom software development is a big change, but it can help your company solve different business problems and improve the customer experience. In order to successfully implement a custom software development, you need to be aware of the challenges and benefits it provides. By doing this, you’ll be ready to tackle the challenges of a custom software development and reap the benefits. As you can see, trying a custom development is a great way to solve certain business problems and innovate your product.
