What Is Custom Software: Types, Pros & Cons, And Reasons to Create

Ever wonder what it’s like to have an application that’s tailored to your liking?

That’s exactly what custom software is in a nutshell.

From the overall user experience to functionality, every element is specifically designed and developed to meet your needs.

It differs from off-the-shelf software, which offers pre-made templates that cater to a broad range of users.

In other words, your app will look strikingly similar to others.

If you’re interested in bespoke software development in the UK, this article will explore the topic in more detail.

We’ll talk about the different types, benefits and challenges, and development process of custom software, so you can prepare accordingly.

What is Custom Software?

Often referred to as bespoke or tailor-made software, custom software is a type of computer program or application built to address the specific features, functions, and user interface required by the client.

In contrast, off-the-shelf or mass-produced software usually uses a pre-made template and comes with existing features.

Although it means a faster development lifecycle, establishing a unique look and feel will be a lot harder.

Different Types of Custom Software

Depending on the specific use cases and business needs, custom software apps can be divided into several categories:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Helps you manage interactions and build long-term relationships with existing customers and prospects.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Provides a centralised platform for various business tasks, so that large companies can improve their productivity.
• Project Management Software: Allows teams to collaborate on specific projects in real time. Popular examples include Monday.com and Trello.
• Inventory Management Software: Built for eCommerce stores and logistics companies, this software helps businesses efficiently track and manage their stock inventory and movements.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): A cloud computing model that delivers software applications over the internet. Users can access the software through a web browser without downloading, installing, or maintaining it on their local devices.

What Are the Reasons for Creating Custom Software?

Developing custom software is the right option if you want to create an innovative, never-seen-before product.

You can freely customise the user interface and navigation system to deliver a more personalised experience for your customers.

On top of that, this approach allows you to maintain a clean code and integrate only the key features you need.

With no unnecessary elements holding your app down, it will perform much faster, giving you that edge over competitors who use mass-produced software.

Pros and Cons of Bespoke Software Development

Compared to off-the-shelf solutions, creating bespoke software comes with plenty more benefits, including:

• Completely unique - Custom software is specifically designed to meet the unique needs and requirements of your business. As such, you can create stand-out software, uniquely distinct from other apps in the market.
• Scalability - Once your business grows, the software can be scaled to accommodate evolving user needs and market conditions. This flexibility allows you to integrate new features and functions as you see fit.
• Enhanced efficiency - Aligning with specific workflows and business processes, custom software enhances your team’s productivity.
• Cost-efficiency in the long run - While the initial development costs might be higher, custom software is more affordable than off-the-shelf solutions in the long term. You don’t need to invest in additional tools or plugins down the line.

Despite having a wide range of advantages, custom software development also has its own set of drawbacks.

Before investing in a bespoke app, knowing its common challenges can help you make the right choices:

• Higher initial costs: Custom software development can involve higher upfront costs compared to off-the-shelf solutions. This initial investment might be a barrier for some businesses, particularly small enterprises.
• Longer development time: Since every element is built from scratch, developing custom software typically takes more time than off-the-shelf solutions.
• Potential for scope creep: There is a risk of scope creep during the development process, where additional features or changes are introduced beyond the initial project scope.

To mitigate these risks, hiring a reliable software developer is a must.

In the following section, we’ll reveal the best practices for choosing the best development agency.

How to Develop Custom Software?

While you can learn how to code and build your own software from the ground up, it will take a lot of your time, effort, and money.

As an entrepreneur, your focus should be growing your business, instead of grappling with the complexities of software development.

For that reason, working with a reputable developer is your best bet. When weighing your options, consider the following factors:

• Technical expertise: Make sure the agency has a development team proficient in the latest programming languages, frameworks, and technologies.
• Proven track record: Review the agency's portfolio and case studies to understand the diversity and complexity of their previous projects. If possible, reach out to their existing clients and ask for their testimonials.
• Transparency: A good agency should provide a clear pricing structure and contract before working on the project. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures a transparent working relationship.

If you’re looking for a software development agency that ticks all the boxes, look no further.

For the last decade, Intelivita has been serving startups and large enterprises in the UK and across the globe.

We’ve successfully delivered over 60 software projects, ranging from mobile apps and cloud solutions to SaaS products and gaming platforms.

For maximum transparency, we’ll keep you in the loop at every stage of the development process:

1. We begin by conducting stakeholder interviews to gather input regarding functional and non-functional requirements, as well as project objectives.
2. Based on the data, we define the system architecture and develop wireframes or prototypes for the user interface.
3. After the design is approved, our developers start working on the actual code. We follow coding standards and industry best practices to ensure code quality.
4. During the development phase, we also execute various types of tests, including unit testing, integration testing, and system testing to identify and fix bugs early.
5. Finally, we deploy your software to the production environment. Our services don’t stop there – we’ll continue to monitor your app and address any issues that may arise post-deployment.