Business today is moving so fast, it is important for companies to consider investing in technology. Many companies tend to lean toward off-the-shelf solutions for their business; however, most are unaware of the advances that software development has made in recent years and the benefits that creating your own custom software solution can bring to your company.
Now that you know you have options, here are some key questions to ask when selecting what’s best for your business:
- What is a customized logistics software development?
- What is the difference between custom software and standardized commercial software (SCS)?
- What are the pros and cons associated with custom software development?
- How do I know if my company needs a custom software solution?
What is a customized logistics software development?
Custom Software Development is a service that includes the process of conceptualizing, designing, building, and implementing comprehensive or complementary software applications to simplify and optimizing an enterprises processes while providing customers with a unique user experience.
Custom software is designed to meet specific needs and is considered more effective than standard Commercial Software. Because Commercial Software addresses a broader set of general requirements, it is ideal for a wider target audience.
What Is the Difference between Custom Software and Standard Commercial Software (SCS)?
The decision to build versus buy continues to affect companies looking for software solutions. Standard software is ready to use as soon as it is installed. Custom software, on the other hand, is designed and developed to meet specific requirements and normally takes longer to implement into a business ecosystem.
When evaluating each option, decision-makers must consider their current situation while also evaluating the functionality, usability, and performance levels that each option offers.
-
Software Development
Software development is getting more user-friendly every day. In the past, programmers used to spend months writing lines of code. Today, an increasing number of open-source code snippets are available for many software features. User-friendly interfaces allow for the development of highly advanced applications. These advancements have made the process of developing a custom software solution faster and considerably cheaper.
However, coding is just one part of the entire software development process. Identifying and improving existing business processes, pinpointing UI/UX design (User Interface/ User Experience) requirements, performing quality control, and updating the software are other crucial stages of the development process that require the experience and training of professional programmers.
In contrast, standardized commercial software will typically be faster to implement because it only focuses on providing the masses with software that includes processes and features that are common within an industry. They usually focus on emerging technologies and less on emerging efficiencies. Additionally, while SCS can seem like the easier option to most, many companies find that they must either scratch some features off of their initial wish list or purchase additional applications in order to get something that works for their business.
- Deployment
The deployment of a custom software solution is a manageable process despite the advanced skills that are often required. Software maintenance is one of the advantages of custom software applications because a reputable software development company will normally provide software maintenance support for your application – even after your company goes live. As part of those maintenance services, a software development company will typically manage your software updates.
Many companies believe that implementing a standardized software solution is easy. This could not be further from the truth. Finding the right software is like finding the right puzzle piece. When evaluating a software solution, company leaders still need to identify the issues and collect user requirements to ensure the right fit. Relatedly, the solution needs to be evaluated for its UX/UI design, its’ infrastructure, its’ compatibility with different devices, and its’ ease of use.
- Integration
In an era when data analysis is essential to staying ahead of the competition, organizations often require the seamless integration of software with other enterprise-grade systems. When it comes to integrating with other platforms, standard software may or may not integrate seamlessly with other software systems and often times find themselves hiring a third party to integrate their technical ecosystem.
This is where many companies find that they invest in custom software development can be worthwhile, as these solutions can be designed and developed to allow seamless integration. The right software developer will create a blueprint that will result in the seamless integration of custom software within the pre-existing ecosystem.
-
Scalability
Scalability is arguably the biggest consideration when considering any new technology for your business. We have found that growing logistics companies often find themselves looking to upgrade or replace their software within 3-5 years. That’s because standardized software is harder to scale as time passes and new opportunities arise.
In order to ensure consistently high operational performance, high employee morale, and to avoid heavy periodic investments of time and resources the software that you need for your business must be able to scale with your business both today AND tomorrow. A properly designed software solution will allow your company to add new features and functionality to your technical ecosystem when needed, making it an agile and cost-effective solution.
In addition, to be limited in terms of scalability, another drawback to SCS is that subscriber companies eventually find themselves at the mercy of the software vendor. That is because, in many cases, the software:
- Does not include all of the functionality that is required for an efficient operation.
- Is not willing to create customized solutions for their customer base, and/or
- The bundles feature into packages, meaning that companies often have to pay for extra features that may never be used.
-
Updates
Many SCS providers include customer support and periodic software updates. Oftentimes, however, customers find themselves waiting long periods of time for that critical feature that is needed by your team. In the meantime, end-users are required to perform workarounds, which can negatively impact the business.
Alternatively, custom software allows companies to make important changes to their software when it is needed. It passes the control over technical ecosystems away from SCS vendors and places it in where it belongs – in the hands of the company decision-makers.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Custom Software Development?
Pros
-
Solutions are tailored to specific needs
When we consider that almost every company has at least some unique element within their business operations, custom software is usually the best solution. This model allows enterprises to implement the strategies, processes, and ideas that can allow for service differentiation and potential competitive advantage.
-
Security
Security is at the heart of any software – as no company will feel comfortable with applications whose data can be easily compromised. Custom software can reduce security risks by allowing you to add as many security measures as you want. You don’t have to rely on the restricted security features of any standardized product.
-
Easy Integration
Custom software is designed to allow easy integration with your company’s existing software and programs. Software developers can help you design software for seamless integration, enabling easier adoption and improved business productivity.
-
You are the Boss
Custom software gives companies the freedom to add, modify, remove, or improve any feature – allowing for complete control over the software.
Cons
-
Costs of Development
The cost of developing custom software has been relatively high in the past. However, with continued advances in technology, those costs have been decreasing considerably. In fact, it is currently possible to develop your solution at only a fraction of what it used to cost, and with payment agreements that work within your budget.
-
Development Time
It’s true that developing a comprehensive custom software application requires time, as requirements must be clearly defined before jumping into the development phases. As such, considerable time is spent in analyzing the requirements. That’s why our next point is so important.
-
Choosing the Right Developer
Choosing the right team to develop your solution is essential. Any developer hired to create a customized software solution must understand the industry in which their customers operate. This includes an understanding of industry terminology, trends, processes, legal requirements, and more. Selecting developers who do not understand the clients’ industry will likely lead a company to invest much more in terms of time and resources.
How do i know if my logistic company needs Custom Software Development?
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it’s time for you to consider a custom software solution for your company:
- Have you ever wished that you could mimic your unique processes within your software?
- Is your business projecting future growth within its industry?
- Are you looking for a higher return on investment?
- Do you want to turn your technical ecosystem into a distinctive competitive advantage?
- Have you always wanted your own software but thought that it was out of your company’s budget?
Conclusion
Before deciding on a software solution, a company should look beyond the pricing and existing features of standardized commercial software and answer the following questions:
- Are we simply buying a short-term solution for a long-term challenge?
- Is our current software solution an asset or a liability to my company? Can we do better?
- Does this purchase give us a competitive advantage within our industry or do we run the risk of being lumped in with all of our competitors, in the eyes of a potential customer?
Our team enjoys the challenge of improving our client’s businesses through technology, and we ensure that value and quality are emphasized every step of the way.
