• Home
  • Blog
    • Resources
    • Business Partner Magazine Archive
  • About Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Website Use
  • Contacts

Business Partner Magazine

Tips and advice for entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs

  • Business Success
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Employees
  • Technology
  • Start-up
  • Productivity
  • Communication

Does Your Business Really Need Custom Software? A Quick Checklist

March 17, 2021 by BPM Team

Click here to get this post in PDF

Too long to read? Enter your email to download this post as a PDF. We will also send you our best business tips every 2 weeks in our newsletter. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your NameEnter your Email Address
Programming code abstract technology background of software developer and  Computer script

Developing and implementing custom software is a serious step for any company regardless of its size. While the benefits of such a decision are overwhelming, substantial costs tend to keep business owners from researching development options.

Custom software has a high ROI. It helps your company improve productivity, stay compliant with industry requirements, avoid security issues, and much more. However, some businesses can stay productive while using off-the-shelf software.

Here are a few things you should watch for when making a decision about custom software investments.

1.   You  Keep Buying New Software

Off-the-shelf software usually has a limited variety of options. When the business grows or adjusts direction, it often requires functionality the main off-the-shelf program doesn’t have. So business owners search for additional apps to get the job done.

Eventually, employees are stuck with several programs, which they need to juggle to maintain productivity. This usually entails doing a lot of manual work like retyping details from one program to another. While some software can be integrated with another, many apps have to be handled separately.

With time, you end up paying more for off-the-shelf programs than you would for custom software while drastically reducing employee satisfaction.

2.   It’s Becoming Hard to Reach out to Your Customers

The key to your company’s profitability is happy customers. If you’ve been noticing that customer relations are suffering since your staff is overwhelmed with work, you may need custom software.

Building customer relations requires high-quality tools. If your current off-the-shelf software can’t do the job, your retention efforts could disappear in vain.

Custom software can help you manage your customer base while reaching out to clients across various channels. You can keep all the information in one place, thus streamlining your marketing and sales enablement.

3.   Your Business is Growing

Startups rarely have the funds to develop custom software. The amount of work they do can usually fit into a couple of off-the-shelf apps. As your company starts growing, you could find that the off-the-shelf solutions aren’t growing with it.

Off-the-shelf software isn’t created to accommodate the needs of companies that grow or scale quickly. Most likely, you would need to purchase other solutions to ensure a smooth transition. This in turn would involve extra time for learning and transferring information, thus keeping your employees from focusing on their core competencies.

Custom software can grow with your business. One of the key custom software development trends involves creating a flexible solution that needs minor tweaking to satisfy the growing company’s needs.

4.   You Are Experiencing Issues with Data Analysis

Data collection and analysis are the pillars of any businesses’ profitability. In order to stay ahead of the competition, you need the right tools to handle your data. Off-the-shelf software usually presents a generic solution to your data collection and analysis requirements. It may not be sufficient to provide you the tools for efficient decision-making.

Custom software can help you optimize business operations by handling business-specific data according to your current business goals. It can also maximize customer data security.

5.   You Are Falling Behind the Competition

While many factors could stand behind your loss of edge, poorly matched software can be one of them. If your main competitors are taking advantage of custom software, it can be nearly impossible to outrun them with off-the-shelf alternatives.

High-quality software is an integral part of your company’s profitability. If it doesn’t get the job done right, you could have trouble staying ahead of the competition.

Customs software is specifically designed to cater to your company’s needs. It can simplify meeting business goals and staying competitive.

The Takeaway

If you notice one or more of the abovementioned signs, you need to rethink your software. While top talent is one of the pillars of business profitability, it can’t help you succeed without the right tools.

Custom software development is a highly profitable investment. While it may require large upfront expenses, it can help your company become an industry leader. By reevaluating your current business operations, you may find that custom software is your next step toward success.

Also read: The Advantages of Custom Software Development

Image source: Shutterstock.com

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: business growth, Data, software

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disclosure

We earn commissions if you shop through the links on this page.

Recent Posts

  • The Weird World of Online Furniture Shopping
  • 3 Tips For A Beginner Freelance Manual Tester
  • A Beginner’s Guide to Investment Planning in Bothell
  • Maximizing Your IT Budget – Tips and Tricks for Small Business Owners
  • 6 Top Tips About Business Disputes

Categories

Archives

Digital Marketing Agency

ReachMore Banner

Tags

Accounting apps bitcoin brand business growth business skills business success communication cryptocurrency Customer Service Data design ecommerce Efficiency employees Featured Article finance finances Health and Safety infographic insurance Investing investment legal legal services legal tips Management Marketing marketing strategy Outsourcing productivity property Real estate sales security SEO Social Media software starting a business startup Technology Trading Training website workplace

Disclosure

We earn commissions if you shop through the links on this page.

Digital Marketing Agency

ReachMore Banner

Business Partner Magazine

Business Partner Magazine provides business tips for small business owners (SME). We are your business partner helping you on your road to business success.

Have a look around the site to discover a wealth of business-focused content.

Here’s to your business success!

Copyright © 2023 - Business Partner Magazine·