While your fellow technology leaders are enabling business processes with modern customized software development, how are you ensuring that your business processes function efficiently?
Unlike leaders who fail to understand the worth of adopting change, how are you enabling your business to cope with the change?
With the emerging technology trends, how are you ensuring that you are not creating leeway for your competitors to outplay you?
Bad News – With limited susceptibility to change, your technology will soon be obsolete!
Good News – A slight adjustment in your focus on technological adoptions can make you ace the game!
Still, don’t you find it worth taking action?
The global customized software development market is expected to reach USD 146.18 billion by 2023 ~ According to Grand View Research.
If not now, then when are you planning to take your business to the next level?
“Why is NOW the right time to approach customized software development?” – you may ask.
Because, over the past decade, open-source technologies have reduced software costs for large companies.
Modern-day innovation and newer technologies have enabled businesses to create experiences that can create impact and grow beyond the bounds.
The number of CTOs approaching custom software development companies with unique business requirements is increasing day by day.
No matter what shape and size of the business, leaders are willing to ride the tide of digital transformation and change the dynamics of business functioning.
Still have second thoughts? Thinking if you should invest in custom software development or not?
We get it!
Today, by the time you reach the end of this read, you’ll have gained insights into –
- Challenges of custom software development
- How do you choose the best software development partner?
- Effective ways to communicate effectively with your development partner
- Fears and mysteries around custom software development as a whole
- Role of custom software in the world of startups
And much more!
Without any further ado, let’s dive in!
Custom Software Development Challenges and Solutions
Are you looking for an outsourcing custom software development team that can provide quality custom software development services for your project?
If you are, then you must know that each profession, industry, and sphere have its own risks and challenges that must be considered.
Nevertheless, did you ever think that the IT industry is an exception to risks and challenges?
If you did, you could not be more mistaken!
Of course, outsourcing custom software development has an array of benefits that can help grow your company and provide you with a competitive advantage.There’s no doubt about it.
However, it also has some risks to it.
But not to worry, they can be mitigated as well!
Thinking, “What are the risks of outsourcing custom software development?”
Let’s look at them one-by-one!
Commencing Custom Software Development without a Clear Project Scope!
The scope is a significant aspect for any software development project.
It determines how much work needs to be done and what features and functionalities need to be developed for the software application.
If the scope of your project is not well-defined, it puts a risk of your software not functioning properly.
A lack of clarity in defining the scope of the project could lead to the failure of your software application and provide poor user experience with it.
Thinking, “How to deal with unclear project scope situations?”
Here’s the solution!
Collaborating with a custom software development company can help you clearly define the project scope with their aid and understand what functions will be carried out in the development process.
Here are some key things to note when you work with a custom software development company –
- The approach should be collaborative, with opportunities for feedback from both you and the development team.
- Define the primary scope of your product so that developers can offer ideas and suggestions on how to accomplish it.
- Before drafting a specification document, consider what is achievable and what is impossible, given your budget.
- You can also check with the developers to see if there is a better solution.
Inadequate Software Development Planning
This is a serious challenge or pitfall, to be exact, encountered by start-ups that are taking baby steps and getting their first software developed.
Companies in the growing phase tend to understand the importance of meticulous phase preparation and confidently move ahead. In simple words, they bite a bigger piece, than they can chew. But this approach doesn’t work in software development, and because of this, start-ups get bogged down without reaching their first milestone.
Thinking, “How to save yourself from lack of planning?”
Here’s the solution!
- Before your team develops customized software, make sure they have a thorough & detailed plan of the project that needs to be developed.
- The roadmap should contain all the information, like scope and specification, tools, and technologies to be used, budget, the quality expected, and resources needed to fulfill the project on time.
- The team should also be aware of potential risks, communication channels with the client, and migration strategy.
- Furthermore, the team should stick to the plan, no matter the cost, as every project needs fine-tuning and sometimes severe overhauling.
A clear strategy and pre-defined vision are required to be successful in the building phase.
Not Collaborating with the Right People
Working with an outsourcing custom software development team can be risky if you fail to identify the skills and expertise required for your software application by them.
A lack of transparency or miscommunication could cause significant inefficiencies, delays, or budget overruns. It is, in fact, one of the most critical problems in software development. You can end up investing more than the agreed-upon sum.
Thinking, “How can this challenge be resolved?”
Here’s the solution!
If you are not sure how to choose the right team of IT experts, consider these factors –
- Ascertain the issues that need fixing and make a list of all your goals and requirements.
- Compare all the different teams available before fixating on one.
- Seek clarification about their process of software development, testing approach, and past projects.
- Do not fail to ask for references from previous clients with whom they have collaborated.
- Communicate with possible workforce to ensure they are capable of resolving your problems.
Lack of Transparency when Outsourcing Software Development
Several organizations hire a team of IT experts and then send them a set of project information without reviewing if they have all the information needed.
As a result –
- Deliveries are delayed
- Extra costs are incurred
- Quality is compromised
In severe circumstances, the development process could be suspended if the custom software development company is unable to deliver what you desire in the final product.
Thinking, “How can this riddle be solved?”
Here’s the solution!
Every software development requires a clear channel of communication between both partners, which must be maintained throughout the project’s progress.
You can do this by –
- Creating a shared repository where both parties can share assignments and deadlines
- Arranging regular video and voice conferences to discuss the project’s progress
- Maintaining a record of all activities to monitor progress and assess ways to solve problems
- Calling your sales representative or project manager to figure out if there is an issue with the team they work with
Choosing the Wrong Technology for Custom Software Development
Using incompatible or out-of-date technologies or programming languages might increase costs and hinder the productivity of your software application.
And you might not even get the desired output at the end of the project development process.
Therefore, choosing the appropriate technologies is critical, as it may make or break your project.
Thinking, “How this challenge can be dodged?”
Here’s the solution!
- Before exploring the many alternatives for designing and developing a software application, establish your primary needs.
- Avoid relying on out-of-date tools simply because the software development staff is familiar with them.
- Make sure you can collaborate with a skilled and experienced team of IT specialists who can work with newer tools and languages as well.
Not Using Agile Software Development Method
Using the agile technique emphasizes continuous improvement and attaining reliable and predictable outcomes.
It functions in the opposite direction of the conventional approach of developing software application first and testing it later.
The agile method enables you to enhance your problem-solving capabilities, keep up with market demands, and complete projects on time.
Thinking, “How can this mistake be avoided?”
Here’s the solution!
- Hire expert IT professionals trained professionally in agile software development or have expertise in working with it.
- Ensure that your team of IT professionals uses efficient methods and tools to prioritize your project-related tasks and activities.
- Collaborate with a custom software development company that is willing to share project development details with you at every step of the process.
Inefficient Project Management
Project management problems are one of the primary reasons various projects fail—assigning responsibilities within the team, supervising the team members, meticulously monitoring the progress of each project, and ensuring if all of them are on the same page.
This is the job of experienced leaders.
A good team leader should manage quality and speed and limit multi-tasking to achieve desirable results. Otherwise, they can be bombarded with lots of new assignments, and the team won’t focus on one.
Project management challenges worsen when remote outsourcers from multiple locations and different time zones are hired to finish the job.
Some businesses employ a keen project manager who is given a free hand to act as per situation and decision-making powers to manage the project’s progress. But this strategy has some limitations.
It works well only if the whole team hails from the same country or same background and has the same cultural values and similar work ethics.
But if all the team members are from different time zones, then managing such a team will be a headache.
If the team and the manager are locals of the same country, you may see a particular variation.
For sure, it will take some time, and you can also assume project speed from this. And, if two parties do not agree with each other while working together, then it’s time for you to look either for a new custom software development team or a new project manager.
Thinking, “How do I escape the hassle of wrongfooting project management?”
Here’s the solution!
To avoid compatibility issues, think of end-to-end software development.
- Once you have selected this approach for custom software development, look for a dedicated team that can fulfil the project.
- They should be aware of the crew’s expertise, their psychology and know how to deal with the situation accordingly.
- The in-experienced project managers working in the IT domain can’t do it without knowledge of software tools and an agile methodology that accelerates the development process.
- The process will allow you to gain a satisfactory outcome by using all the resources available.
Not Testing the Software Application Thoroughly
There is a possibility that users might face problems with your software application if you do not test the final product.
As a result, your app might receive negative feedback and comments on numerous review sites and social media platforms.
Thinking, “How to avoid this costly mistake?”
Here’s the solution!
- You should always test your software application product before handing it over to software developers.
- You must use various tools and techniques for testing, such as beta testing or focus groups, to improve the overall quality of the software application.
- You can use web conferences to exchange views and feedback with the software application developing workforce on project details.
- You must also take responsibility at your end to ensure the quality of your software application.
Entering Custom Software Development Arena with an Unspecified Time Frame
If time frames are not discussed up-front, it could result in missed task deadlines, and you might not be able to launch your software application when it is time to.
If that happens, it can jeopardize your credibility in the IT industry and result in revenue loss.
Thinking, “How can I mark myself safe from this disaster?”
Here’s the solution!
- Discuss the project timeframe with your outsourcing custom software development company to determine deadlines for every task and deliverables.
- Include all aspects of software application development, from design to testing phases, in this timeline.
- Instead of waiting for end-of-project updates, ensure that your IT team of specialists provides you with weekly or monthly updates.
Not Negotiating Costs with Custom Software Development Company
Before starting the project, you must negotiate the cost of everything that goes into building your project with your custom software development company.
If you fail to negotiate beforehand, you could end up paying more than required for making changes in your software application during the development process.
This is common when both partners do not agree on fixed rates before beginning the project.
Thinking, “How do I save myself from burning extra costs?”
Here’s the solution!
You can eliminate all the hassles and disagreements if you –
- Discuss the project’s rates ahead of starting the project.
- Verify that your custom software development firm is capable of handling the many services you need to outsource for your software application development process.
- Build a transparent communication structure in which both partners exchange updates on a regular basis.
Collaborating with an Unreliable Custom Software Development Company
It is quite a common mistake to collaborate with a custom software development company with cheap rates for outsourcing custom software development projects.
Are you wondering why?
It is because you can’t always predict the results or measure the performance of your company just by considering the rates.
Therefore, you must hire a reliable custom software development company with proven experience and expertise in the IT industry.
Thinking, “How do I save myself from committing to a toxic technological partnership?”
Here’s the solution!
Before choosing a company that provides custom support software solutions, you should always research and learn about rival organizations in the IT sector.
This is necessary because companies of repute might not always offer the cheapest rates.
However, they are more reliable when it comes to –
- Meeting goals
- Meeting deadlines
- Providing services of the highest quality
- Managing your software application project in a timely manner
Now that you are aware how you can beat the challenges that come with custom software, let’s lead you to a custom software development company reputable to help you reach your goals faster.
5 Things to Consider Before Deciding on a Custom Software Development Company
The customized application plays a significant role in maintaining a business’s viability as the existing setup can be customized anytime, as per the evolving business’s demand.
Furthermore, a custom software development company also provides post-sales support to the clients and ensures 24/7 availability which is very important as software often encounters issues in the production environment.
For organizations, it is not easy to choose a custom software development company as one has to evaluate a company on several aspects.
Here’s a quick list of things to be considerate about while choosing a custom software development company.
Background Check
Before making an appointment, check about the company’s previous projects, look for their success rate, and what type of projects they have done. This will help you evaluate if they have the potential and required resources to complete your projects.
Understand their Pricing Model
Check their pricing model and time limit in which they can complete your projects. After doing all such tasks, analyse the companies and choose the best.
Ask for Client Referral
This is the best way to know what others feels and think about the custom software development company. How was their experience with the company? This will help you evaluate their market value.
Interview the Resources
Once you are satisfied with the background of the custom software development company and their previous projects. Go ahead and interview the resources, their understanding of the technology and niche will definitely help you make a good decision.
Ask for Proof of Concept
Before finalizing a project, get a POC done. It is an outline given by the team on how they will execute the project with other details like pricing and timeline. After you finalize a custom software development company for your project. You are required to do some homework to get your project executed in a seamless manner.
Define Your Current Process and Future Needs
After choosing any company, it is necessary to define your needs, expectations, and requirements in front of them.
Explaining these things at the outset is crucial to the overall project management process as it defines the measurement of success. Before starting, make sure you know the following things –
What is your current process? If you are not aware, do not make assumptions; ask the subject matter expert.
- Why you need to make changes to the existing setup.
- What is the desired state? Sketch out the desired state of your requirement.
Choose the Right Company to Work
The following people can develop custom software solution –
- Internal IT team of your company
- The custom software development company
- People hired on contract specifically for this job
With outsourced custom software development, everything will be handled by the external software development partner. You get to work with the top experts in the field and get the result as per your expectations.
Make a Realistic Plan with Milestones
With a custom software development company, you will have the option to choose developers as per your choice.
You can make your own-team and direct the overall initiative.
Furthermore, intelligent minds on board will be helpful in making a roadmap for the project.
It will also be easy to review the project at every level and understand in a better way if changes are required and how much time will be needed to make changes as per the planned timeline.
Documentation of the Entire Process
For every business, literature is an integral part of every stage of software development and implementation.
As an organization, you must define your needs, and the custom software development company must determine what they have done.
Apart from this, you must have –
- Checklist to ensure if the software is thoroughly examined on not.
- An implementation plan to define software users.
- A training plan and detailed documentation on the process, to ensure that people are not left frustrated when new resources are rolled out.
Next, let’s look at some tips to find an ideal software development partner.
Tips to Choose the Best Custom Software Development Company
“Every business is a software business” ~ Watts S. Humphrey.
You cannot survive in the market without quality software.
Software plays a vital role in making or breaking a business. The right software can boost overall business productivity, streamline operations, and create an amazing customer experience.
So, what will you do if you need perfect software for your company?
At first step, people go for out-of-the-box solutions, but usually, they are not enough to effectively manage all the processes at a company.
That is where a custom software development firm comes in.
To create an ideal software, it’s important to first find the best custom software development company.
But before that, you must focus on an important area – gain clarity about customized software and the underlying principles.
Have a look at the checklist below, and you’ll get an idea if you really need a custom software development company –
According to a GoodFirms survey conducted in eight countries and on 150 IT companies, around 53.8% of companies said that sticking to clients’ continuously changing requirements is one of the significant challenges in the software development process.
Although projects undergo regular changes in the development process, it happens due to lack of clarity or, in simple words, it says that you must have a goal in mind before starting the project.
This will save & reduce software completion time and will avoid multiple redevelopments.
Next, let’s understand how you can find the ideal custom software development company to build customized software for your business.
Ways to Find the Best Custom Software Development Company
Follow these tips to land just the right software development partner.
Research about the Company
Before choosing a company, it’s good practice to know the company well.
For this, you should take a close look at the company website, their team, their experience in the same domain, the technology they are using, and projects they have completed.
The technology check is most important as it will shed some light on their capabilities to complete tasks.
Furthermore, it would help if you also looked at the company’s social media presence, as there you can read customer feedback and keep it in mind while making any decision.
And finally, you can read company blogs to get information about their technical knowledge.
Use Help from Your Professional Network
Speak with your counterparts to get some references for reliable custom software development companies. This is one of the best ways to get honest feedback before engaging with any vendor.
Pro tip
Here are a few pointers that can help you while talking to some experienced professional in your network –
- Did the company ensure clear communication?
- Did your project undergo redevelopment?
- Did the company complete the project within the defined time limit?
- Did they exceed the budget?
- What about the after-sales services of the company?
- Ensure Hurdle Free Communication
Before starting development –
- Get to know your team better.
- Listen to their ideas and convey your thoughts, as well.
- Do not hold back a perspective even if you think it may sound insignificant.
Review Technology Stack of the Organization and Choose Wisely
There are ample custom software development companies and technologies and well-defined industry-standard coding best practices.
Based on discussions with your custom software development service provider, make sure they can develop the software as per your business needs.
Always give preference to a company that uses robust, cutting edge, and secure tools. Also, make sure your thoughts are clear on the technology stack that you want in your product.
Moreover, you should ensure that the custom software development company you have chosen has certain innovative ideas and significant experience in using the technology you opted for.
Pro Tip
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) details define all the phases of your product/software development.
Preferring a suitable SDLC means the guarantee of a successfully developed product.
An experienced custom software development company offering SDLC will highlight best practices and tried & tested methods of development.
Costing is Important
While choosing a custom software development company, its a wise decision to go for a cost-effective solution.
Cost is the better way to shortlist the vendors that are offering the best value in the budget. Always remember, a high price doesn’t mean a quality product, and a low price doesn’t mean a degraded product as people still see it.
Also, your product’s timely delivery should be your priority, along with the best business demanding features.
Also, keep in mind testing and debugging (if any) when defining project completion timelines.
Avoid Freelance Developers
There is nothing wrong with hiring freelancer custom software developers. But if you are looking for customized software for your business, you need to hunt down a more sizeable custom software development firm.
Try to look for the best custom software development companies with at least six in-house custom software developers.
And do not forget that software development is much more than coding; that is why at a custom software company you hire should have a minimum of 2-3 project managers.
The custom software development expands far away from the initial implementation.
As an organization, you’ll need such a custom software services provider who has enough resources to support you in future endeavors.
Consider the Location
When outsourcing the project, you might choose a custom software development firm located on the other end of the planet just because it offers cheap services.
But be careful in terms of the software development process, as cheap might be risky. And this is not only a single problem with a company located overseas, but there are many other issues -like communication barrier, culture, and language.
Here are few things to remember when choosing a custom software company from another location –
Communication
Successful collaboration requires efficient communication. And the collaboration may fail if the custom software company doesn’t speak the same language as yours in a fluent way.
Custom software developers perform a tough job in development processing, but the language barrier can make it more difficult for them in terms of understanding requirements and giving feedback.
Choose a custom software company that has already collaborated with the companies of your region and speak the same language as yours.
Culture
This is the reason that North America has become a top-rated custom software outsourcing destination. The region offers top-quality expertise and skills and provides professional culture. Partner with a custom software development company that has similar cultural elements as yours and know how to collaborate efficiently.
Focus on Project Delivery Time
Always select a custom development company where custom software developers are efficient enough to deliver projects on time. Ask for previous project delivery reports to get an idea about them. This will give you enough time to analyse the custom software company and decide (to move ahead or not).
Pro Tip
Fix the project delivery deadline in the negotiation stage as it will give you appropriate time for staff training, finding bugs, and debugging.
Look for Long Term Relationship, Not Just Service Provider
Choose a custom software development company that is entirely entrusted to your business. A company that cares about your success before their own and is confident to work in the long term.
Ask for A Sample Whenever Necessary
Select a custom software development company that is willing to provide you a prototype whenever necessary and that too free of charge. It’s always wiser to opt for a prototype providing company rather than just believing their words.
Pre-Requisites from the Customer End
Before starting the project there are some details that a custom development services provider expects from the client. Have a look at those details:
Provide Detailed Requirements of the Project
A comprehensive project plan is necessary for the fruitful delivery of the project. Lack of relevant details and unnecessary project requirements can lead to project failure.
If any organization or individual is looking forward to getting their project delivered to them without delay, then project requirements must be clear to a custom development company. Incorrect requirements can also lead to lots of re-working on similar tasks. Due to which project completion time stretches a lot & sometimes fail due to funds related conflict at later stages.
Discuss with Technical Team
Once a detailed plan is prepared, details (features, scope, and project goals) must be conveyed to the technical team, and they should understand it correctly.
This is necessary because if you provide them with a document without details, then it may be possible that the technical team would not be able to grasp it thoroughly, and the project may go off track. Moreover, written and briefed documents give enhanced clarity if explained well. Meanwhile, a practically demonstrated document is better than just a written piece.
Don’t Ignore the Legalities
Apart from the technical and strategic theories, overlooking the legal aspects of custom software services can be harmful for your business.
The custom development company to whom you will assign the project will surely gain access to your organization’s business strategy, trade documents, and intellectual property.
Therefore, perform a background check to be assured of the reliability of the custom software development firm.
Here, it will be good to partner with an experienced custom software development firm because such custom software companies have proved their credibility multiple times.
Furthermore, when choosing a custom software company from a different country, make sure you know how the legal implications of that country work.
Keep Check on Non-Negotiable Services
There are a few particular things that you must confirm with a custom software development company before sealing the deal:
After Sales Service
The custom software development company should agree on providing after-sales support after handing over the software.
Security and Confidentiality
Ensure that confidentiality clauses must not be breached by the custom software development services providing company. And therefore, before handing the software to you, security vulnerability testing must be done.
Licensing
The software entirely belongs to you or your company, you are paying for it, and you should not compromise on this at any cost. Ensure that the user license and all the rights are in your name without any hidden terms and conditions.
Next, let’s take a look at some interesting strategies to set the communication channel right with your outsourced custom software development partner.
How to Communicate Effectively with Your Custom Software Development Team?
Offshore software development means handing your project development to a custom software development company located in another time zone. And what it means is that effective communication will lead the way to the best project development, i.e., you will not be able to physically meet your offshore team and make them understand your requirements clearly.
So, an organization like yours must have an effective communication strategy and resources on-board so that you both work uninterruptedly to achieve the common goal. This blog will make you clearly understand the ways of effective communication with your offshore software development team.
Every business is unique in terms of offerings, functioning, requirements, objectives, performance, and goals. With such uniqueness comes various business-specific challenges which require custom software applications to handle their customer requirements.
Also, plenty of custom software development companies are available in the market, and you can select any one of them as per requirements.
But the most important thing that you need is the best communication strategy with your custom software development team if you want to get the best version of your customized software.
In the process of custom software development, you need effective communication channels at multiple levels: between individual team members (agile), the R&D team, and many other professionals.
The communication gap with your custom software development team located at a remote location is like marriage in multiple ways. You are not happy with each other, but then something happens, and you both start avoiding each other, and finally, you sit together and talk about it.
Companies suffer from the same issues when their custom software development is offshore, and they cannot communicate well.
Custom software development companies understand customers’ needs very well, and they know how to incorporate them in the best way possible. And effective communication plays an integral part in overall business communication.
So how do you ensure effective communication with your custom software development team?
Here are some tips to lay the path of efficient communication with your extended software development team.
Communicate Consistently
The first thing that you should remember while conducting team meetings is consistency. Ensure that you attend meetings regularly and the conference schedule is the same for every week. Furthermore, the meeting agenda should be prepared in advance. It would be great to decide the subject matter experts in advance, who are responsible for talking about specific subjects.
This way, you will set clear expectations, and such techniques will ensure that every member of your custom software development team feels like they are part of every communication and know what is going on.
Communicate Clearly
The second thing that you must keep in mind while communicating is transparency. Generally, for an onsite software development team, you can directly email the team leader if you have any questions in mind, but technology is recommended for offshore team use. You can use applications like Slack or Microsoft teams. These technologies would make sure that you have a centralized platform for your team to share thoughts and ask queries, and everybody would be aware of ongoing projects and processes.
Furthermore, such technologies on-board will ensure that anyone within the team will not feel left out, and there are minimal chances of any misunderstanding among employees. When it comes to opening communication with your offshore custom software development team, make sure that you can reach the team lead or a software developer whenever any situation arises.
In the case of general chit chat, you can reach them through text message, and this way, everyday mode of communication will not get blocked.
Have a Communication Pattern
You need to set a communication pattern as per your project, as people get distracted very easily and lose focus, which affects their custom software development process. You can set communication timings on a daily or weekly basis.
For critical projects, you should meet people often. If you end up meeting people monthly, you will not get anything done on time, and things may get worst, so make sure to arrange meetings frequently. Apart from this, make plans for discussion, select topics in advance; you should have identifiable goals that everyone needs to meet.
Ways of Communication for Effective Conversation
Audio, video, chat, and emails are considered the best ways of communication. So, you can always have a conversation with the appropriate medium as per business requirements.
It would be best if you briefed your team about communication methods. You need to make sure that you have enough resources to communicate well with your custom software development team working from a remote location.
Moreover, it’s also essential to create a balance by switching to the appropriate communication channel, as per requirement.
For example – Email is considered slow, and video is viewed as a high-speed medium for conversation. But, if you need something done quickly and effectively, video is the best option.
Some other communication methods include
Virtual Chatroom
Virtual chatrooms are also an excellent option to consider for effective communication with your custom software solution provider located at a remote location.
In some cases, you want to have open communication, general meetings, to talk to everyone about the things you want. In such a scenario, virtual chatrooms give you a more in-depth insight into effectively carrying out the business operations.
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is considered the best method to communicate, so you can use the various online applications to set up a call with your custom software development team located at a remote location.
Project Management System
You can also set up a project management system and use it. People don’t use it frequently, but you must map so that documentation for your custom software development is done correctly.
One more aspect of using a project management system is that if you have something going on in your mind, unfortunately, you cannot communicate it to the whole team instantly.
So, for practical and instant communication with your custom software development company located at a remote location, you need to invest in project management software.
Next, let’s debunk some common fears around custom software development.
Debunking Fears Around Outsourcing Custom Software Development
Outsourcing custom software development must be a strategic move. You must plan it holistically, and execute it carefully.
A single foot placed wrong can cost you more than just money – time & energy!
You might already be working with a custom software development partner and realize that you need a change.
Reason could be anything like –
- Better ROI
- Faster time to market
- Doing more in less time
- Optimize Total Cost of Ownership
Maybe you already have experience outsourcing or you are considering it for the first time.
Whatever the situation, there are some common concerns, fears, and risks that can hold you back.
We absolutely understand that your fears are valid and are based on your past experiences.
This is exactly where we come in to not just become the software development partner of your choice.
We address all your fears and concerns, help you overcome them, and move ahead only when you start trusting us.
“What do you guys do different that others aren’t doing?” – you may ask.
And, your question has top merit.
Read through to seek your answers as we ponder around common fears CTOs encountered while deciding about their custom software development initiatives.
Also, we’ve put together our experience & solutions that helped our fellow customers eliminate these fears while working with us.
Without any delay, let’s get started.
Top Concerns CTOs Encountered Amidst Custom Software Development
Let’s take a look at the top concerns around custom software development by CTOs, one-by-one.
Price Based Concern
Price is the most common concern you may be worried about, mainly the financial risk associated with negligence, wrong estimations and going over budget due to poor requirement analysis of the exact services you need.
Customer Trust Concern
People love to do business with trustworthy companies or someone they already know. Trust objection shows your concern regarding credibility of the service provider. The common objection we have heard – “I have never heard of your company.”
Time Related Concern
Time-related objections are common, and we hear terms like “Send details in an email”, “I don’t have time”, and many more.
Comparing with Competitor/Current Software Partner
Many a time, our potential customers compare our services with a competitor and come up saying – “Your competitor’s services/prices are better.”
We are being brutally honest about the type of concerns our potential customers put across when communicating with us.
However, we ensure that they realize the empathy in our efforts for their cause right from the first conversation – no matter the type of concern they raise.
Custom Software Development – Solutions to Your Fears
Your fears regarding custom software development services can revolve around various issues. But we have categorized them into four common types.
Have a look
#Concern 1 – Budget – “Prices are too high”
As discussed earlier, budget is a common concern because money is the top priority for every individual/company. But the price is just a perceived value, as concerns related to ROI also fall in this category.
Solution
When a prospect has a concern regarding budget, we try to dig deeper and try to understand the reason what makes them think like that.
Is this price bothering them, or are they not satisfied with the services being offered at that price?
We try to go to the root cause of the concern, as it makes the communication process easy for both of us.
After knowing the root cause, we make them aware of the value offered by us.
Furthermore, we try to make them understand how much money they can save by availing themselves of our services in the long run.
#Concern 2 – Authority: “I need to talk to my team”
In this, the potential customer may is usually not a decision maker and has to consult his senior.
This happens when a company has multiple decision-makers.
Sometimes we hear – “I need to speak with my boss for further proceedings.”
So, we simply try to understand if we are speaking with a decision-maker and if not – is it possible to get them to have a conversation.
Solution
First, we validate the concern raised by the prospect as it helps us to connect with them in a better way.
We offer a follow up meeting with all decision-makers.
Getting all on one table helps us know about their needs in depth and their fears about our services.
Lastly, we address all their concerns calmly and take a step closer to signing a lifelong deal.
#Concern 3 – Time Crunches – “I don’t have time right now”
The commonly used phrases are – “Please call me later, please send in PDF form, or please send a proper email.” Or they may say – “We don’t have time” or “isn’t important right now.”
Solution
In such a scenario, we simply get on a quick call.
If the prospect says that they don’t need the service right now, our duty is to find out the reason behind the same.
Also, we remind the customer about the long-term benefits of our services if they start early.
Moreover, we get to know the projects or technology they are working on, and if it is related to our services, make them understand the benefits of integrating our services for better results.
For example, if the customer plans to develop a new software in-house, we make them understand how outsourcing the project to a third-party custom software development company would benefit their business.
As their ongoing projects won’t be affected and they’ll get access to all the latest technology which they might not have onboard currently.
#Concern 4 – “We’re already taking services from your competitor”
Sometimes, our potential customers tell us that they are already taking services from our competitor.
Solution
In such a scenario, we try to understand about competitor offerings and their service portfolio.
After getting a clear picture, we can talk about cost-efficiencies and benefits that can be offered.
We also use our social media reviews for better demonstration.
Customer ratings and reviews are the ultimate proof when it comes to comparing products/services.
We understand the issues they face with their current setup and show our services’ reviews on how our offerings can solve their problems.
Many independent reviews offering sites provide the best comparison of services. Furthermore, we also try to give our services as “add-on” instead of competing.
Next, let’s understand if custom software is meant for startups or not?
Custom Software Solutions and Start-up – A Good Match?
Imagine going to a restaurant to have a plate of penne pasta with grilled vegetables and chicken in Bechamel sauce. While placing the order, the restaurant confirms they serve pasta in red sauce and pesto sauce.
Disappointment strikes, and you consider trying a different restaurant because you can’t settle for something you don’t want.
Likewise, any business or start-up would want a software solution that aligns with their wants and needs.
Are you one such start-up looking for a software solution that would match your project’s requirements?
Let’s understand why your startup needs to get custom software developed.
Why Your Start-up Needs Custom Software Solutions?
Nowadays, efficiency is the root product of all things. Therefore, start-up companies that are more organized and efficient tend to draw in more customers soon enough.
This is possible with the development of custom software solutions that are tailor-made for the start-up’s requirements and what it wants to accomplish.
Here are some reasons why your start-up needs custom software solutions:
1. The way it is Built
Custom software is designed to meet the unique challenges and requirements of a particular organization or an individual. It is developed specifically for unique circumstances and provides a perfect solution to your problem when built well.
It is fast and easy for you and your start-up team to understand how the system works. And a high level of performance is always maintained.
Whereas off-the-shelf software has a standard design and framework that’s already developed for a wide range of users. Chances are, such software that is already available in the market might not cater to your requirements.
2. The Software’s Usability
Off-the-shelf software has the advantage of being used by many consumers as it is readily available in the market. Anyone can buy pre-built software and install it immediately for use, even you.
But it would require your startup team to put into understanding the functionalities of the software. There is also a greater possibility of this software not suiting your needs.
It is specifically designed and developed for only one individual or company for their specific purposes when it comes to custom software. Therefore, you must have an in-depth understanding of your start-up’s needs and should be thorough about how the end products will address those needs.
Also, since the software will be custom-built, it would require some time and effort to produce the results. On the plus side, the installation and integration of the custom software are hassle-free since the software is built in collaboration with people from the organization.
3. Modification of the Software
Pre-built software, once bought, is difficult to modify. You don’t know when your start-up will grow and require you to modify the already purchased product.
Custom software can be easily modified and open to expansion; you own the software and can introduce any modifications if needed.
We bet you’re halfway there on the custom road.
To help you gain some more clarity and perspective, we’re going to explore some of the benefits of custom software solutions.
Benefits of Custom Software Solutions
A start-up like you needs to have a clear picture of what you want in your custom software and how you expect it to turn out.
Custom software solutions offer start-ups many benefits as they’re developed to cater to the specific requirements of their budding business.
Better data security, endless possibilities for updates, and software revamping are some of the most significant advantages of investing in custom software solutions.
Let’s discuss some of the other great benefits of getting custom software developed.
1. Personalization of Custom Software Development
There’s nothing like a standard, fit-for-all solution when it comes to business and custom software development. While there are a lot of top-quality off-the-shelf software available in the market, there is likely any that would be suitable for your start-up idea.
If you hire custom software developers for your startup project, they’ll take all your ideas and understand your requirements and expectations. Next, without a doubt, they’ll come up with solutions that will fit like a glove and turn your vision into reality.
Personalized or customized software can be as complex or intuitive as you like, making it the perfect choice for start-ups. These custom software solutions make everything more accessible because they exist to cater to your specific needs.
2. The Flexibility of Custom Software Services
A start-up keeps reinventing its software design until it takes the perfect shape of its vision. This is only possible while developing software when you hire custom software services.
A pre-built software might not always be flexible and fulfil your needs today. It won’t necessarily accommodate the new changes that may come tomorrow when your start-up grows. Plus, you’ll also have to put up with the burden of training your employees throughout.
When hiring a custom software company to design your software, they’ll ensure it is developed to support your start-up’s emerging needs whenever required.
They’ll also maintain your software in the long run apart from building the initial solution and ensure that it scales effectively. All of this is possible because of the flexibility of custom software solutions.
3. Affordability of Custom Software Service
For a start-up, the cost of customized software development may sometimes be sky-high, but in the long run, it proves its worth.
Just like how pre-built software requires constant changes after a certain time, custom software solutions don’t require constant change or development to accommodate business needs.
For a long time, custom software can be used without making any substantial investment in it. Also, in the case of custom development, you get to choose what features you need and pay only for them.
Besides, pre-built solutions usually require monthly or yearly licensing fees and any other payments in the long run. So, if you choose a custom solution for your startup, you might feel like paying a lot for it at first. But in the long run, it will prove beneficial and help you recover the amount invested and make more money through it.
4. High-level Security Ensured by Custom Software Solutions
Cybercrime damages are expected to reach $6 trillion in 2021. It’s a scary number, and you might think, what it has to do with a start-up like yours.
The answer is everything!
It’s a misconception that only big companies fall prey to hackers. Start-up owners also suffer damage due to cyberattacks.
Here come custom software solutions, which offer a high level of security in comparison with off-the-shelf solutions. Unlike pre-built solutions, they aren’t available for everyone and contain special security codes and encryption.
A trusted and experienced software development company always provides comprehensive cyber assessments of your custom software. This strengthens the composure and integrity of organizational security controls, which makes them more prepared for possible attacks.
5. The Custom Software Company Provides Support and Maintenance
Imagine if you’re dealing with pre-built software solutions, and one fine day its developers go bankrupt and no longer want to maintain the software. Your start-up business will be at the mercy of those developers.
But if you develop your start-up with custom software solutions, your software will solely belong to you, and it can and will be maintained for as long as you want.
Considering these benefits, there’s just one last step that remains—choosing the right software solution company to cater to your start-up needs. Let’s simplify it for you right away.
Next, let’s understand how new development technologies are shaping up the custom software development landscape.
Top 5 Technologies to Watch for Custom Software Development in 2025
Custom software development is often opted for in two scenarios:
When you have a specific set of business requirements that demand a customized software solution
When you already have a customized solution that needs to be upgraded to cope with the changing business needs.
Adopting the change has become inevitable today if you want to be in business.
If you are a business leader who is looking to build to upgrade a customized software solution that supports modern-day solutions, here are five top technologies that you should definitely consider for custom software development.
Blockchain
If there is one technology that can change the whole industry, it will be blockchain. With the release of Bitcoin and the hype and deception projects that have emerged in recent years, blockchain is experiencing stagnation in its growth cycle.
Open-source blockchain looks like the top curve of blockchain technology and is considered one of the next major custom software development trends in 2023.
“How is Blockchain associated with custom software development?” – you may ask.
Let us break it down for you – the key feature that Blockchain offers is data security.
May it be safeguarding confidential financial information or corporate sales records, Blockchain’s ability to protect data can be vouched for, under any circumstances.
Especially with the increasing data thefts and cyberattacks, banking, and finance are the major domains that are under bigger threats.
Customized software development with Blockchain technology can reinstate peace of mind for technology leaders functioning in the banking and finance sector.
To be true, security is no more limited to finance and banking domains. Every industry today is under immense threat of cyber attacks and data thefts.
And, Blockchain can be leveraged with its ever-compassing security features to establish core security standards.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already become an essential element for all the technology platforms that people all over the world use today.
Nothing can beat Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in creating compelling user interfaces, considering the ever-changing business needs.
“How are Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning associated with customized software development?” – you may ask.
Artificial Intelligence is not new to anyone using technology today.
And, you don’t need us to explain how intelligently this technology understands user behavior, unravel the trends and patterns in the workflows and articulate a solution out of these data points.
Machine Learning is on the rise and will continue to mature over the period of time. This technology is empowering the software systems to be capable of learning based on the inputs given.
The aim is to make machines smarter enough to perform tasks that were supposed to be performed by humans.
Artificial Intelligence has many sub-clusters, including machine control, machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, which have grown rapidly in just 5 years.
Circling back to custom software development – the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning on the technology stack will unravel many unseen process-level and service-level challenges.
- AI & ML together can bring you insights into the repetitive trends and patterns in the workflow that are weakening the process.
- AI & ML can bring you insights into manual errors with mundane tasks that can be automated.
- AI & ML can bring you just the right insights into your customer-facing departments, to improvise and automate customer service.
To be true, this is just the beginning.
Having a custom software development company with expertise in AI and ML to build a customized software solution, can open up a plethora of business avenues for you.
Cloud Computing
Cloud technology has evolved to meet the growing needs of companies across all industries. With the exception of a few service industries, cloud-based applications were developed throughout the year.
Whether it’s a corporate meeting, business operations, or IT access, everything possible in the office has been moved to the cloud. The demand for the cloud was limited to the scaling business until the market collapsed negatively.
Custom software development has evolved tremendously with cloud computing. It covers everything right from infrastructure and platforms to software.
Businesses are implementing different cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS) to improve development, testing, storage, analytics, and even disaster recovery.
Open-Source Technology
It’s like a timeless technology that has gained a lot of momentum in today’s world.
Reusability, flexibility, and collaboration – are some common traits that define open-source technology to its best nature.
With open-source technology, the developer’s community has got the access pass for a centralized hub of predefined codes, libraries, and frameworks.
The inclusion of open-source technology for customized software development not only saves costs but also saves time and energy, which can be utilized on other core business aspects.
“How is open-source technology associated with customized software development?” – you may ask.
Just imagine, you are building custom software for your business, and you have limited time at hand to get the initiative through.
Open-source technology is something that a custom software development company will suggest speeding up the initiative.
With open access to pre-established codes and a proven framework, you can achieve faster time-to-market and save IT budgets that can be utilized on other important business aspects.
Big Data
In today’s business scenario, data is a non-negotiable superpower.
Businesses globally are building data cultures and are promoting data-driven strategies to streamline their routine operations.
The global big data analytics sector is growing at a rate that has never been seen before.
The big data and analytics market was valued at USD 82.99 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 146.71 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 9.96% ~According to Research and Markets Report
Research and market assessments have shown that the big data analytics sector is growing at a never-before-seen rate.
The market for big data and analytics was valued at USD 82.99 billion in 2021; it is anticipated to soar to USD 146.71 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 9.96%.
“How is big data associated with custom software development?” – you may ask.
With that growth rate and increasing influence on enterprises, the question shouldn’t be “How is big data associated with custom software development” but “How to leverage big data with custom software development?”
Especially, for enterprises that have multiple teams, and departments and have data scattered over multiple data sources, big data can be a game-changer.
Forecasting and foresight are something that big data brings to your business when paired with customized software development.
Having big data to back you up, it is easier to navigate through the ever-changing odds of the competitive business environment.
This inclusion sets you up for revolutionizing the ever-changing operational and procedural needs of your business.
Looking for an outsourced software development partner to help you carve your IT vision into reality?
Your search ends here with Integrative Systems.
Custom Software Development Partner of Your Choice
We, at Integrative Systems, bring in 2 decades of industry experience and a holistic expertise in offering well-rounded software solutions.
Thinking, “What do we offer different than others?”
Presenting, our three-pronged approach to helping you get to your vision faster-
- We believe in listening – We listen to your needs patiently and try to provide the best solution.
- We aren’t in for a mere transaction – Even if we lose you, we try to win by leaving a long-lasting impression on you.
- We believe in transparency & clarity – Objections and pushbacks are natural – we deal with them by helping you uncover the real concerns that are holding you back and suggest ways to overcome them.
We hope you’ve got a fair idea of how we help businesses overcome their natural fears, objections, and pains before trying to get their feet wet into the world of outsourcing software development.
If you have any queries or feel that we have missed something, please drop us a line at [email protected], and our team of experts shall get back to you within 2 business days.
FAQs about Custom Software Development
1. What is custom software development?
Ans. Custom software development is the process of creating tailored business applications in alignment with specific business needs. Custom software offers better flexibility and functionality than Off-the-Shelf solutions.
2. Why should a business consider custom software?
Ans. To be precise, custom software offers acute alignment with business processes, flexibility, and limitless scalability. All in all, getting custom software developed puts your business at a competitive advantage.
3. How does custom software differ from off-the-shelf solutions?
Ans. The Off-the-Shelf solutions are built based on generic business cases and processes. Whereas custom software is built based on specific business requirements. With custom software, you need not worry about integration with third-party applications, performance, and scalability.
4. What are the benefits of outsourcing custom software development?
Ans. When you outsource custom software development, you need not worry about scouting for the right expertise, project management, and time of delivery. Outsourcing software development companies take good care of these aspects. At the same time you can save on costs, time, and energy; besides increased focus on your core business activities.
5. How long does it take to develop custom software?
Ans. Custom software development is certainly a time-consuming process, yet it’s worth it. Realize that the development timelines may vary depending upon certain factors like – the complexity of your project requirements, time of delivery, technology stack, and a few more factors.
3 Comments to “Custom Software Development – All Questions, Answered!”
Rucha Deshpande.
Thanks for sharing such a great information.. It really helpful to me. keep it up!
customised software solutions
Reshma Bhate.
I read this blog, your blog so nice and very informative, thanks for sharing this blog.
customised software solutions
Chris Hayden
Great overview! Custom software development offers businesses the flexibility to build solutions that fit their exact needs. Your points on improved efficiency, scalability, and competitive advantage highlight why it’s a smart investment. Thanks for sharing these valuable insights!