Since the open-source boom in the ‘90s, companies have turned to external providers to get custom-made software tools, designed to cater to their specific needs. The trend accelerated in the past few years, growing at a faster pace than the software industry as a whole.
According to Forrester, custom software development comprises around a quarter of the overall software industry, ballooning to $136 billion at a 33% compound annual growth rate.
There are multiple factors fuelling the market. Customers are increasingly looking for providers who can customize the software they use because off-the-shelf solutions don’t always fulfill their business needs. That’s one of the key advantages in custom-made software: tailoring every function to the exact workflow and business processes the company already has, instead of forcing it to adapt to ready-made solutions. Check the example of law firms that are using law practice management software easy to get more done in less time.
Building a personalized software product guarantees seamless integration and avoids changes in the way workers interact with enterprise applications. It improves productivity by making work easier and eliminating unnecessary steps. It streamlines operations with a very visible, quantifiable return.
But can’t the IT department tweak an existing, ready-to-use solution? While it is possible and a common approach, modifying packaged software isn’t exactly easy or cheap, and cannot emulate the exact fit of a solution built for one company only. If the goal is to save money and start using the product right away, this will defeat the purpose. It’s also important to factor in the security aspect, as unique software is much harder to breach.
A pre-made tool might not be able to scale as the business grows or finds itself facing new requirements, even with some tweaks. Custom software, on the other hand, will be elastic enough to accommodate changes and ease growth, not hinder it.
Is custom software development right for your business?
Most businesses have their processes set a certain way and would struggle to change them to suit a new set of software tools. So even if a slew of innovative products is meant to improve daily operations, the degree to each they fit the business matters. That’s why almost every company knows what it’s like to invest in a brand new solution, thinking it will fast-track its operations, only to find out staff is having a hard time working with it and the standardized options don’t exactly apply.
Worse than a costly solution is an investment with poor return – and that’s the case with companies of all sizes, no matter what sector they operate in.
Now, imagine the possibilities: being able to decide everything, from the technology used to the processes of software engineering. Custom development puts the power entirely in your hands so that the solution works the way you really want it to and gives your business a competitive advantage rooted in software innovation.
Choose the right methodology
Once the decision to use custom software is made, the next step is to start planning the development and select which technologies you’ll want the supplier to use. This is the best time to look at the most effective methodologies to build the applications, and according to MarketsAndMarkets, a lot of companies are finding the answer in low-code development platforms.
Many business are doing low-code because it speeds up the development process.
The latest research shows that the low-code development market is set to grow exponentially over the next three years, jumping from $4.32 billion in 2017 to $27.23 billion by 2022. That means the compound annual growth rate is almost 45%, definitely making “low-code” a lot more than a buzzword in the IT sector.
Among the reasons why so many businesses are doing low-code is the way it speeds up the development process because it doesn’t require a lot of manual coding. It also reduces the margin of errors and avoids the need to write new code for different platforms, giving the IT department the agility it needs to innovate.
If you’re looking for custom software that will differentiate your business and drive your staff to be more productive, low-code might just be the secret sauce for your success this year.
Blue Screen is an expert supplier in this area, with a team ready to meet all your specific needs. So, if you have any more doubts, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to answer all your remaining questions!