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If you are not a
programmer by profession
or do not staff a team of
talented developers to
create bleeding-edge
software applications, it
might be time to start
exploring custom
applications. Out-of-the
box software can be
useful, but limiting. Even
worse, you may be
paying for features you
will never use.
by Peter Prestipino of WebsiteMagazine.com
Understand Your Business and
Industry Trends
If you can find off-the-shelf functionality that
meets 80-100 percent of your business process
needs, you should buy the software. The problem
is that when most people buy functionality externally
it doesnt fully meet their needs. The result
is a lengthy and expensive process of customizing
an existing application.
So how do you know when a custom software
application is the right choice? There are several
indicators.
If your business is unique, meaning no software
exists to support specific functions or
your enterprise has outgrown (or over utilizes)
the software solutions you currently employ, its
time to get a custom project off the ground.
Furthermore, if your business is an enterprise
that can differentiate itself through a proprietary
process or unique service, it is likely that an offthe-
shelf application has not been developed to
manage the business effectively. Too often people
purchase software and then spend more to
make it do what they want versus starting with a
custom software application, says Roy Chomko
of Adage Technologies.
While custom software may not be a perfect
fit for all companies, it does have the potential to
help those with a true need take advantage of
their strengths. When considering software to
resolve business issues you have to look at what
makes your business unique and whether the
software you are considering can improve on
that process or service, says Chomko. Most
off-the-shelf software is built to solve simple
and straightforward problems encountered by
many businesses.
The advantage of developing a custom software
application is that you, the buyer, get to
work directly with the developer gaining complete
control of the end-product, if youre prepared.
However, if you do not outline very
detailed specifications you simply will not get
what you hand in mind.