It is almost needles to mention that today’s society is dependable on software development. The foundation that enables big or small corporations to prosper and survive depends on decisions that enable companies to have aces to the best developers. It also depends on the company’s ability to best accommodate to the preferences and expectations of customers. With that in mind we can reach a simple conclusion. The longevity and success of a company depends on its ability to satisfy the needs of its customers.

A tool that is often used to ensure that the requirements of the customer are met is custom software development. Basically, custom service development describes the process of designing software for a specific user, a group of users or a specific organization, as opposed to off –the- shelf software that is more traditional and is not made to suit particular needs on a more detailed scale.

Using this feature is very convenient for both parties because this service provides software that is unique and perfectly tailored to meet the client’s specific needs. Also, developing such software helps to increase productivity among developers. Having to work on an interesting project might just increase the efficiency of the team.

Custom software development is also known as bespoke software or tailor -made software. As the name itself implies, the main characteristic of a custom service is to maintain its loyalty towards the user or the company that is made for. A lot of corporations also use custom service to improve their own software, in order to meet certain demands. Custom software can only be used by the company or by the entity that is made for. Also, it’s designed in such a manner that the company’s infrastructure and branding are always at the core of the software, in order to make the ownership even more obvious. Software that is the result of a custom service will only work for that particular company and will not be available to the masses.

If we break down custom software and its benefits, we will come to the conclusion that a customized solution is better than settling for an off-the-shelf application. If we compare commercial software with custom software, we will come to a logical conclusion that puts custom software in a more pricey position compared to easy accessible software. Such a result comes naturally due to the simple fact that off–the- shelf software comes at a low price point because of the distribution among many different users.

On the other hand, when purchasing a custom software, an in-depth understanding of the needs required is important. Due to the fact that purchasing custom software requires more resources to design and develop, the purchasing company might have to take a few options into consideration before making this decision. A company that decides to go with custom software might also need a certain amount of awareness, considering that custom software is created for only one user. In order to reduce the risks, the purchasing company must have a great understanding of how the product will address their needs and how new challenges might arise throughout the development process.

Since custom service is developed for a single customer or for the company itself, it’s built to accommodate very specific needs, preferences and expectations. The way this software is developed in order to run properly is by using an iterative process, which basically means repeating a cycle of operations until the desired result is met. This allows for all the possibilities, nuances and hidden risks to be taken into account so the end result will be the desired one.

Large companies often use this type of software to help fill the gaps between the existing software packs, or for more important functions such as content management, customer management or human resource. Corporations sometimes opt for custom software not just because of its customized features but also because after purchase, they own the source code. That way the company can secure and control the possibility for furthermore development or modifications that can alter the code.

Additionally it turns out that in many cases off-the-shelf solutions or products might not be as reliable when it comes to saving money compared to custom service. In many cases, commercial solutions also require customization in order to support the buyer’s operations. Furthermore, off-the-shelf software comes along with license costs that can vary quite a lot depending on the product. The software companies that release off-the- shelf software also revise them frequently so you might need to constantly upgrade in order to keep compatibility.

All in all taking the smart course of action depends on the costs and benefits that can come from such an investment, along with the time to market, the size of implementation and of course the suppliers.