Statistics indicate that around 83% of all UK businesses have an online presence. This means that there is considerable competition, and it is little wonder that business owners are always looking for ways in which they can stand out in the highly competitive digital landscape. One way in which you can do this is through bespoke software development.
Custom software offers a greater degree of flexibility, scalability and a much more personalised approach when compared to more off-the-shelf solutions. This is one of the big reasons why many companies are considering this as an investment in recent years. The big issues for those companies who are considering bespoke solutions is how much does it cost and is that cost worth it?
The answer to this question isn’t really straightforward. The cost of any bespoke software solution will depend on a number of factors, including the type of software that your company wants and the needs of the company. Let’s take a look at these in a little more detail.
Types of custom software
There are a number of different types of custom software that an organisation may want to consider, and this will have an impact on the cost.
- Website development – This may be investing in a new website or revamping an old one to bring it up to date
- Software development – This might be a product that will help with any aspect of your business, or something that provides education
- App development – Essential for any e-commerce business, this can be a new way to engage with your customer base through a dedicated mobile app
Whatever type of bespoke software development you are looking at, there are a wide range of benefits that can be gained. These include:
- Scalability and flexibility – Company growth is an important consideration, and it is necessary for any system to have the ability to grow with a company. A bespoke software solution will allow you to upgrade and update software as required.
- Personalised – Bespoke means something that can be aligned to your business, whether through design, navigation or even lead-generating mechanisms
- Long-term maintenance – Bespoke software development does not stop once the software is completed. Support and maintenance is often included, and this is a significant benefit.
The price of bespoke software
It is hard to give an exact cost for bespoke software in a more generic sense. After all, most organisations want different things from their software. The price that you pay will depend on a number of factors.
- Software size – Once you know what type of software you are looking for, the next thing that helps determine the price is the size of the software. The larger the project the higher the cost
- Graphic design – Your product needs to look good as being built well, and the graphic design needs of your product can play a part in the cost
- Data migration – This can be a simple but lengthy task, and it will depend in part on how much data you need to migrate. The more writing of scripts and quality testing that is required the higher the price
- Time and skills– The length of time required will also factor in as will the skill set of those creating your bespoke software development
Conclusion
Whilst the cost of a bespoke software development will be greater than off-the-shelf it will be tailored to your business in order to help you be more productive, efficient and create a greater online presence. In today’s incredibly competitive marketplace this is something that most organisations need to give them the edge, which makes the cost one that is well worth paying.
