STANDARD OR CUSTOMISED DEVELOPMENT?

Accelerate your business with these tips "Standard or customised development? Analyse and discover this TIP!

The choice between standard or customised technological development depends on the specific needs and objectives of each project. The Standard development offers pre-existing and widely used solutions, while custom development allows the technology to be adapted to unique requirements. It is important to assess factors such as complexity, customisation required and available budget to determine the best option.

Technological development

• Advantages of standard technological development:

  • Lower costs: Standard solutions tend to be more cost-effective, as development costs are shared among multiple users.
  • Rapid implementation: By using pre-existing solutions, implementation time is generally shorter.
  • Support and community: There is a large community of users and suppliers who can offer support and solutions to common problems.

• Disadvantages of standard technological development:

  • Limitations on customisation: Standard solutions may have limitations in terms of functionality and adaptability to specific needs.
  • Dependence on the supplier: By using a standard solution, you are dependent on the vendor for updates, bug fixes and technical support.
  • Competence: As they are widely used solutions, direct competition may be found using the same technology.

EXAMPLE OF STANDARD TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT:

Suppose a company needs to implement a human resources management system. Instead of developing a system from scratch, they choose to use standard HR software that is already available on the market.

They choose a widely used solution that offers basic functionalities such as employee management, payroll, leave, and attendance tracking. The company simply purchases the software licence, makes specific configurations according to their needs and starts using it. This standard solution is cost-effective, easy to implement and comes with ongoing support and updates from the vendor.

• Advantages of tailor-made technological development:

  • Full customisation: It allows the solution to be tailored to specific needs and requirements, offering greater flexibility and functionality.
  • Scalability: Tailor-made development allows the solution to be designed with future growth and the ability to adapt to change in mind.
  • Competitive differentiation: By having a unique solution, you can stand out from the competition and provide a more personalised experience for your users.

• Disadvantages of customised technological development:

  • Higher costs: Tailor-made development often requires higher financial investments due to the time and resources required.
  • Longer implementation time: Custom development involves a more extensive process, from design to implementation, which can take longer.
  • Maintenance and upgrades: Having a customised solution requires a continuous effort to keep it up to date and to solve possible technical problems.

EXAMPLE OF TAILOR-MADE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT:

Imagine that a company wants to develop an e-commerce application to sell customised products. The company has specific requirements, such as the ability to customise products in real time, a unique payment process and integration with their existing inventory system. Instead of using a standard e-commerce platform, they decide to invest in the custom development of an application that meets their unique requirements.

They hire a development team that works closely with them to design and build the application from scratch, taking into account all their needs and design preferences. The result is a customised application that delivers a unique customer experience and integrates seamlessly with the company's internal systems.

Although this approach involves higher cost and development time, it allows the company to differentiate itself in the market and offer a solution tailored to its specific needs.

It is important to carefully assess the needs and available resources before deciding between standard or customised technology development.

How do I know that the time is right to invest in technological development in a new company?

There are several factors that may indicate that the time is right to invest in technological development in your new company.

HERE ARE SOME OF THEM:

1. Identification of a technological need: If you have identified a technological need in your company, such as an improvement in process efficiency, the need to automate repetitive tasks, or the need for a platform to interact with your customers, it may be an indicator that it is time to invest in technological development.
2. Competitiveness: If you realise that your company is losing competitiveness against other companies in the same sector, it may be a good time to invest in technological development to improve your products or services.
3. Business growth: If your business is experiencing significant growth in customer numbers, sales or revenue, it may be a good time to invest in a technology development that will allow you to better manage growth and maintain service quality.
4. Availability of financial resources: If you have the financial resources to invest in a technological development, it is important to assess whether the time is right to do so.
5. Cost-benefit analysis: It is important to carry out a careful analysis of the costs and benefits of investing in a technological development, to ensure that it is a profitable investment in the long term and to minimise the risks.

In general, It is important to be attentive to the needs and opportunities of the company, and to carefully assess the financial situation and potential benefits of a technological development before making a decision.

• Investing in the development of a customised mobile application is one of the most important decisions as an entrepreneur, it means a step forward and a firm commitment to your project.

IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER A NUMBER OF FACTORS BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION:

• You have identified a market need: Before investing in the development of a mobile application, it is essential to ensure that there is a market need for the product or service you offer. If there is no real demand, it is likely that the app will not be successful.
• Assess economic viability: Developing a mobile application can be costly, so it is important to assess whether your budget and the potential revenue from the application justify the investment. 
• Consider the scope of your business: If your business is focused on a specific geographic area or demographic, make sure that a mobile app is the best option to reach that audience, and that the audience is large enough to provide a return on investment.
  

THERE ARE SEVERAL ADVANTAGES OF CUSTOM DEVELOPMENT:

• Adaptability: custom development allows software to be tailored to the specific needs of a company or project, which can improve efficiency and productivity.
• Flexibility: customised software can be modified and updated as the needs of a company or project change, making it more flexible than generic software.
• Intellectual property: by customising, the company acquires the intellectual property of the software, which allows it to control its use and distribution.
• Integration with existing systems: customised software can be designed to integrate with other existing systems and applications, which can improve efficiency and productivity.
• Technical support: customised development is often accompanied by dedicated technical support, which ensures a quick solution in case of technical or other problems.

In short, custom development can offer a more efficient and flexible solution to the specific needs of a company or project and can improve efficiency and productivity compared to using generic software.

In conclusion, if you have already validated a need in the market and you need a development that adapts 100% to your needs, you are ready to go for a custom development.

Is it better for me to adapt to an existing standard programme or to create a tailor-made one?

It is true that custom development can be an excellent option for some companies that need a specific and customised software solution to meet their unique business needs. However, It is also important to note that this option may not be suitable for all companies.

One of the main disadvantages of custom development is the cost, as such projects are often more expensive than purchasing open source software or pre-existing commercial packages. In addition, the time and resources required for development can be significant, which can delay the time to launch and increase the risk of error or failure of the project to meet requirements.

Another factor to consider is the availability of software on the market that can meet the company's requirements without the need for custom development. In many cases, there may be open source software or commercial packages that can meet a company's needs without the need for custom development. In addition, purchasing existing software may be a quicker and cheaper option than custom development.

Another important consideration is the maintenance and updating of custom software. Companies that choose custom development should ensure that they have a plan for software maintenance and upgrades, as these can be costly and time-consuming. In comparison, commercial and open source software providers often offer regular updates and technical support.

In summary, while custom development may be an excellent option for some companies, it is important to consider all available options before making a decision. Businesses should carefully assess their needs and requirements, as well as the cost and time required to develop a customised solution.

They should also consider the availability of software on the market and the long-term maintenance and upgradeability of customised software. By taking all these considerations into account, companies can make the best decision for their business in terms of the software option that best suits their needs.

How can the artificial intelligence (see+ TIP) help you make the right choice between looking for off-the-shelf software or making a customised one?

As a model language, it can offer general guidance and provide information on the pros and cons of different options, but it is important to keep in mind that each company and project is unique, and the final decision must be made by the company's leaders.

TO HELP YOU MAKE A DECISION, YOU CAN ASK ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What are the pros and cons of using off-the-shelf software compared to custom-made software?
• How can I assess the economic viability of developing custom software compared to buying off-the-shelf software?
• What factors should I consider when deciding whether custom software is the best option for my company?

Keep in mind that, in general, the decision to use off-the-shelf software or to develop custom software depends on a number of factors, such as the nature of your business, your specific needs, budget, availability of technical staff, and economic viability.

Some of the pros of using off-the-shelf software include its immediate availability, lower development cost, and technical support available in case of problems. On the other hand, the pros of developing custom software include the ability to tailor it completely to your specific needs, intellectual property, integration with other systems, and personalised technical support.

Ultimately, the choice between using off-the-shelf software or developing custom software will depend on your specific situation and needs. Therefore, it is important to make a detailed assessment of your needs and resources before making a decision.

Artificial intelligence can help you make the right decision between custom or standard development by providing additional information and questions to think about. For example, you could ask questions such as: What are the specific requirements of your business that need to be met by the software? Is there any existing software that meets most of your needs? How much time and budget are you willing to invest in custom software development?

In addition, it could provide examples of use cases for each option and discuss the possible disadvantages and limitations of each. For example, off-the-shelf software may not be flexible enough to adapt to specific business requirements, while custom software development may require a significant investment of time and budget.

Ultimately, the decision will depend on the specific needs of the company and the objectives to be achieved with the software. Artificial intelligence could help analyse and evaluate these factors to make an informed and appropriate decision.

How to make the decision between custom or standard development?

It depends on your situation and the objectives you are looking for with the programme.
If your business is not based on the application or it is not something differential in your business, or if you have just had the idea and you want to test if it can be a good business, it is always better to try to adapt to an already created solution. If you are clear about what you want to invest in the project, technology is a vital component that, if tailor-made, will meet all your requirements.

THE ADVANTAGES OF USING EXISTING SOFTWARE ARE

• Price: It is more affordable than custom software development, as it does not require an upfront investment in development and testing.
• Time: It is available immediately, allowing companies to start using it quickly and save time compared to custom software development.
• Support: Existing software is usually accompanied by a large community of users and developers, which ensures adequate technical support and a quick solution in case of standard problems. (If you have problems that are out of the ordinary, the solution is much slower or non-existent).
• Integration: existing software can be easier to integrate with other existing systems and applications, which can improve efficiency and productivity.
• Improvements: Improvements and upgrades to existing software are made according to the demands of users, which ensures that you are using software that is up to date and improved to meet the needs of people like you.

In short, using off-the-shelf software can offer a cheaper, faster, more supported, integrated and up-to-date solution than custom software development, which makes it a very attractive option in the cases mentioned above. We largely use software of this type, except in circumstances that are core to us.

Creating a tailor-made programme has the great advantage that it can be completely adapted to the specific needs and requirements of the company.

In short, if you need a quick and inexpensive solution, and it is not vital to your project, it is better to adapt to an existing standard software. If you need a highly customised solution or it is core to you, creating a customised programme is the best option.

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