Prejudices against custom software

When it comes to digitalization today, the most important thing is to first determine what goals should be achieved. Is the aim to adapt certain processes, bring the company and its customers closer together, automate a business model, or implement new, innovative business ideas?

To implement innovative ideas, you usually need suitable software. Unfortunately, this isn't always easy, as you have to determine whether there's a standard software solution that could be adapted with certain modifications, or whether a completely new, custom-developed software solution is required.

The decision between standard software and custom software is a difficult one, and it seems to be a major concern for businesses today. On the one hand, companies want to stand out from the competition and differentiate themselves; on the other hand, the risks must be properly assessed.

There are many prejudices and uncertainties surrounding the topic of custom software, and we would like to investigate these in more detail.

Dependence on custom software

Many believe that the dependence on the vendor is much higher with custom software than with off-the-shelf software. However, this is generally not true, as it is often easier to have certain customizations and changes implemented by another company with custom software than with off-the-shelf software, which is often very complex and making transfer to another company extremely difficult. It is important to note that custom software development uses a widely adopted technology, such as .NET, to reduce the risk of vendor lock-in.

Custom software is complicated

Because custom software can be directly adapted to processes, many workflows can be made significantly simpler and more efficient for employees. Functions and design can be co-determined and precisely tailored to individual needs. In today's rapidly changing world, custom software that can be continuously adapted to the constant changes that companies and their processes are undergoing is ideal for mastering major challenges and remaining competitive.

Custom software projects are time-consuming.

Generally speaking, the initial phase, with its detailed software planning and the definition of various specifications, can be somewhat time-consuming. However, this initial effort is worthwhile because custom software allows for changes and optimizations to be made to your core processes even during the development process. This also allows for the integration of additional ideas and requirements into the new software. Plan sufficient buffer time from the outset, as even innovations and ideas that emerge during development can be incorporated. The resulting software represents an asset for your company and strengthens its competitiveness—isn't it worth investing the time?

Custom software is only for large companies.

This prejudice persists even though it is far more important for many SMEs to have software that is precisely tailored to their internal requirements and circumstances, as large companies often have significantly more flexibility in this regard than SMEs. Custom software can be fully adapted, allowing precisely those companies where innovation and flexibility play a major role to benefit. Innovation usually doesn't occur in standard processes such as accounting and master data management, where standard software is preferred, but rather in new business areas or product/service development.

Custom software is expensive

Standard software solutions initially appear to be cheaper; you pay a fixed price for a finished product, and that's it. However, in reality, it's usually a different story, as implementation costs and adaptations to business processes are typically added. Often, it's a complex process that requires integrating the new software with additional systems and implementing it into the work environment. Such projects can quickly drive up costs and become expensive.

Of course, custom software also incurs recurring costs, but unlike license fees, these costs are reinvested in the expansion of the existing software, allowing for continuous adjustments, improvements, and innovative new features. With a custom solution, there are no license fees, and the software remains the property of the company, allowing for ongoing investment. 

It's safe to say that it's definitely worthwhile to carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to purchase standard or custom software. This is especially true when it comes to adapting specific processes within a company; in such cases, it's worth considering the advantages of custom software.

We would be happy to provide you with detailed information about our services and support you in your decision! Contact us!