Which software package do you select when given the option of off-the-shelf and bespoke software applications? If we take the case of companies dealing with software development services in the UK, do they want to invest in off-the-shelf software solutions to solve their business challenges? Indeed, it is clear that they do not often. Instead, they prefer to use bespoke software development services.
Off-the-shelf software development is ready-made. On the other hand, bespoke, as the name suggests, meets specific business requirements.
In this article, we shall discuss bespoke software development, its benefits and how it promotes innovation. We shall also explore the advantages of working with a bespoke software development services company.
What is Bespoke Software?
Unlike off-the-shelf software solutions, bespoke or custom software meets the specific needs of a business. It offers complete solutions to automate and streamline your existing processes. Instead of making changes in your business, the software adapts to meet the changing needs of your business.
What is Bespoke Software Development?
Bespoke software development refers to building customized software to meet your business-specific needs. It is tailor-made to address the requirements of a project.
Custom software development helps when you want to include new features in the existing processes. It helps seamlessly include these extra features. As per industry experts, bespoke software development helps businesses that need process automation.
These solutions are suitable for all industries using digital solutions. Custom software development offers the flexibility to add or remove any feature at anytime. It is most commonly used in finance, logistics and healthcare sectors.
What are the Major Steps in Bespoke Software Development Process?
Several custom software development models follow a wide range of processes. However, all the models include certain steps which are in common.
These basic steps help software development companies create custom applications without any flaws. We shall discuss these common steps in the bespoke software development process below.
Step 1: Assessing and Gathering Requirements
The first and fundamental step in bespoke software development is understanding the needs. At this stage, the development company collects requirements.
Usually, it includes specifications, the need for the bespoke software, its targeted users, what goals the software should meet, and how the end product would work. In this way, bespoke software development companies get a clear idea about the requirements of their clients.
Step 2: Analysis of the Requirements
The requirement analysis stage is one of the most important phases in bespoke software development. During this stage, the development team will implement a careful analysis.
They document the demands of the clients in the software requirements specification (SRS). This SRS document forms the basis for product development. It avoids confusion during the development stage as the document is a handy manual for software development.
Step 3: Designing the Product
In the next step, the development team should decide how to design the product. The third phase involves designing the architecture of the software system.
The development team shall also consider time and budget constraints and assess any risks involved. They will develop the system’s architecture based on the data collected during the earlier steps.
Step 4: Software Development
The fourth stage in the development process eats up time compared to all other phases. Because at this stage, the development team builds the product. Indeed, when they follow all other steps correctly, the coding process becomes much simpler.
As we all know, the time consumed for product development largely depends on the development model and the complexity of the software application.
Step 5: Testing
One of the most vital steps in custom software development is testing. It involves running several tests on the software to verify whether it works properly and is bug-free.
In the testing stage, developers perform both functional and non-functional tests. It can be manual or automated. During testing, the development team fixes bugs. They further test the software application to check whether they have removed bugs.
Step 6: Software Release and Maintenance
The software application gets ready for release when the testing phase is over. Software release does not mean that the entire process comes to an end. After releasing the software, the development team keeps track of the application by fixing issues that pop up.
Also, they undertake all steps for software maintenance after the release to ensure the product works perfectly without any issues. Customization also happens by adding and removing features to meet the changing demands.
Therefore, whether you are a business dealing with software development services in the UK or around the globe, from assessing requirements to testing, you can keep track of the entire process in real time while outsourcing custom application development.
Also Read: Software Development Services in The UK: Low-Code Builds Apps Instantly
Benefits of Bespoke Software Development
Custom software development company offers personalized solutions to meet business needs. Without doubt, it improves efficiency, user experience, and customer satisfaction. We shall discuss the benefits of working with a bespoke software development service here.
1. Personalized Software Solutions
As discussed above, bespoke software development fits the needs of a business and resolves issues. Businesses can add or remove features and monitor how the software functions. It aligns with the workflows, processes and objectives of the business.
2. Ownership and Control
Bespoke software helps you gain control and ownership over software and the technology used. It helps businesses to make updates and changes as per the feedback from customers without the help of a third-party vendor.
3. Security
Off-the-shelf software is prone to hacking since most developers use open-source code. On the contrary, custom software is closed source project used by your team only. Therefore, the chances for hacking are much less than with off-the-shelf software packages.
4. Customer Experience
In the modern-day world, customers expect businesses to offer them personalized solutions. When they fail to do so, the customer churn rate becomes higher. Custom software development upholds customer experience in the first place, which further allows businesses to retain their customers.
5. Seamless Integration
Businesses can integrate custom software with their existing applications very easily. Custom-made software reduces the risk of integration issues and fits effortlessly with any software the business uses. It streamlines business processes and helps with informed decision-making.
How Bespoke Software Development Helps Your Business Grow?
Custom software offers tailor-made solutions to meet the specific needs of a business. Connecting with clients from the beginning helps the development team understand their business goals and purposes completely.
Bespoke software development offers enough flexibility to scale up with the changing business requirements and objectives. Custom software development addresses the challenges of off-the-shelf software solutions.
At the heart of bespoke software is user experience. With personalized features and interactive user interfaces, customer experience would be at its best. With plenty of customers, businesses can build enhanced relationships and avoid competition. Eventually, it promotes continuous innovation and growth.
Also Read: A Glimpse into the Future of Software Development in the UK
What are the Benefits Offered by Bespoke Software Development Company
1. Reduced Risks
Bespoke software development does not mean that the risk is absent. But a bespoke development company has great experience working on several projects.
They identify the risks and create plans to manage them without affecting product quality. At ThinkPalm, we offer custom software development. Our developers have a wealth of experience in custom software development, which helps them understand the risks of custom software development.
2. Minimized Costs
Getting the help of a bespoke software development services company is always expensive. However, when you use the service of ThinkPalm’s expert team, you can minimize the expenses related to the maintenance of an in-house team.
You pay for the services you receive, so relying on ThinkPlam’s custom software development brings many cost benefits.
3. Faster Release
Rely on ThinkPalm’s expert team for bespoke software development and get guaranteed delivery on time. You can count on us to expedite the custom software design, development and release processes. Our steadfast development team is dedicated to delivering your projects before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies use bespoke software development solutions?
Usually, organizations that need to bridge the gap in off-shelf software solutions rely on bespoke software development services. Ready-made software solutions have limitations, while bespoke software development addresses every unique need of business.
What factors should you consider when selecting a bespoke software development partner?
Research and select your potential partners by verifying the company’s portfolio, relevant experience, and technical expertise, assessing working relationships, and project management tools. Also, verify if your potential partner understands your business needs and, last but not least, the security practices.
What makes bespoke software development different from off-the-shelf software development?
A bespoke software application, as the name suggests, is designed to meet the specific needs of a project. It is easy to add and remove features while off-the shelf-software lacks several features, and it is almost impossible to include new functionalities.
Bottom Line
Suppose you are a company dealing with software development services in the UK looking for bespoke applications. In that case, you can go with an in-house team or outsource your software development. As explained above, managing an in-house team is tedious and expensive.
Now that you have a clear idea about the bespoke software development process, pick the industry’s best company to kick-start your custom software development! Leverage the expertise of ThinkPalm to keep the competition away and be in the driver’s seat!
Author Bio
Silpa Sasidharan is a content writer and social media copywriting expert working at ThinkPalm Technologies, who aspires to create marketing texts for topics spanning from technology, automation and digital business solutions.
