For business owners, bespoke software is a serious investment. At BSPOKE, we understand that and pride ourselves on providing honest, unbiased advice. Leveraging more than 20 years' experience in a variety of sectors, the BSPOKE team have put together a guide on the most common reasons why a business should consider investing in a new software solution. Whether you’re completely unsure or simply want your inclination confirmed, we are here to help. If you find yourself needing more information or dedicated advice personalised to your project, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
When old software curbs productivity
Custom software solutions are usually considered when off-the-shelf software cannot provide all services required for smooth business operation. Beyond this, organisations approach us because generica solutions are not only missing features but are actively inhibiting growth. Or productivity is held back due to frustrating design or functionality. Tools which prevent the next stage of growth for a business need to be culled to make room for innovation and expansion. In this case, if no suitable off-the-shelf options are available, a custom solution is the only logical step.
When more data access is needed
Successful business operation requires difficult decision making. One of the best ways to make decisions easier is by leveraging data. Whether it’s website analytics, audience demographics or the lifetime value of a customer, data informs intelligent decision making. Often, generic software provides access to a variety of data within their functionality. This can vary from intensely granular analysis to more general, top-level overviews. Each business utilises data slightly differently. Depending on their business model, information needed may be unavailable through generic platforms and will need to be calculated manually. This takes time and resources, something which every organisation wants to maximise. Bespoke software grants you complete control over what data is collected, what metrics are calculated and how often they update, making it significantly easier to tailor dashboards and analytics to needs and preferences.
When current software is outdated
This applies to organisations which already use their own bespoke software, as well as those leveraging off-the-shelf solutions. As with all things, software has a lifespan. In the current age, technology is evolving at an exceptional speed and within a few years, most hardware, websites and software become outdated. This is often ignored for a short time but if left too long, can quickly hinder an organisation’s growth and productivity. If your existing software solution is cluttered, poorly optimised from a UX perspective or has simply become ineffective due to mismanagement or years of use, a fresh new system will likely see a surge in productivity and effectiveness. Using your existing tool as a baseline, a software house - like the team here at BSPOKE - will easily be able to create a similar solution with much-needed updates, optimisations and improvements.
When price increases are punitive
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a booming sector of the digital market. As we move further into a completely digital working environment, data analytics is becoming essential to successful business operation. Along with software which collects and interprets that data. With this in mind, off-the-shelf software providers are finding themselves with ever more power as organisations realise they are dependent on these services to grow and succeed. This inevitivably leads to price creep – particularly for ‘credits’-based software that charges per user. Often, investing in a bespoke software solution can save money for an organisation in the long term. Whilst the initial investment can be high depending on your project, this is quickly recuperated via the money saved on other software tools. In particular, custom software has multiple tools that will lead to a large reduction in business expense. It also provides additional control and influence over updates or changes.
When entering a growth phase
For a business, growth is always seen as a good thing. However, there’s no denying that rapid expansion comes with challenges. Organisations which rely on digital tools and services to generate revenue in particular. Whatever the case, rapid growth is guaranteed to lead to changes in business operation and change requires flexibility. This is true not just for staff but in the tools the business uses as well. Off-the-shelf software is extremely inflexible. For growing businesses, typical software options tend to be limited to a very specific core offering which will rarely change or improve. Additionally, faults in the software can take time to be fully fixed, time which rapidly growing organisations can't afford. With this in mind, investing in a custom software solution gives growing businesses control over their tools. Software can be updated, changed, improved and fixed. This can be as and when needed, with features added or amended as the business requires. It’s this flexibility and scalability which makes bespoke software invaluable.
When concerned about security
Finally, for businesses which collect particularly sensitive information or are especially fearful of being victims to cybercrime, using third-party software is more of a security risk. By contrast, custom software prevents the need to transfer sensitive data elsewhere and allows for the management of data security internally. This makes it easier to keep information safe and abide by security regulations.
Free consultation with experts
Whilst these are far from the only times when a custom software solution might be suitable for your business, they are some of the most common. If you are still unsure about whether bespoke software is right for you, get in touch.