Off-the-shelf software or a custom application: how to choose?
Custom is not always the right answer. Here are the signs that existing software is enough, and the signs it is time for a change.
We build custom applications. Even so, we sometimes advise a business not to build one. Here is how we think it through, so you can do the same.
Existing software is often enough when:
- you only need one tool, for one task;
- the way you work is close to most businesses in your field;
- you use most of its features;
- its price stays reasonable as your team grows.
If so, keep it. Good standard software, used well, is often the best choice.
A custom application starts to make sense when:
- you pay for several subscriptions that do not talk to each other;
- your staff copy the same information from one tool to another;
- you changed the way you work to fit the software, not the other way around;
- you pay for many features nobody uses;
- your bills go up with every hire or every price increase.
Custom is no longer just for large companies
For a long time, an application built for you was out of reach for a small business. That is no longer true. Today's tools make it faster to build. And by building only what you need, the bill stays under control.
Get advice from someone with nothing to sell you
Software resellers often earn a commission on what they recommend. We earn none. If existing software suits you better, we will tell you, even if we gain nothing from it.
Tell us about your situation. The first conversation is free, with no commitment.