Using a Readymade Software vs Developing a Custom Software

Every business feels the need for business software to succeed and grow. Depending on the size of a business, these requirements may arise at different times. However, every time such a situation arises, the question remains the same: Should I use ready-made software, or do I need a custom software? Whether it’s to replace a system we’ve outgrown or discover a new solution to streamline an ineffective process. Software development companies can help get the best possible IT solution. Since they develop both types of solutions, they will be the best to offer a range of packaged and custom software development solutions for small businesses and large enterprises. In a software-powered world, businesses mainly have two options when it comes to adapting a technology to support their growing needs. Either going for a ready-made IT application or developing a custom IT application. Though, there are pros and cons to both. If you are planning for software implementation for your company in 2023 and thinking what will be the best choice for a software? Read on to find out what is meant by “readymade” and “custom” software development, their benefits, and drawbacks. So, you can ultimately decide whether you should choose ready-made software or custom software.

Let’s start then, 

What is ready made or packaged software?

Readymade software is packaged software that comes with pre-built features that cannot be easily changed. These types of software are typically commercial products that are sold either as a one-time purchase or on a subscription basis. All the features are designed to be easy to use for all sized businesses and can be readily used by a business after purchase. Packaged software is often considered the best buy when it comes to integrating technology, due to its proven technology and user experience, unless it is not new in the market. You can expect many benefits and drawbacks when you choose readymade software. In our next section, we will discuss everything in detail.

Major benefits of using readymade software

• Immediate implementation

Readymade software can be purchased and deployed quickly, allowing businesses to start using it right away. This is also one of the biggest advantages of choosing readymade software. As this provides all industry specific features in quick time. This saves crucial time of businesses to focus on other developments in the organization. Which may not be the case in a custom software.

• Cost-effective

Cost efficiently and better ROI can be one of the reasons why industry experts suggest to buy readymade software. As most packaged software don’t built on the specific user requirements, being less flexible they are often less expensive than custom-built software.

• Proven technology

Off-the shelf software has been used and tested by multiple customers, so the technology has been proven to be reliable and suitable for mass audience. This gives an advantage to the user to check out the level of efficiency and support offered by the companies offering the package software.

• On-hand Support and regular updates

The majority of readymade software vendors provide technical support and documentation, which can be very beneficial to businesses that are not familiar with the software. Additionally, such software is accompanied with training materials and user manuals to enable better usage of the software. Also with readymade software, there is no need for enterprises to worry about maintenance, as they offer regular upgrades and bug fixes, keeping the software operating properly.

• Customization & Scalability

As we have talked earlier, packaged IT solutions come with default features that cannot be easily customized with changing needs. Many readymade software is built to be able to handle large amounts of data and also can be expanded with readily available add-ons to match the business requirement as the company scales.

Drawback of using readymade software – The cons

• Less flexible for growing requirements
• Feature rich but with many unused or unnecessary functions
• Dependency on publisher for maintenance and upgrade schedule (and app lifecycle)
• Lack of Focus on Requirements
• No ownership and Lack of Control
• Long-term Cost Implications

What is custom software development?

Custom software works exactly as it sounds. In custom software development, you conceptualize, design, build, and deploy software for a specific individual, group of individuals, or organization or partner. While fully adapting to the needs and scaling demands of the future. Developing your own software can provide a number of benefits that will help you stand out from the competition. Here are a few of the biggest reasons why developing your own software is a smart investment:

The Benefits of Custom Software Development – The Pros

1.  Exclusive Solution only for Your Business

You choose custom development because you want a solution that is unique to you. Having custom software means just like that, it helps you grow without limits. You can add all the necessary features, make changes whenever you want, and incorporate feedback from customers. While creating an interactive relationship with customers and improve the credibility as a brand.

2. Cost savings

You can save money on both the initial purchase and ongoing costs when you develop your own software. This is due to the fact that custom software is typically more expensive than off-the-shelf options, but it is worthwhile in terms of long-term savings and increased efficiency. As you only pay for the features you use, unlike readymade software with unnecessary and unused feature.

3. Easy to scale and customise

As your company grows, it becomes more difficult to manage multiple applications with varying features and functionality. Custom software, on the other hand, allows you to easily add new features or functionality without having to rewrite entire applications from the ground up. This greatly simplifies scaling and expanding your business; no need to outsource or wait for other teams to build out new features!

4. Increased security

When you create your own software, you take control of security issues and ensure that your data is always safe and secure. There is always the risk that sensitive information will fall into the wrong hands or be compromised in some way when using third-party solutions. Creating your own software means you have complete control over your data, no matter what happens!

5. Better user experience

Customized apps are created with the user in mind! This means that users have access to comprehensive menus and instructions, making them simple and enjoyable to use – even for those unfamiliar with technology.

Drawbacks of using custom software – The cons

Flexible but expensive Implementation requires a lot of time Need for technical Proficiency No original developer Support and Documentation Less technological Competitive Advantage than available commercial software Unavailability of proven technology

Hopefully, this explains everything about ready-made software and custom software. Now, let’s find out how they perform when we put them side by side with one another. 

Ready-Made Vs Bespoke Software Development

When deciding which option is best for your project, we need to take into account the following factors: complexity, features required, budget restrictions, timelines, and team size. Additionally, assess whether your project will be long term or short term in nature – long term investments often offer greater benefits than short term gains.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Custom Development Vs Buying an Existing Software

Factors	Readymade Software	Custom Software
Budget friendly	Yes	No
Timesaving	Yes	No
Risk Assurance	No	Yes
Customization	Yes	Yes
Maintenance & Support	Yes	Yes
Proven Technology	Yes	No
Immediate Implementation	Yes	No

Does My Business Need a readymade software or Custom Software?

When it comes to developing an application, there are two popular options available to businesses: custom software development or using ready-made software. Many businesses find that using ready-made software is the most cost-effective solution, as custom development can be costly. But it can offer exclusive benefits that you may not find in the packaged software solutions. If you’re still unsure which route to go, consider using a mix of both ready-made and bespoke software components to get the most out of your investment.

In Summary

We have discussed differences between custom software or ready-made software. As each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, it’s important to evaluate them carefully before making a decision.