Custom Software Development vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions: Which is Right for You?

Choosing between custom software vs. off-the-shelf software is very much like choosing between a house you can build exactly how you want, and a house that is already built, ready to move in right away but it might not have everything you need.

Each option—custom software and off-the-shelf software—has benefits and drawbacks of its own.  When choosing custom software, you get a product that is made just for you, according to your needs and requirements, but it can be time-consuming and expensive to build. Or, you can just buy off-the-shelf software, that is cheaper and ready to use, but the downside is that it may lack features you need, and it can’t be customized to your needs. 

With this article, we want to give you some insights on both of these options, which will help you make the right decision, depending on your business and requirements.

What is Custom Software Development? An In-Depth Look

Custom software, as its name suggests means creating software for your business needs. It’s like a tailor-made suit. 

When a company has very specific needs and requirements for a software product that off-the-shelf software doesn’t have, they choose custom software solutions instead. They might be looking for a specific feature or have a particular process that needs to be followed, and they haven't come across any ready-made software that meets those requirements. However, the costs custom software comes with are much higher than off-the-shelf software prices. It’s not only about the difference in costs, though. 

When you hire a software development team to build your custom software, you will probably have to be more involved in the process and work closely with developers to make sure everything goes in the right direction. But even if it’s a bigger investment and effort, in the end, you get a product that is perfectly suited to your needs. 

Is Custom Software Right for You? Key Advantages and Disadvantages

Before deciding if custom software is right for your business, there are some questions you need to ask yourself first. What are the features most important in my software product? Does it require any special processes? What are my goals and budget? 

As you know, the biggest advantage of custom software is that it’s made just for you. It has everything you need, all the features and aesthetics match your requirements. 

Another great thing about custom software is that it grows along with your business. It’s more flexible, and you can easily add new features or improve existing ones. 

Custom software can give you an edge over your competitors since it’s designed to meet your exact needs. It will also save you time and energy because it is easy to integrate with other tools.

On the other hand, building such customized software solutions can end up costing a lot. And you are almost always required to put out a large investment first to have it developed. To top it all, in case you need the software product quickly, it's good to know, that customization of the software usually takes a lot of time and it's a very long process that includes designing as well as planning, development, and testing. 

Maintenance is another factor that you have to think about. Fixing bugs, adding new features and any new developments will be part of the support services, which may cost more. 

Another important point worth mentioning is that the client will have to rely on the app development team for a long time for both app development and app management. This could cause delays and issues in case they’re unavailable or if you want to switch your development team. 

Custom software development can be a fantastic investment if you have specific requirements that off-the-shelf software can’t fulfill. But it’s important to weigh the costs, time, and ongoing maintenance involved. 

What are Off-the-Shelf Software Solutions?

COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) software solutions can be a good choice if you need something fast and convenient. Most of these products are created to serve multiple different business needs, with standard features. 

The biggest advantage off-the-shelf solutions offer is convenience. You don’t have to spend time figuring out the features you need, and you don’t have to wait for it to be built. You simply buy the software, install it and it’s ready to use. This is especially suitable for businesses without highly specific requirements for features. 

COTS software solutions are created to be one-size-fits-all, and they address the general needs of many businesses. Not every company has special software requirements, so for many, these off-the-shelf options are a practical and budget-friendly way to get things done.

Off-The-Shelf Solutions: Weighing the Pros and Cons

With off-the-shelf software, it’s simple and fast to get started. After purchasing it, you get to start using it right away. That’s the most appealing factor about it. It comes with standard features, that match various business processes at an affordable price. Being cost-efficient is another one of COTS software solutions’ benefits, especially, compared to custom solutions, which are quite pricy. 

You also don’t have to worry about updates and support, as off-the-shelf software gets those from its provider. Since it’s designed for a wide range of users, COTS software might not be 100% what you need. 

It may lack the important features you need, and it also may have unnecessary features for your business. While it’s possible to customize off-the-shelf software to better fit your requirements, it can get expensive and difficult, so at this point, it may be worth considering custom software from the start. 

One downside to going with this option is that you’re pretty much relying on your software provider for updates and maintenance. Sure, it saves you time and effort, but it can be a bit tricky if their schedule or priorities don’t line up with what your business really needs.

COTS software solutions are a great option for many businesses with simple and standard feature requirements, and they offer a quick way to get software up and running. If your business has fairly common needs, and you’re looking for ready-to-use options, they are a solid choice. 

Real-World Example: MoldoWEB's Custom Software Solution

Improving Marine Surveying Processes with a Custom Mobile App

Background

We were contacted by a marine surveying company from the UK that struggled with outdated methods, relying mostly on paper and spreadsheets to manage their operations. In this industry, like in many others, precision and fast communication between surveyors, clients, and support teams are key. Their old methods were causing issues related to data accuracy and real-time collaboration. They knew it was time for an update of their processes and they teamed up with us, MoldoWEB, to create a custom Mobile Workforce Application.

The Problem: The company was struggling with slow processes that often led to mistakes. They mainly used Excel to handle jobs, track staff hours, and create audit reports. This method was not only time-consuming and made it difficult to deliver results quickly and accurately.

The Solution: Our team developed a custom Mobile Workforce Application designed specifically for the marine surveying company’s needs. The custom software addressed the key issues:

-Live Data Tracking: Surveyors could now enter data directly on-site, making their work faster, more efficient, and most importantly, error-free. 

-Better Communication: Team members had a live messaging tool available, which made real-time communication easier.

-Quick Report Generation: Reports could be automatically generated using visuals, instead of compiling them manually.

Conclusion: The app we built made a real difference in the marine surveying company’s work operations. Moving from the old manual processes to a modern solution, their work became more efficient, and accurate, improving communication between team members.

Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Software: What’s Best for Your Business?

After learning about custom and off-the-shelf software, you probably have an idea which one would suit your requirements best. But, if you still don’t, that’s ok also. Let’s talk about some key factors you should consider before making a decision. 

First, think about what you need exactly from your software. Do you have any unique requirements or complex features in mind that your software should include? Most times, custom software is a better choice, since it’s tailored specifically to your needs, but, it’s considerably pricier and takes more time to develop. Off-the-shelf software, however, is ready to use right away, which makes it very convenient even if it doesn’t align a hundred percent with your needs. You may have to adapt your processes to fit the software. 

When making the decision, don’t forget to think about the future as well. Custom software can grow alongside you, it’s more flexible when it comes to the evolving needs of a business. Off-the-shelf solutions are not as adaptable and may need additional modifications or tools to meet new requirements. 

Budget and timeline are also very important factors. Custom software requires a larger upfront investment, and might not be suitable for companies with tight budgets. If you need a quick solution that’s easy on the wallet, off-the-shelf options could be more practical.

Lastly, you should also consider the support and updates offered by the software providers. You get ongoing support and maintenance from your custom software development team, specifically tailored for your setup. With off-the-shelf software, support is available from the vendor, but it’s more general, and it might not address your needs as closely.

Conclusion

The decision between custom software vs. off-the-shelf software comes down to your current needs, budget, and future plans. Custom software offers more flexibility and adaptability but at a higher cost and longer development time. Off-the-shelf software is available and ready to use right away, it’s more affordable but may require you to adapt your processes to it, rather than the other way around. 

Think about your specific requirements and business goals, and with the help of this guide, you can make a smart decision that best serves your company in the long term.