Modern business conditions imply the choice of software to ensure and optimize various processes. In fact, we are talking about packaged software or a more versatile option that allows meeting the requirements faced by different companies. Let’s try to figure out together what is the difference between packaged software vs custom software.
What is Custom Software?
When software is developed for the needs of a particular organization, it is called user or custom-defined. The main advantages of bespoke software in an organization are its requirements accounting that allow solving certain tasks. At the same time, smooth integration will be ensured. Experienced developers will help you to modify programs, taking into account the company development and changes in business processes. Since the approach turns out to be more individual, the customer has a better chance of receiving fast and useful service.
Benefits of custom software are:
- Customized solutions to meet unique business needs. Computer designers include all the features you need to optimize your business. The task of programmers who are engaged in the development of an individual package is to adapt programs to existing systems.
- Scalability within a specific project. It is the unique ability of the system adapting to the expansion of the requirements and the increase in the volume of tasks. A set of programs work in different conditions.
- The product uniqueness and the lack of analogues gives advantages over competitors. The software will not be available to anyone except the customer of the service.
Generally, client software helps automate processes by reducing resource costs. By customizing the soft to the individual needs, the company improves its operational performance and productivity.
Pros and Cons of Custom Software
Solution, designed for specific goals and requests, allows the company to flexibly respond to any changes that occur in the business environment. Grouped tasks are useful for optimizing workflow and management in general. Custom software provides functions to expand and adapt to new conditions. Due to the specific tool settings, the company can expect a higher return on investment.
Advantage of custom software is also to ensure the security and confidentiality of the database. With the help of unique settings, the company gets the opportunity to check unauthorized access and minimize the risks of information leakage.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the increased costs at the software development stage and the long period of time that needs to be spent on implementation.
What is Packaged Software?
Package software is usually understood as a set of modules that are integrated into the system to solve various tasks. As a rule, they are designed for general needs and have a broader purpose than custom ones. Packages are complete pieces of programs that can work in isolation, without any add-ons or other modules.
The use of modules does not imply their modification for a specific situation. This is due to the peculiarity of the design and purpose. The universal design indicates that any user can use the program. This also means that the software may have a large number of functions that are not useful.
Pros and Cons of Packaged Software
First of all, we need to specify a relatively low price compared to custom software. It is explained by the development cost being distributed to many users who will apply the features of the package. Therefore, at the implementation stage, the company’s costs will be minimal. The rapid deployment of the system will also be a plus. It will be able to become available to a large number of users immediately after the purchase and installation. Additional testing and special support will not be needed during the application process.
The packaged software is characterized by a lower degree of customization. As a result, the interface may be inconvenient, but nothing can be done about it. In addition, some modules can be very complex. They consist of several parts that the user may never need. The software can be bought by competitors. As a result the company loses its competitive advantage.
Comparative Analysis
For a more in-depth study of the issues, we have prepared a comparative table that clearly demonstrates the main differences between the two types of software.
| Comparison Parameters | Packaged S/W | Custom S/W |
| Cost | Lower | High |
| Setup | It is more difficult to integrate with another S/W, additional time may be needed. | Integration with other S/W is easier. The developer company helps with the installation, so the process is easier. Users can only follow the recommendations for using the product. |
| Implementation time | Fast | It takes longer, and additional testing may be required. |
| Suitability for various sizes and types of businesses | Ready-made solutions are suitable for a wide range of users. However, it will be an ideal solution for small businesses where the number of employees does not exceed 20-30 people. | This solution is suitable for a wide range of companies and organizations that are looking for solutions to reduce costs and automate business processes. |
Industry-Specific Solutions
When choosing software for a particular business, you need to clearly understand what tasks it should solve, what criteria it should meet, and what parameters will be the key ones. It is important to understand that different products can be used to solve different types of tasks. So, in order to optimize warehouse accounting, a program is needed that allows you to receive the actual remaining goods from the warehouse at any time. When custom software is created, in addition to warehouse accounting, you can add sales tracking.
For improving customer service, a CRM system is being implemented. The accounting department in a large company will need software to automate the movement of funds and reporting. To get up-to-date analytics on how production processes are managed in real time, choose a production accounting program. All these products can be combined into software, the purpose of which is to provide for the needs of the company. When developing it, the specifics of the business and the individual requirements of users will be taken into account.
Custom software is in demand in various fields. In the education system, product development may include process management, conducting tests to summarize learning outcomes. Commissioning will greatly simplify the process, increase the motivation of teachers and involve students in the process.
Software for the financial sector, such as merchant cash advance software, requires increased data security requirements.
In the healthcare system, custom software will allow you to work with large amounts of data and use advanced solutions to analyze the results of surveys. They will be needed for rapid diagnosis of pathologies, financial management, as well as a tool for medical research.
In small companies engaged in retail trade, programs based on 1C-checkout will be in demand. They allow you to control the issuance of cash to sellers. As a result, business management is simplified, accounting for funds is greatly simplified. In addition, automated systems allow removing some of the responsibilities from the staff and redirecting them to other directions. Standard software cannot always solve such problems. It is designed for a wider range of users, and it is not always able to optimize business processes in companies with highly specialized needs.
Conclusion
Custom software development is designed for organizations whose unique tasks cannot be solved by implementing a more affordable packaged option. Comprehensive support will be provided to enterprises, including the selection of an effective platform and the implementation of an information system based on it, taking into account the industry specifics of the business.
With the help of the software package, most of the work on business management and workflow optimization will be automated. As a result, the money invested in software development will be fully justified in the near future.
