Pros and Cons of Generic and Custom-Built Software To Help You Make the Right Choice

When it comes to software installation, most of the businesses find it a daunting task. There are available two types of software – ready-made off-the-shelf generic software or customized software. Ready-made software is the generic ready to use software that can be used as soon as it is installed on a device. On the other hand, custom-built software is developed to suit the needs of an organization. 

There is a wide difference between the two options, and each of them have their set of advantages and disadvantages. It is advisable to consider the pros and cons of both ready-made and Custom-Built Software and choose the option that suits you the most.

Advantages of Custom-Built Software

1. Personalized to Suit the Needs

Though there are many high-quality off-the-shelf software products available in the market, nothing suits a business organization like a software that is custom-built to suit its requirements. Customized software can handle all the processes that are unique to a business organization. Opting for a customized software saves a lot of time and money as it aligns with the business model and eliminates the need to change the business processes to suit the software package. The customization of software also provides exclusivity as it ensures that all the business activities are properly automated and addressed based on the requirements of the organization.

2. Offers Scalability

As a business organization grows and expands, it’s requirements also change. A software product that is suitable for a start-up may not be able to meet the needs when the organization expands. On the other hand, Custom-Built Software provides scalability to suit the growing needs of a business. The software companies which create personalized software solutions offer support programs to make sure the software scales up effectively to support the needs of an expanding business. 

3. Easy Integration

Business organizations may require multiple software packages to suit various processes. Maintaining multiple programs can be a time-consuming and difficult task. A customized software product is a boon to such organizations, as it can be designed to integrate multiple business processes into one software program. Moreover, a customized software program is designed, keeping the expertise of the users in mind. It is easy to train the employees of the business organization and integrate it into the business process. 

4. Highly cost-Effective

Though customized software seems costly, initially, it is highly cost-effective in the long run. Customized software offers scalability and does not require regular updates to suit the growing needs of the business. Moreover, since it is developed to suit the business processes, the costs of integration are also less. All these factors make customized software, a good investment.

5. Flexibility to Choose Security Protocols

With the cases of data theft increasing, it has become extremely important for business organizations to maintain the security of data. When designing a customized software package, you can choose a data security protocol that best suits your business needs and integrate it into the software. 

6. User-Friendly

Customized software programs are easy to use as they are developed to match the expertise of the people using it. Moreover, they do not contain any unnecessary elements and are interesting to use.

Disadvantages of Custom-Built Software

1. Time-consuming Process

Creating a Custom-Built Software is a time-consuming process. The software company has to study entire business processes to develop the right software solution to suit the requirements. Moreover, it also takes time to develop, set-up and implement the software. Hence, it is not suitable for organizations, which need immediate solutions.

2. High Initial Investment

Software companies charge huge fees to create customized software solutions. If a business organization does not have any specific requirements, it is advisable to opt for ready-made software packages. They are cheaper and can support a wide range of functions. 

3. Maintenance Issues

If the company which developed your software closes down or chooses not to work with your company, you will have trouble in maintenance and up-gradation of the customized software. While opting to customize software package, it is very important to choose a reliable and experienced software company.

Advantages of Off-the-shelf Software

1. Low Initial Cost

Ready-made software has low initial investment when compared to Custom-Built Software. Since the products are generic, there is a large user base, and the costs are split among different users. Companies offer generic software products at competitive prices. 

2. Immediate Availability

Generic software packages can be easily bought off-the-shelf and are immediately ready-to-use. Most of these software packages have a host of features that can be used as soon as the software is installed on the device.

3. Easy documentation and support

Generic software packages have user guides from the software companies that develop them. Apart from that, you can find plenty of unofficial guides written by people who already use the software. You can find support from online forums, groups etc. to resolve simple issues. The software developing companies also provide technical support for free or at extra cost. 

4. Regular Updates

As software companies develop new versions of the software, they release regular updates. But most of the updates are not free, and sometimes the updates may not suit the needs of your organization.

Disadvantages of Generic software

1. Expensive in the long run

Though the initial costs of generic software are low, it is quite expensive in the long run. Generic software packages require regular updates to add new features and to scale according to the growing requirements of the organization. 

2. Difficult to Integrate

Generic software is difficult to integrate into the organization. Some business processes may need to be changed to suit the software. It involves huge costs and time to train the employees to work with the software.

3. Lack of Flexibility

Generic software is not flexible and cannot change as per the growth of a business organization. 

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of both generic and Custom-Built Software, it will be easier to make a choice. When we look at the bigger picture, the advantages of customized software far outweigh its disadvantages. Ultimately, the decision of choosing the software depends on the needs and requirements of a business organization. However, it is essential to do proper research and choose the best option for your business model.

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