What is Custom Software?
Custom software is crafted by software engineers to meet needs identified in your
business. It is built to your specific requirements and designed to comply with
your company's procedures.
When Would I Use It?
Custom software is created when you believe that there is nothing currently available
for purchase in the market that does exactly what you need. It is usually
commissioned when you have determined that no off-the-shelf software exists that
meets your essential requirements.
Custom software is frequently used to solve a business process challenge or problem
unique to an organization. You would use it when you need a specific output that
your current business system is unable to produce.
Custom software can also be the outcome of an idea being developed into a unique
product. In this context, it can be used to gain operational advantages vs competitors,
to undertake a new business activity, to better serve your customers or brought
to market as a product of value to a wider audience.
How do I Determine if I Need It?
Fully defining the problem is a critical first step. Sandbox Software Solutions
offers expert consulting services to determine whether a custom software solution
will make a difference in improving business process problems or bring operational
advantages.
Why not try asking yourself a few questions to see if a custom software solution
might be appropriate?
- Are there aspects of our current systems that frustrate our own employees or our
clients?
- What are the standards we want to achieve for our employees or our clients?
- What steps might be required to get to those standards?
- What will happen to our company if we don’t achieve the standards we espouse or
value?
- Can new software close the gap between our current situation and the standards we
espouse or value?
- If yes, does it already exist in an off-the-shelf-format?
- Would an off-the-shelf product be cost effective?
- Does the off-the-shelf package do everything we need it to?
Your answers to these questions should help clarify whether a custom software solution
will help your organization achieve its standards.
Is your business suffering from project management woes stemming from poorly integrated
software tools - poor communication, loss of detail?
Custom software is crafted to tighten up integration between existing software tools,
acting as intermediate between off-the-shelf solutions and diverse data formats.
When a custom software solution is created, loss of data can be minimized and information
distribution automated through channels including email, intra/extranet document
repositories and desktop push / RSS technologies.