What Is Custom Software Development?
Custom software development is the process of designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining software for a specific set of users, roles, or organizations. Unlike off-the-shelf software, custom software development focuses on a strictly defined set of requirements. Although ready-made software meets a wide range of requirements, custom software takes a narrow and direct approach to its design and functionality.
5 Best Practice For Custom Software Development
1. Define your requirements well
Before you begin making new software, you have to have an away from what you need to accomplish and how it can impact the general arrangement of your present association process. For this to be effective, you have to recognize what your present hierarchical measures are and list their advantages and disadvantages. In such a manner, getting some information about their interests and the changes they need in the current framework would be an incredible arrangement.
2. Hire the right team to develop your product
You can handle this in different ways. You can use an in-house IT team or hire freelance developers or a well-established custom software development company with proven experience. That’s why, finding the right hand becomes the most critical part of these five stages, which is choosing the right team to put your idea into effect. Although you have an in-house team, it is advisable to approach someone specializing in providing the type of software you are looking for. Because by employing your own team or amateurs in the field, you will waste your valuable time and money, making your existing system more complicated.
3. Plan and set milestones
Make certain to indicate the right guide for the whole venture development cycle. It is appropriate to expect IT specialists and somebody to lead and direct the task on your part. While making the guide, think about the accessible time and distributed financial plan. Doing so will assist you with pinpointing changes and upgrades if necessary right away.
4. Perform the appropriate testing
Before you deploy the new software across your company, test it out. Testing usually takes place at two levels: The technical test is carried out by developers and IT professionals. It tests whether the fundamental elements are working. User testing is the second one which is performed by the real users in order to check whether the software works as expected and desired.
5. Document the entire process
It is not enough to just complete software as needed, but documenting each stage of the process is highly important. The project plan and implementation plan, including the test plan, scope statement, and training plan, should be well documented to ensure that everything is on track and works as desired. It would help to define how the software used, what resources are expected, and to ensure the ideal utilization of the end product.
Our development process consists of the following steps:
Task analysis
1. Receiving an application from the Customer and its preliminary analysis
Due to our experience already at this stage, we usually understand what is required in general.
2. Discussion of the application with the Customer in order to clarify a number of questions
Due to the answers to our questions, we already more accurately understand the requirements and are ready to offer various options.
3. A preliminary assessment of the development time and cost of work
Here we provide a detailed commercial offer with preliminary, but already fairly accurate estimates of the time of work and the cost of software, as well as offer several options for cooperation. Ultimately, in 99% of cases, we come to mutually beneficial terms of cooperation.
Technical task
4. Development of a detailed Terms of Reference for programs
We create a document, coordinating, and discussing options with the Customer.
5. Coordination of software product interfaces
One of the most interesting stages at which the Customer first sees his software product and can be creative and even add something of his own, rightfully feeling like one of its creators.
Software development
6. The software development itself
Not a quick, but the most important stage, which includes mandatory testing by specialists.
7. Demonstration to the Customer of the alpha version of the software product
At this stage, the software product already meets 99% of the requirements of the Customer.
8. Minor improvements to the information system and final testing.
In this article, we saw some important advantages to consider when choosing custom software - which is undoubtedly the best option for companies that intend to grow without fear of being stuck with a solution or hostages from a single supplier.