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Overview:

* A company specialized in custom software ensures a faster technology implementation timeline and reduces bureaucracy;

* Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, this type of project can be tailored to what you truly need;

* Learn more about how the development process works and the key steps for an idea to succeed.

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Do you know what custom software is?

Hiring a company specialized in developing this type of solution can significantly boost your business.

But how?

If you are used to off-the-shelf software that does not include all the features you need, that is a strong sign that it may be time to invest in a different type of solution.

Today, many startups look for this kind of software, mainly because of personalization and ease of use.

In this model, it is possible to build an entire system that matches your company, without features that are useless for your operation—and with only what you actually need. 

But what advantages can custom software offer? How does development work? Is it worth investing?

Check all the details below.

What is custom software?

A custom software project is a solution developed exclusively for your company’s needs.

This model is more flexible and brings several benefits compared to traditional off-the-shelf software, which offers ready-made solutions and requires your company to adapt to them.

Even though it can be a high investment, the time you save during the adaptation phase—training your team and making the system easier to use—tends to compensate over the years, delivering stronger financial returns.

For a project to truly succeed, it is important to follow key steps such as organization, validating the project with the client, and agile software development—topics we will cover in more detail below.

Do you have questions about the app development process? Access our free e-book.

What are the stages of a custom software project?

Because companies that provide custom software development services operate in the tech space, most of them use agile methodologies guided by “lean” principles.

That means a development project should aim for the best possible result in a short execution timeframe.

To make everything happen as planned and following that agile concept, the custom software development process generally includes six stages:

The first is defining the business rules so the software can start being designed by the team.

Next, one of the most important steps is validating those requirements between the hiring company and the development partner. This allows the project to start as soon as possible.

Once development begins, early goals include building prototypes for the business, coding, and running development tests to assess whether it is already viable to deliver the project or whether there are structural issues.

To close the workflow, there is the acceptance/homologation phase for the app/system and any adjustments requested by the client after receiving the prototypes.

After that, the development team performs maintenance whenever needed, always focused on continuous improvement of the newly created software.

By following this workflow, custom software companies can better explain project stages to clients while internally organizing the technical demands and specifics of each phase.

What are the main advantages for my company?

1. Built exclusively for what you need

One of the main benefits of custom software is that it is designed to meet your specific needs.

From the very first conversation, different diagnostics are carried out so the development partner can understand what you truly need.

In this process, the team evaluates which features are most viable, how long full execution could take, and what the project’s cost might be.

With the architecture defined, feedback cycles happen throughout development to understand the client’s satisfaction with what has been delivered so far.

Unlike generic software, when you hire a custom software company, your product will not include extra features you did not request (which can make the product heavier), nor will it miss essential features your business requires.

As a result, the product becomes “exclusive” to what you actually need, improving results and organization soon after implementation.

2. Faster implementation time

If you have used off-the-shelf software before, you may have noticed it often takes a long time for everyone in the company to perform their work with excellence.

That happens because, when a system is deployed all at once, the organization needs to migrate quickly to avoid hurting business results.

However, this can severely impact your team’s productivity—people need time to learn the new platform.

With custom software, the adaptation process is smaller.

How so?

In this model, the project is divided into phases and delivered based on a schedule. An MVP is delivered so the client can perform the company’s core activities in the new product.

After this first implementation, more features are added over time, improving efficiency and reducing the amount of training needed.

3. Easier to use

Another advantage of custom software is usability. Many generic systems include too many features, which can make it harder to understand how the product works.

In everyday work, that structure can become a problem—especially when employees need speed for simple actions.

In that case, custom software can help.

As mentioned earlier, a project tailored to your needs avoids this problem, since every feature exists for a specific purpose.

In addition, because it is built exclusively for your company, the visual aspects tend to be more pleasant and intuitive, increasing day-to-day practicality.

This is essential if you want to build a truly competitive advantage compared to competitors in your niche.

4. Supported by specialists

Hiring custom software gives your company access to highly qualified professionals responsible for the technology side.

In smaller companies—and in early-stage startups—it is common for the internal team to be small.

When you adopt off-the-shelf software, the learning and training effort can get in the way of a team that is already overloaded with daily tasks focused on growing the business.

With custom software, that tends not to happen. When you hire a specialized technology team to take care of the project, your internal team can focus on more strategic processes.

Over time, as the software is implemented in a planned way, productivity tends to remain high because adaptation becomes easier.

Also, if the product has issues, generic software can take a long time to fix.

This is very different in custom software, since changes and corrections can be applied while the company’s operations continue.

5. Strong cost-benefit

A strong cost-benefit ratio is another important advantage of hiring a company specialized in custom software.

This can be seen as a result of the benefits above: the model tends to deliver greater benefits in the medium to long term, generating real savings in the future.

Even though the investment may seem high at first, custom software has a much longer useful life than generic systems.

As explained earlier, this happens because new features and updates can always be added to the initial project, following the company’s growth—whether by launching new products or increasing the customer base.

Also, since the bureaucratic process is smaller and demands less from your internal team, it helps maintain your employees’ productivity.

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How do I know if my company really needs software?

The best way to know whether your company needs custom software is to analyze how your business is performing today. The first sign that something is off is the relationship between your product and your customer. So, answer the following question:

Does your company have the capacity to meet market demands?

If the answer is no, your current system may be limiting your business growth.

It is also important to reflect on customer satisfaction with your product, since custom software can significantly improve this aspect.

In fact, customer loyalty is a startup’s thermometer. Listen to suggestions and criticism, and look for solutions to your biggest pain points.

However, here is an important note: most problems can be addressed by hiring a company specialized in this type of software.

A company that has not adapted to a more agile and flexible model tends to lose customers, since many businesses now have a personalized system built for their needs—including your competitors.

At X-Apps, many companies with these gaps have reached out to us, and we have consistently been able to deliver what they truly needed.

Want to learn how we can help you build custom software? Talk to us!

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