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7 Do’s & Don’ts of Custom Software Development

Jason Li
Data Analyst
Experienced data analyst working with data visualization, cloud computing, administration & ETL solutions.
September 21, 2019


Custom Software Development

With software demands on the rising, it is essential to design, create, deploy & maintain a particular set that is accustomed to the demands of its users. The process of creating a customized version of any software that aids a very specific set of users, functions or organizations is referred to as custom software development. It is a process of developing tailor-made software for a specific purpose. Banking apps that are developed to serve all the online solutions & transactions of millions of users are a perfect example of customizing, software.

It is imperative that firms, organizations & companies need to stay competitive in a cut-throat market to survive & make a living out of the profit they acquire from selling their products or services. Developing software customized to their needs and which helps them to interact with clients & customers in a simple user interface is referred to as custom software development.

Through customized software, innovation comes to the forefront. It helps businesses deal with unique challenges which drive the companies to a competitive edge.

As all the needs & requirements of business met thoroughly and easily via custom software development, a simplified version of the entire business process can be developed which is very user-friendly. It is easy to provide training to use the particular software as the features are tailor-made to the business services that are being provided. While optimization, the interface requirements will be customized based on departmental priorities. With an option to secure the software using a unique code, external threats can be neutralized. Automation of processes helps in employing cost-effective methods to run the business. The software can be easily scaled based on the growth & evolution of the business.

The crux of Custom Software Development

Custom software development is for all personal & professional needs that arise for any other types of industry wherein the requirements have a scope of getting customized as part of business evolution.

Application customization, modernization, management, and maintenance are the main factors that need to be considered during the developing & optimizing process of custom software development.

Application customization deals with simplifying Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software to a customized version that can be integrated & molded into incorporating the business requirements of a firm, company or organization. The customization process enables to upgrade & update a business product or service based on the requirements of targeted users and clients.

Application modernization involves evolving market & user demands and modifying the software to meet these needs. It helps in maintaining the viability of business software. The process of application modernization deals with evaluating parameters for refactoring, repurposing & consolidating of legacy software programming. Application modernization helps businesses to stay updated by incorporating their latest requirements, which improves their competitive edge in the market.

Application management manages all functions that happen in an office environment. It makes the custom software effective by updating performances, optimizing the whole process, along with installation & functions handled by a service desk.

Application maintenance is useful for extending the capabilities of existing software in such a way that, it could be integrated into the cloud or mobile apps. This helps in improving user experience & adds new work data along with improving the security and performance appraisal.

7 Do’s and Don’ts of Custom Software Development

software

Doable parameters that is mandatory

Prepare well ahead

A detailed SWOT analysis will benefit any business organization while hiring a developer for custom software development. This thorough research will benefit the company & gives them an idea on the areas that can be customized. The customization will be based on clients & customers, thus making the developed custom software user-friendly & compatible with anyone who wishes to use a business product or service.

User-Friendly

With the in-depth knowledge of business products & services, the customization process should be extremely user-centered developed in an interface as such. For instance, a very tedious banking app will have customers & clients complaining which will directly affect the business. The ideas drawn out during the thorough planning stage should be incorporated in full capacity for successful customization.

Be communicative of ideas

There should be a clear idea about the technical requirements needed while developing custom software. Without a prototype, it is very difficult to perceive & visualize how the application is going to perform in the real world. So, communicating apt notions will help develop custom software that fits all your needs.

Allow users to enjoy your product & services

For efficiently developing custom software, business management should thoroughly study UI/UX parameters. These are user interface & user experience data which gives a proper idea about the requirements that should be included to satisfy the user demands. The business model is devised around these data as well. This allows all users of the business product & services a clarity they look for.

Quality is king!!

Custom software developed for the web & mobile application is tested thoroughly to check if it satisfies the high-quality requirements. Testing the finished product is a tedious necessary job as the quality requirements for the app testing include security, compatibility, interface, and performance. Since this is the final stage of the customized software development phase, there is no room for leniency or complacency.

Thorough testing is the way to go

With an evolving market right in front of our eyes, it is very tricky to stay competitive with each & every competent breathing down your neck. Testing is the only way to go for absolute clarity of the requirements that are needed for customizing the software that is developed. Multiple testing should be done at all stages ensuring a streamlined process.

Yes, the app is finally out there!!

The joy of a business establishment able to interact with their users and customers can bring a heap of personal as well as professional rewards. This will allow the users, customers, clients & critiques to give valuable feedback and remarks about the customized app. The interaction circle grows bigger than ever, which will expand the business to new areas as well, bringing forth investment, sales & revenue.

Parameters that are a big no-no!!

No room for complacency

Business personal who wish to customize their software at a fast pace might hire developers that meet their unreasonable demands. Developing customized software without any research on company requirements will ultimately adversely affect the firm. The preparation phase is a must as without adequate planning all subsequent stages of software development will be affected.

Avoid Personalization

The software that is getting customized should not be personalized with the usage of business requirements alone. Since the software is a medium to reach out to customers & clients, personalization will not serve this purpose & also it removes the benefit of being user-friendly. A thorough group discussion & planning can help remove this misstep while designing and developing custom software.

Say goodbye to misunderstandings

The major roadblock that can happen would be very low clarity about what should be included & integrated while customizing the developing of software. Miscommunication & too many ideas without a proper discussion to iron out differences will result in the whole project of custom software development be dropped which will adversely affect the business.

Be thorough about the key requirements

Since custom software development is based on specific & customized requirements, the data, information & knowledge required to be incorporated must be thoroughly thought through and discussed. This saves software coders valuable time, as they will have clarity in specific requirements needed to be coded in. The functionality will also come into consideration as the custom software is developed for easy interaction between business personnel and users.

Negligence cannot be tolerated

A major area of concern that should not be neglected would post-development issues. Being mindful of these will allow the team behind customization of software to look for apt solutions that can bypass the grey areas. Issues bring forth with bugs, form functionalities & security licenses create a big headache & can negatively affect the app launch.

Carelessness can cost you

Being careless about the software that is need of customization can cost you a lot. There is a chance of the business establishment falling behind in the race to win the hearts of users, customers & clients. This calls for everyone on the team of custom software development as well as the business organization to be alert & on their toes the whole time until the app is launched finally into the market.

Be on the lookout

Although the customized app is out & interaction with users, customers and clients are going well, a business establishment should always be on the lookout for any kind of issues or failures that might happen. The entire team of the business establishment should keep rectifying any small glitches that can happen post-launch to avoid a catastrophe.

Be efficient & keep growing

Considering everything went smooth regarding developing custom software based on the business requirements & model, the business organization which keeps satisfying its users can keep on growing efficiently.