Many large-scale businesses have developed their custom software to supplement their work efforts, but how can it benefit a startup? That’s what we’ll be answering in this article, but before that, let’s first discuss what is custom software.
What is custom software?
Custom software is exactly as it sounds. It’s a digital solution tailored to your startup business’s unique needs and requirements.
Unlike off-the-shelf software solutions, custom software can cater to even the most minute details of your preferred workflow in the company. That way, you can use it specifically for your business’s niche and particular activities.
Your company would then have complete control over its technology infrastructure because of the level of customization that you could come in with this software. That is a competitive advantage for various reasons, which we’ll cover a little later.
Aside from that, it’s a great way to have a reliable tool that aligns seamlessly with their unique business model and growth trajectory. You don’t have to shop around every time your needs outgrow the software because, by nature, this software is already scalable and customizable based on whatever your company needs it to be.
It’s beneficial for innovative startups with precise approaches or trying to break into a very niche industry.
Now that you know what custom software is all about, let’s dive deeper into what makes it a worthwhile endeavor for any startup business.
Have a competitive advantage.
If your startup is serving a distinct kind of customer with a solution or product that is just as unique, if not more so, then custom software is an excellent addition to the team.
Likely, your competitors are already using the top industry standard software solution for specific business problems that both of you have anyway. You could make yourself different and more potent through custom software that addresses lapses and gaps you want solved.
You have more leeway to develop innovative features and functionalities unavailable in standard software solutions. You don’t have to follow the set path that these common industry software solutions have that everyone else is most likely using.
If you believe your business has something to offer that standard industry software isn’t cutting, or if you find a flaw, custom software can help.
Automate manual operations
Are there aspects of your business that require a lot more unnecessary back-and-forth or workforce than necessary? An excellent solution for that is to automate them with the help of custom software.
One of the main reasons businesses invest in custom software in the first place is because of a need for efficiency. Thus, it makes sense that your custom software can automate parts of the manual work you do in the first place.
Instead of struggling with speeding up time-consuming manual tasks, startups can use their custom software to handle the more repetitive and mundane processes.
Since you’ve ironed out the details as much as possible, you can reduce human errors in these more repetitive manual tasks.
Also, with the ability to automate manual operations, startups can stay ahead of the curve by delivering faster turnaround times. Ultimately, this approach helps in achieving higher profitability.
Highly efficient support
Another benefit to custom software would be the tech support that you’d get with it.
In terms of support, custom software offers dedicated assistance that addresses the startup’s specific challenges. With personalized features and integrations, it becomes easier for businesses to manage customer relationships, track performance metrics, analyze data insights, and provide exceptional service.
Since your tool is custom to you, most of the time, you will need to hire your in-house support team for it. When you use software that you get from someone else, you have to rely on their customer support versus your in-house software support.
You already have a team who developed that custom software for you and can be in-house developers so that they can more accurately provide support for you as you need it.
Safer and more secure
When using a standard software tool for your business needs, you should know that you are also letting a third-party app access your more sensitive data. This can be challenging for a startup since what makes it unique might be something others may find through this method.
By investing in custom software, you don’t have to worry as much about letting a third party into your sensitive data like that. With a dedicated development team behind the scenes, startups can stay one step ahead of cyber threats by continuously monitoring and enhancing their software’s security measures.
Moreover, custom software provides the flexibility to integrate additional layers of security, such as encryption techniques or multi-factor authentication. This level of customization ensures that sensitive information remains protected from unauthorized access or data breaches.
You and your development and cybersecurity team would be more aware of potential entry points of harmful cyberattacks since they are the ones who made the software in the first place.
Scalable and fully customizable
As mentioned earlier, since your custom software is customizable to what you want out of software that addresses your business needs, you can change it anytime.
If you had gotten a software solution instead of developing your own, you would have to shop around and integrate another new software solution if you feel you’ve outgrown yours. On the other hand, with your custom software, you can accommodate appropriately and as you go along with the growth of your startup needs.
Quick reporting
One of the most unsung ways custom software can help your startup business’s operations is through data analysis and reporting.
Sometimes, a point of contention for software users would be their dissatisfaction with the details in the reporting they ran through the software. With your software, you can have as many or as few points as you need for your reporting needs for a faster and more informative reporting session in your business.
Cost-effectiveness
Although there is the initial cost of setting up and developing custom software for your startup, it will be worth it in the long haul. That’s because you don’t have to pay for third-party software for your needs constantly. You also won’t have to pay for features you don’t necessarily use, like how it usually goes for some software solutions.
Conclusion
With these benefits in mind, you should now clearly know whether custom software is worth it for your startup. Consider getting custom software if your startup’s needs don’t have a software solution that perfectly answers them.
Alexe Chasanov works as an Outreach Community Specialist from California USA. She works with different companies, and when she’s not working, she’s at home reading books and sipping the best local wine. Her goal is to drive awareness to people through her writings.
Software stock image by NicoElNino/Shutterstock
