What is Bespoke Software & How is it Used?

Bespoke software, also called custom software or tailored software, is created for individuals and businesses who have specific needs and are not able to find them with traditional off-the-shelf software solutions (OTS).

Companies and businesses nowadays will have a variety of needs that technology can support, so going for custom software solutions is seen as an essential need to make sure that demands are being met and output is being produced the correct way.

Off-the-shelf software is used for general requirements within a business, but in some cases, a bespoke software solution is the best course of action and can be mixed in with OTS for an all-around solution.

What is Bespoke Software?

When a company has a specific set of needs that are not met with their off-the-shelf software, they would look for professionals similar to ASP developers at Brainspire in Denver or elsewhere for creating a bespoke software solution that can support their applications and provide tailored services that fit in with the current way of working.

It is like a bespoke suit for someone who has specific measurements, they do not want to buy off the mannequin as they know it won’t fit them, and they need something more tailored to their fit.

The home health care management software, for example, is like a bespoke suit for health care providers, as they need something more tailored to their needs that is not available off the shelf. It can offer a personalized solution for their specific patient needs and provide more accurate data for their decision-making. Another similar example would be the use of medical marketing and practice management software, which can be helpful in streamlining medical office processes, increasing patient engagement, and improving patient outcomes. It also helps with billing and coding processes, improving accuracy and reducing errors.

Because bespoke software is entirely made for a specific need, it can be expanded on, adapted, integrated within other software solutions, and can be used as a replacement for outdated software packages.

What Are The Reasons For Bespoke Software Development?

There is never just one reason why people want their own bespoke software, it all depends on what their business processes are and why off-the-shelf software is not working for them anymore. Here are a few reasons why bespoke solutions are seen as the best outcome.

They Want Their Software to Match Their Business

Whatever a person’s business entails, they can use bespoke software to help them meet their goals and stand up to their competition while saving money. If the software optimizes efficiency, eliminating lag and issues, then they don’t have to worry about high costs. For example, farmers can utilize greenhouse inventory management software or similar tech solutions to automate inventory tracking, crop monitoring, and resource management. Furthermore, it can reduce manual errors and improve overall efficiency. Similarly, industries like retail can benefit from the integration of CRM software tailored to their specific needs and requirements to ensure smooth operation and customer satisfaction.

Off The Shelf Software Doesn’t Work For Them Anymore

Not being able to find traditional packaged software that works with their business processes means that they can’t find solutions to their issues. Bespoke software solutions are able to provide their niche business with support and help them with functionality.

Customer Experience is Important to Them

If a customer works well with the systems a business has in place, then that has the potential to bring back recurring customers and bring in new business. This helps them stay ahead of the game and go up against their competition effectively.

Examples of Bespoke Software

There are many bespoke software solutions out there that are used by a myriad of businesses, but two platforms that are the most well-known, which you may not know are categorized as bespoke software, Amazon.com and eBay.

Amazon has developed a bespoke e-commerce platform just like eBay so that buyers and sellers are connected. This is a good bespoke software example that people can learn from if they plan to go through the development process for their own bespoke platform using custom software if they plan on creating a business.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bespoke Software

You may be wondering – is bespoke software trendy at the moment or is it something companies cannot live without?

When deciding on what those advantages and disadvantages are, that question is important, because weighing up the pros and cons will end up with you making the choice about if you should choose bespoke software, or if you should stick with your off the shelf software that you already have.

Advantages of Bespoke Software

• A well-designed bespoke software application can make your business run efficiently and help you save on costs.
• It is totally unique to you and you are not at the mercy of commercial software companies where you may be waiting a while to get any issues fixed.
• Every specific necessity you have will be integrated into the bespoke software for any and all business requirements.
• You have a close relationship with the creator. If you need a bespoke solution to something, they will be able to provide that for you so it has all the functions you need it to with all the right features.

Disadvantages of Bespoke Software

• Can be quite costly to create compared with off-the-shelf solutions.
• Maintenance will be needed to patch up things that may have slipped past. Since you are the first to have it, there is always room for error as it is not done on a huge commercial scale.
• The process is quite detailed, and it can’t be sent off without going through it carefully.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Off-the-Shelf Software

We can’t speak about bespoke software without touching on its counterpart, just like custom software, off the shelf products will have advantages and disadvantages depending on what the software is used for.

Advantages of Off the Shelf

• It won’t cost a lot, there is value in using it off the shelf.
• It has been tested numerous amounts of times and used by multiple people, so it more than likely doesn’t have too many issues that come along with it.
• It won’t take long to be sent as it is already made, and could just be one click away.

Disadvantages of Off the Shelf

• It may not function the way a company wants it to which can make it frustrating to use and they may have to incorporate other software solutions to get exactly what they want.
• If a business changes direction or they are adding on to its company, the software they currently have may not be the best type, and it may be limited in how it can use it.
• It is developed in the way the software creator makes it, this means that any future changes may not work with what a business needs, meaning that they will then need to look elsewhere which wastes time and money.
• They don’t have a personal relationship with the creator/creators so patches and updates can take longer.

Conclusion

After reading through this article and seeing what bespoke software is and how it can be used, hopefully, you have decided if it is worth it or not. Bespoke software may not be for everyone, but it can provide a lot of support and help to those who are looking for something that is custom designed and will serve their needs.