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All posts tagged: custom software
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Are Custom Software Solutions for You?
Last week we analyzed the challenges faced by small and medium-sized companies when using off-the-shelf software. This week we will look into 4 major reasons why you should consider getting a custom software solution for your business. Having your own software not only enhances the way you run your company, but can also have a tremendous impact on how your customers see you, and also on the way your competitors start seeing your brand. Let’s get right to it.
Reasons why you need to get a custom software solution
1. Competitiveness
You’ve started your own business, and goal should always be focused: to grow your company. In order for this to happen, you need to stay competitive in the next 2, 3, or 5 years, and custom software will help you do that. If you choose to get your own software that fits your business needs perfectly, then your way of doing business and dealing with information will be different from the way your competitors do it. If you purchase an off-the-shelf solution, you must realize that it has been marketed to everyone in your industry, so if your competitors did not purchase the solution this year they will most probably buy it next year, which forces you to lose that competitive advantage. Focus on the features that you want a potential software of your own to have, and start thinking about how to design its development with an IT partner. Your custom software is part of your identity, so why not consider giving it your own brand look and feel?
2. Cost
Off-the-shelf software can be costly, and it often comes bloated with features you will never use. Furthermore, vendors of such software generally operate on a monthly subscription fee model, which in itself can be quite expensive for a small company in the long run. Additionally, you never know when they decide to fix bugs and to release an upgraded version. Therefore it is easier to develop simplified custom software to meet the exact needs of your company. That’s why hiring a custom software development company can be a good option.
3. Convergence
Let’s say your website isn’t connected with your CRM and you need to put a lot of effort into keeping everything straight. Now, think about a piece of custom software that will do a lot more for you than a regular CRM or ERP. I am talking about a system that will replace 2 or 3 platforms that are generally used in any business. This would help you and your team mates work efficiently, and as a bonus you won’t need to remember all those credentials.
4. Compatibility
Let’s say you are already using a piece of software that you are relatively happy with. You’ve been thinking about integrating it with something else available on the market to boost its productivity. But then you realize that the program you would like to purchase does not integrate well with the platform that has worked fine for you. Do you toss what works out the window and start spending resources to learn a brand new system? That can be costly. Instead, consider getting a custom software solution that will integrate with what you already have, and add those extra features that would make your system irreplaceable.
The list of reasons mentioned above is not exclusive. Increased security and flexibility are also among the reasons for getting a unique solution. Just think about it: custom software solutions are not a luxury, in fact you’d be pleasantly surprised by the costs of creating them. They are a necessity when there is a clear, growth-oriented business development strategy.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, we’d like to hear more about the challenges you’ve faced by using off-the-shelf software and your experience with custom software.
Are Custom Software Solutions Your Thing?
Some small and medium-sized businesses believe that custom software solutions are not for them. They feel that big companies have all the advantages because they have funds to buy expensive IT solutions. But if you do a little research and find the right partner, it can turn out that you’ll need to pay less for a custom IT solution than you expected. Don’t forget that you can get a competitive advantage by streamlining your operations and boosting your productivity with custom software. Let’s take a look at challenges small businesses face when it comes to using software in general.
IT challenges that are faced by many small businesses
- You’re using too many spreadsheets.
Let’s imagine that you have a spreadsheet or even a set of spreadsheets that you work with on a daily basis. At some point it gets pretty inconvenient, because you need to make sure that the information is up-to-date or that you don’t accidentally lose this file. On top of that, it is not user-friendly and you feel exhausted when you are done working with the list. Does this sound familiar?
You can get a small custom CRM system instead that will cover your basic needs and will allow you to focus on growing your business.
- You are not using reminders.
One of the major worries for small businesses is to get payments from clients and to pay bills on time. A piece of custom software can solve this issue by sending notifications (to you or your clients) or by making automatic payments for services you use. You can also send your clients email or SMS reminders. By the way, sending bulk text messages is a good way to keep your customers informed about literally anything.
- You are using too many small programs.
You are using too many tools to run your business if you need to update the information about calls, emails, payments several times on different apps to keep them in sync. As the amount of work that has to be completed increases, you need to take care of more and more details, which will eat up your precious time. This is counterproductive. Instead, get yourself a custom software that keeps all that info synchronized across platforms and focus your energy on something else.
- You are not taking advantage of project management software.
Do you feel that in order to move forward with a project you need email your entire team at once? Then you must have also noticed a decrease in productivity when your team members get distracted by the large flow of emails (especially if the emails do not relate to all team members copied). It is much easier (and more productive) to use a tool where you can work together on a project without spamming the whole team with messages or emails.
How to start the path to software innovation?
Listen carefully to what your colleagues have to say. Create a group discussion in a project management tool and track all ideas from your colleagues, and after that work to identify what your business is missing out on by not investing in custom IT solutions.
Custom software solutions are for small companies too. You need to find the right partners and get a solution that perfectly fits your requirements. You’re in the business to grow, so think big.
Next week we will dig into reasons why a small business needs bespoke software solutions.
Meanwhile, you can read all about how easy it is to create a software development project plan.
How to Start a Custom Software Enhancement Project?
Custom software enhancement is often confused with custom software maintenance services, because the line between these two terms may seem blurred sometimes. You need to know that software enhancement includes advancements in features, platforms, performance, usability and design. Through enhancement your software application becomes faster, more efficient, more usable, more useful, and more desirable. It’s the next step in your software’s evolution, that’s why you need to know how to prioritize the changes.
Step 1: Get an idea on where to start your custom software enhancement project at.
Create a database of requested changes where users of your solution can offer what they wish to see in the upcoming version of your software. In addition to this, you can approach your most valuable clients/users and ask them directly what kind of new features they would like to add.
Afterwards, ask the development team what kind of functionalities they would add.
They may speak in favor of:
Upgrading the software to be compatible with new database releases;
Adding new statistical analysis and visualization tools;
Adding a new tab to the dashboard;
Improving the search function; etc.
Step 2: Evaluate the information and take a decision.
As with all business decisions, it’s a cost/benefit problem. What is the benefit of adding a feature? What will it cost (including the costs that will result from not adding the feature)? Calculate how much it will cost to add it.
Tip: Usually the cost is calculated in hours that have to be spent by developers to develop a feature.
Analyze the information you got from the users of your platform and identify those missing features that will have a tangible business impact on user experience. It makes no sense to add a feature from which only a few will benefit.
At first, pick those features that have the most benefit for the smallest cost. Resources are often limited, while requirements and desires are not, that is why it is so important to prioritize correctly.
An accurate estimation of a custom software enhancement project may be a herculean task. These questions will help you estimate the project:
1. How will your existing solution be affected by modifications?
2. Do you need to build the new feature from scratch or does something similar already exist in the system?
3. Can you reuse the existing code?
4. Will modifications require the testing of the whole system?
5. How many developers are needed to make modifications?
6. How much time will it take to develop, design and test new features?
The bad news is that you can miscalculate the time and effort required. For instance, the development of a new functionality might take longer than you expected and result in higher production costs.
In order to avoid this kind of errors it is better to entrust your custom software enhancement project to an experienced team of software developers who know how to:
• Thoroughly analyze existing software documentation
• Analyze the architecture of the existing software application and offer structural changes
• Analyze and make changes to the existing code
• Perform software security analysis
Custom software enhancement cannot be made by a low-skilled developer. That’s why you need someone who has experience in adding new features to a code written by someone else, who can understand not only how to build in new functionalities, but also to see the business essence of the system.
One of the most important things in software enhancement projects is to clearly prioritize the requirements and take an approach to incrementally work on one function or feature at a time. Your users will thank you for the changes they’ve asked and waited for.
6 Reasons to Get a VoIP Solution in Your Office
Voice Over IP (VoIP) solutions deliver your calls using your broadband internet connection. These can improve communication efforts and cut costs, but you need to be careful while choosing the right solution for your business needs.
There is a range of products on the market, but not all of them were designed for business use and can fall short of addressing your needs, security concerns, and requirements. Existing calling apps can have limited functionalities. For example, some applications can make calls only to others who use the same app. When choosing a VoIP solution, you need to make sure that it lets you make calls across platforms, and to any landline or mobile phone number. Keeping this in mind, there is always the option to approach a custom VoIP solutions developer and see if a product can be customized or designed from scratch to your specifications. We’ve looked at the benefits of an SMS Gateway before, but today let’s take a look at what a custom VoIP solution can do for you.
Six Advantages of Getting a Custom VoIP Solution for Your Office:
- Save money
It is a well-known fact that VoIP systems are more affordable than services provided by traditional phone companies, especially if your business requires making phone calls to different destinations across the world. With a VoIP solution you will no longer have to maintain separate networks for phone and data, which is another advantage. - Enjoy phone number portability
Legacy telephone systems assigned a phone number with a dedicated line. VoIP solutions provide number mobility: you can use the same number almost everywhere as long as your device is connected to the internet. Many executives use the same phone numbers regardless of their location, which is very handy. - Get voicemail transcriptions
Voicemail transcription is a service that sends you an email with the text version of the voice message you got on your extension. It can be viewed from any device, and contains the contact information of the person who called, which can be useful. - Do not disturb
You can turn on the feature to temporarily stop incoming calls to your phone and redirect them to a different extension. This is useful when you need to focus on other tasks that require your undivided attention or when you are in an important meeting. - Scalability and adaptability
A VoIP solution will let you add a new line when a new employee comes in, and delete or reassign it whenever necessary. Thus you will always have the appropriate amount of lines for your needs and won’t need to pay extra for lines you don’t use. - Let your customers listen to your corporate anthem
Sometimes you need to put the call on hold and then this feature becomes a necessity. Do not subject your callers to elevator music or silence. This feature will allow you to choose what your callers listen to while they wait. It will definitely help you create or enhance your brand awareness.
VoIP solutions are flexible and affordable. With custom features, they will help you increase productivity, and provide more convenience for your customers. Contact us and let’s see if we might be able to help identify a solution to your needs.
PS: Don’t forget about security.
VoIP’s popularity is attracting the attention of cyber criminals, and business owners are concerned that someone may digitally intercept VoIP calls or bring down a company’s VoIP system using denial-of-service attacks. Make sure your network security is thorough and up to date.
Custom Software Applications at Science Slam
DAS Solutions is synonymous with custom software applications. This is proven not only by our commitment to technical excellence, but also by our support of young programmers (as well as those young in spirit) and their own exciting IT projects. This is why, as part of our social responsibility program and in collaboration with DAS Foundation, the Moldovan Academy of Sciences, and the European Commission, we are organizing an IT-only Science Slam Moldova event on March 31, 2016.
Science Slam has always been about the promotion of sound science and technology in Moldova. Traditionally, anyone can become a Slammer, presenting one’s own work in any field. We encourage everyone to apply, as the next “traditional” Science Slam Moldova will be held at the end of spring as well. For the special IT Edition, the rules are the same:
- The presenters must be the ones who contributed the most to the development of the custom software applications that are presented.
- The presentation of the custom software applications must be engaging and short (7 minutes tops).
- The presenters must be able and willing to answer any technical questions about the developed custom software applications from the audience.
The goal of the event is simple. We want to develop the presentation skills of software developers in Moldova. We have very talented IT specialists in Moldova, and they deserve to be encouraged and supported continuously. Only through constant collaboration between them can there be a continuous flow of high quality services provided to customers around the world. The custom software applications presented at our event will be cutting edge, engaging, and importantly, they will have a positive impact upon organizations and companies from Europe and around the world.
Join us at Draft Arena (Bd. Dacia, 55) on March 31, 2016, starting at 18:00. Yes, the event will be held in a pub!
A Software Development Company Can Help You Grow
Many businesses can run smoothly on off-the-shelf software, at least until they grow, or experience some other changes. Companies that encounter roadblocks with off-the-shelf software packages should consider choosing the right software development company. Let’s take a look at four critical things a software development company can do for your firm.
- Create custom software that addresses your specific needs.
If you are a user of custom software, you will see a dramatic increase in the efficiency of your internal operations. Custom software reduces costs, minimizes human error, and increases profit. Additionally, custom software addresses the need to securely share information with your customers, vendors, and associates. A good software development company (such as DAS Solutions!) creates a piece of software that is not aimed at mass market, therefore the solution performs strictly and flawlessly the tasks YOU need. When you have a long-term agreement with the software development company, your requirements will always be met, and you won’t worry that your product will become vulnerable.
- Offer excellent levels of feedback and communication.
A professional software development company will focus on your business processes and operations. They will listen to you carefully, and will provide expert guidance and solutions to the problems and issues you are experiencing. The consultation and project estimate (in terms of cost and timeline) should always be free of charge.
- Provide support and maintenance services.
A good software development company is dedicated to its product, that’s why its team will always do their best to provide you with the highest standard of support and service. Make sure you ask about the support and maintenance services that follow the successful completion of a new custom software!
- Help minimize future investments in software solutions.
When you own your software, you can update it and add more functionalities as needed. Moreover, your employees go through a training process in order to use it well. On the other hand, when you buy an off-the-shelf software package and then realize it does not have the functionalities you need, you end-up wasting more money on yet another off-the shelf product. The indirect costs associated with this “software testing” exercise within your company are enormous (both in terms of time and money).
A professional software development company can provide you with many things that will have a beneficial impact on the development of your business. By deciding to invest in custom software you invest in the future of your company. Send us a short message and get a quote for your project today!