Custom Built vs. Off-The-Shelf Software
There are many types of software available to the public, but the two main categories are custom built and off-the-shelf. It’s important to be able to define the differences between the two and the main pros and cons that they have to offer.
What is Custom Built Software?
As the name suggests, this is the type of software that is created for a specific purpose and for a specific client. For example, when a restaurant wants to have a great Customer Relationship Management system, but they need to add very specific features, they will request that the software is built with those features.
Pro and cons
- The main advantage of this type of software is that it will be tailor-made to provide the exact solutions and functions that you need.
- The main disadvantage of the custom-built software is that it will have a higher price tag due to the time it takes to develop it, test it, and launch it.
What is Off-The-Shelf Software?
Unlike custom built, this type of software is already available to the public and sold to anyone who needs it. This is a very convenient way to purchase software for your business as it is 100% ready to be used and it usually comes with good customer service support.
As we mentioned CRM earlier, there are many Customer Relationship Management Systems that are ready to be used, but their features are not customized to any spefcific business needs. With that said, this type of solution is usually ideal for most business owners.
Pros and cons
- The main advantage of the off-the-shelf software is that you can acquire it and launch it immediately without having to wait for tests or development phases.
- The main disadvantage is that finding one solution that truly meets your specific business needs is not so easy, and that is the reason why custom-built software is requested in some situations.