Custom software involves custom-built software that is tailored to the specific needs and requirements of a client or organisation. It is designed, developed, and implemented to meet unique operational needs, which differentiates it from off-the-shelf solutions available on the market. Custom software provides greater flexibility, control, and customisation of business processes and customer requirements.
Custom Software Development
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Requirements analysis: Gathering and analysing the customer’s specific business needs that will form the basis for software development.
- Architecture design: Creating a software structure and a roadmap that provides scalability, flexibility, and security.
- Application development: Development and implementation of programming code that implements the functionalities defined in the analysis phase.
- Testing and implementation: Conducting functional, security, and performance tests, and deploying software for use.
- Maintenance and updates: Regular technical support, bug fixes, and introduction of new features in response to changing customer needs.
Industry usage
- Industry: Custom software for production management, process automation, and operational efficiency monitoring.
- Finance: Custom systems for transaction management, risk analysis, and financial regulatory compliance.
- Logistics: Custom systems for fleet management, delivery route optimisation, and inventory monitoring.
- Trade: Custom software for order management, integration with payment systems, and optimisation of online sales.
- Medicine: Systems to support patient data management, diagnostics, and real-time patient health monitoring.
Importance for the economy
Custom software is key for companies that need unique solutions tailored to their specific processes and operations. It influences operational efficiency and process automation and supports innovation in various industries, such as finance, industry, logistics, commerce, and health. It enables companies to gain a competitive advantage by better aligning solutions with their strategy and business model.
Related technologies
Artificial Intelligence
AI is used to automate processes, analyse data, and personalise custom applications.
Cloud Computing
Custom software often runs in the cloud, enabling scalability and remote access to resources.
Blockchain
Blockchain technology can be integrated with custom software to ensure transaction security and transparency of operations.
Big Data
Custom software often works with Big Data tools to collect, process, and analyse large data sets.
Internet of Things
Custom software can integrate with IoT devices, enabling real-time monitoring and control of systems.
Mechanism of action
- The process of developing dedicated software begins with a detailed analysis of the client’s needs and requirements, which are the basis for developing a project plan. Then, the development team designs the software architecture, develops the code, conducts tests, and deploys the system for use. Custom software is often integrated with a company’s existing systems and customised to meet unique operational requirements. Once deployed, it is continuously updated and supported to ensure its compatibility with new technologies and market needs.
Advantages
- Personalisation: The software is tailored exactly to the company’s needs to better support business processes.
- Scalability: Custom software can be easily developed and adapted to the changing needs of the company, providing long-term flexibility.
- Cybersecurity: Since custom software is developed from scratch, it can be designed with the highest security standards in mind.
- Integration with other systems: Ability to easily integrate with existing logistics and financial ERP and CRM systems.
- Development control: The company has full control over the software creation process and its subsequent updates and development.
Disadvantages
- High costs: Custom software development can be more expensive compared to off-the-shelf solutions, especially for complex systems.
- Time consumption: The process of developing custom software can be lengthy, which can delay the implementation of the project and its introduction to the market.
- Complexity of maintenance: Custom software requires regular updates, support, and management, which can generate additional costs.
- Technology risk: Choosing the wrong technologies or inadequate project management can lead to functionality or scalability problems.
- Dependence on providers: The company may depend on the software provider for technical support and further product development.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- Development team: Developers specialising in various technologies (front-end, back-end, databases), responsible for creating and developing software.
- IT infrastructure: Servers, cloud computing, and software project management tools.
- UX/UI designers: Specialists responsible for creating user interfaces and optimising user experience (UX).
- Testing and quality control: Software testers to ensure that the application meets quality requirements and works flawlessly.
- Project management: Project managers who oversee software development, coordinating teams and managing schedules.
Required competences
- Programming in multiple technologies: Knowledge of various programming languages, such as Java, Python, C++, and PHP, which makes it possible to create flexible and advanced solutions.
- Database management: Ability to manage and optimise databases, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB, which are crucial for storing and processing data in custom software.
- Testing and automation: Ability to perform automated testing and integrate testing into the software development process to ensure high quality applications.
- Project management: Knowledge of Agile or Scrum methodologies to help coordinate teamwork and effectively manage project time.
- Application security: Knowledge of best practices for securing software against cyber attacks and protecting user data.
Environmental aspects
- Energy consumption: Developing and maintaining custom software require significant energy resources, especially when applications run on cloud servers or in data centres. Optimising code and choosing energy-efficient server solutions can help reduce energy consumption.
- IT equipment recycling: Regularly updating IT infrastructure, including servers and network equipment, can generate electronic waste. Companies must ensure that used equipment is properly recycled to minimise its negative impact on the environment.
- Reducing paper consumption: Automating business processes with custom software can reduce paper consumption, reducing the number of printed documents in companies.
- Emissions: IT infrastructure, especially data centres, contributes to emissions through energy consumption. Investing in lower energy consumption technologies and renewable energy sources can help reduce emissions.
- Process optimisation: Custom software development can lead to more efficient management of resources in companies, which can reduce the consumption of raw materials and optimise production processes that affect the environment.
Legal conditions
- Copyright and licences: Custom software should comply with intellectual property protection regulations. Legal use of open-source software should also be ensured (example: GPL licences for open-source components used in software).
- Industry regulations: Depending on the industry, custom software may be subject to specific regulations, such as PSD2 in finance, HIPAA in medicine, and ISO 9001 in industry (example: PSD2 compliance for financial applications).
- Information security standards: Custom software, especially that storing sensitive data, must comply with international security standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001, which govern information security management (example: compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 in the context of storing user data).
- Interoperability compliance: Custom software should comply with interoperability regulations and standards, especially in the context of integration with external systems (example: API standards in inter-system integrations).