Software: Build vs. Buy

Why Should You Think About Custom Software Development Instead of Pre-Built Software?

A scale dealer recently came up to me and told me that he had spent over $100,000 and over 12 months making a certificate management program that, when it was finally finished, would not be as good as software that is already on the market for much less money. We hear things like this all the time. As a software vendor, I’m often approached at industry events by business owners who have spent a lot of time and money making their own custom software apps. They have a wide range of stories, from some success to being downright scary.

Given these facts, here are some things to think about when you want to set up software for your business.

Best Practices in Pre-Built Software Solutions

Leveraging Industry-Specific Best Practices

One hard thing about building things yourself is that you have to figure out what needs to be done all by yourself. Most of the time, dealers only build what they think is possible and what they need right now. The best practices and lessons learned by other dealers are not taken into account.

This is where a software vendor with experience in your field comes in handy. Products are made by looking at what other service providers have done and what they think is best. Users benefit from the thousands of hours of research and development that went into making the product, as well as the fact that it is always getting better based on what thousands of users say.

Also Read: Click Fraud is a Real Problem That Can Eat Your Profits

What You Need to Know to Make Custom Software

Do you have the right skills?

To make a custom solution, you need a special set of skills and knowledge. If you choose this path, make sure you have the professionals who can build, maintain, and help with the solution. Not just for today, but also to keep you going. The kid from your cousin’s neighbor who says he can build you a system for cheap is probably not the best person to help your business in the long run.

 

Cost of Custom Software Development vs. Cost of Pre-Built Software

Learning About How Much Development Costs

There is no doubt that making your own software will cost more since there is already reasonably priced field service management software like Miracle Service out there. With a pre-built system, the cost of development is split between hundreds or thousands of users, so one person doesn’t have to pay for the whole thing.

But if you have very specific needs that an existing product doesn’t meet well, then custom development may be a good choice.

Maintenance Costs Over Time

How big is the community of developers inside your company if you want to do this yourself? What happens if the only developer leaves your company or the kid of your cousin’s neighbor gets a new job? Where do you and your software go from there? Keeping up with technology is like having a full-time job when you add mobility solutions to the mix. Every day, companies like Microsoft, Apple, Android, and others come out with new devices and software updates. Will your custom software still work tomorrow?

Also Read: A New Way to Manage Your Business

Return on Investment (ROI) for Custom vs. Pre-Built Software

You should be very clear about how to measure your return on investment (ROI) whether you build an automation tool yourself or buy one from a third party.

How to Figure Out Benefits and Costs

To do that, you must first figure out how much it will cost. Most of the time, that’s easy to do with third-party software because it costs money to license and keep up to date. It can be hard to figure out how much a homemade system costs because the costs are often shared or internalized. For example, your IT person may be building the platform at the same time.

When you go to meetings and agree to terms, your time isn’t always added to the cost, even though it can take you away from running your business. Once your costs are fair, you can figure out how much each benefit is worth. Are your techs able to make one or two more calls a week? Is it possible for your administrative staff to spend two to three hours less a day or week on enter data again?

Getting a faster return on investment with pre-built solutions

If you buy software from a good company, they should give you a good way to measure ROI. Most of the time, software purchases can pay for themselves in as little as six to nine months.

Also Read: The Importance of Email Deliverability in Business

Timing Matters: Development vs Ready-to-Use Software

It takes a long time to make a custom solution because you have to go through meetings, reviews, development, testing, and more. A simple development project that seems “doable” at first can quickly turn into a never-ending round of work.

How Pre-Built Software Saves Time

If off-the-shelf solutions can give you a good return on investment, you are losing that ROI every month that you work on building your own system. When you use Miracle Service, for example, you can save up to $700 per technician per month.

Giving up these kinds of monthly savings comes with an indirect cost that you should think about along with the direct cost. This is the time it takes to build your solution.

Specialized needs and ways to integrate

How to Choose the Right Customization

Although most pre-built solutions work right out of the box, it’s important to choose a system that’s flexible and adaptable enough to allow for personalization so that the software can be set up to fit your needs.

Integration with other applications without any problems

Integration with other programs, like accounting software, is important so that everyone in your company can use the software without any problems. Many software companies have approved software partner status with other developers, such as Intuit (which makes QuickBooks software) and Sage. To get these certifications, the companies have to go through strict technical reviews.

Also Read: How Mobile Field Service Software Reduces Operational Expenses

The Bottom Line on Custom Software Development vs. Software That’s Already Been Made

It makes sense to look at what is already “off the shelf,” even if you are just starting to make your own automation tools. The path you’re on might be the right one, and your home-made system might pay off.

Not comparing Miracle Service, CRS (Certificate Retrieval System), or other third-party software to your own doesn’t cost anything. You can look at how they compare or find other ways to do things.