Business Advice

Bespoke Software, ‘Off The Shelf’ Software Or The Third Way?

14/06/10

By By Richard Jenner, Communications Manager, www.msmsoftware.com

One of the biggest decisions that IT departments need to make is whether they should go for a bespoke software solution or go for an off the shelf alternative. Often under pressure from company directors to choose a system which will increase efficiency and thus move the business forward, IT departments are faced with the dual problem of limited amounts of available cash and a seemingly endless amount of options.

Going Bespoke

All IT departments would naturally prefer a bespoke system in an ideal world. A bespoke system would be tailored to the specific needs of the...

...business and can be fully integrated suit business goals. Bespoke systems also have the advantage that as the business grows the system can be upsized in tandem and without incurring any further licensing costs since a bespoke solution should take any long term IT plans into account. This prevents the business from being inhibited by an inadequate system as it grows.
There is also the added advantage of the company owning the intellectual property rights of the software. Most software development companies will hand these rights over when the project is completed and the obvious advantage of this is that the company has the freedom to do as they please once the system is up and running and are not tied into a lengthy and limiting contract.

This all sounds ideal. However, there are disadvantages to going down the bespoke software route which in many cases will prevent companies from taking this course of action.
Firstly and most obviously cost is a major drawback of having a custom software solution developed. Since the software has to be built from scratch and to very specific requirements the initial outlay is going to be much greater as analysts, project managers, developers and testers are... continued on page two >

Rate

Bookmark

Advertisement

Advertisement