Custom Application vs. Out-of-the-box Solutions

When deciding whether your business needs a custom built application, you’ll want to explore the pros and cons of custom vs. an out-of-the-box ("off the shelf") solution. Hiring a digital creative agency to develop a custom application may seem costly at first, but could also contribute to saving time and money in the long run. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and you’ll need to assess your business processes and workflows to determine what works best for your business.

If you are currently using an out-of-the-box solution and are thinking of moving towards hiring a digital creative agency to build a custom application for you, here are 3 questions to consider:

1.  In terms of functionality and performing tasks, is your current application meeting the requirements that you actually desire in a solution?

A cost-efficient software that comes with all the bells and whistles is great if all those special features serve a purpose for your business. Assess which features you are using or whether all the bells and whistles are even relevant. Furthermore, consider whether your current software solution meets your goals to the fullest – if you could dictate exactly how you wanted the software to perform in order to maximize company performance, would you change something?

2.  Have you simply outgrown your current solution?

Software licensing costs can often increase as your business grows (as with a per user fee, for example). As your company staff increases, also consider how business workflows will be impacted and if your current solution can still meet your requirements efficiently.

3.  Can a custom solution provide a competitive edge?

Keep in mind that the current out-of-the-box solution that you are using is also readily available to your competitors. But does your business work differently from the rest? Is there something that you could implement into software that would give you a competitive edge?

If you decide that a custom application may be right for your business, our team of experts at Creative Faze may just be the digital creative agency to help you get there. Contact us and let’s discuss the custom solution you are looking for.