Custom Software FAQ's

Custom software, also known as bespoke software, refers to software applications that are developed specifically for a particular organization or user. Unlike off-the-shelf software that is designed to serve a wide range of users with different needs, custom software is tailored to meet the specific requirements of a single organization or individual.

The cost of custom software development varies depending on factors like the complexity and requirements of the project, the size and specialism of the development team required to deliver it, and the technologies used. At Software Solved, we are fair and transparent with our pricing and will let you know costs for the project once the initial scoping has been completed.

The time it takes to develop custom software can vary depending on the scope, complexity, and requirements of the project. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to develop custom software, depending on the size and complexity of the project. The development process typically involves several stages, including requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment. If you have a deadline, let us know and our team can plan accordingly to meet it.

Yes, as the client commissioning the development of custom software for your business, you’ll own the intellectual property rights to the software that is created for you. This includes the source code, design documents, and any other materials or assets that were used to create the software. If you have specific requirements or concerns, these can be accommodated in the terms and conditions of the project.

After the custom software has been developed and deployed, it’s common for businesses to require ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that the software is running smoothly and continues to meet their evolving business needs. Most custom software development teams offer support and maintenance services after the project is completed and Software Solved have a range of support packages available. This support can include bug fixes, updates, and upgrades to the software as well as technical support and troubleshooting services.

It’s important to remember that support packages include work on fixing and updating the current software. If further development work or functionality is required, this will likely need to be part of a new development or upgrade project.

Agile software development is a flexible and methodical approach to software development that emphasises collaboration, customer satisfaction, and the ability to respond quickly to changing requirements. Agile is based on the Agile Manifesto, a set of guiding values and principles for software development.

In Agile software development, the development process is broken down into small, incremental stages or iterations, each of which focuses on delivering a working software product. The development team works closely with the client or customer to identify requirements and prioritise features based on the value they deliver to the business. Agile emphasises flexibility and adaptability, with a focus on delivering working software quickly and responding to changes in requirements as they arise. It allows for close collaboration and communication so stakeholders can provide feedback quickly and so see change and project progress quickly. Rather than having to with six months for delivery to see any progress or wait two weeks for a scheduled update, you’re be kept up to date with the progress and can provide feedback during development.

Custom software development gives your business greater flexibility than an out-of-the-box solution. It gives you total control over what is being developed and the build will be incorporated with the rest of your business software so it integrates easily with your current systems and data flows. Custom software is designed to fit within your current operations and streamline your processes, rather than force you to adapt to a pre-built system which may not function exactly as you need it to.

While there’s no checklist to determine whether your business needs custom software there are some indications that your legacy or off-the-shelf systems are reaching the end of their usability. Having to re-enter the same information across multiple applications, having to perform manual or repetitive tasks and calculations due to lack of automation, being restricted by slow systems, and having to manually collate information from unconnected systems are all signs that you could benefit from custom business software.

At Software Solved, we use a six-stage process of analysis, design, implementation, peer review, system testing and demonstration or deployment. We also perform a Systems Health Check as part of the initial workshop to check the health of your current software and identify what processes and functions are or aren’t fit for purpose. You can find out more about the Systems Health Check process and what it involves with our summary and explainer video..