When considering custom software for your business, there are many options available to you. While you may be brave enough to take on this challenge alone, most companies opt to hire someone to take charge of the project for them. This also comes with various options, including freelancers and using a software development company. Today we’re going to discuss your choices when it comes to purchasing custom software so you can decide which is the best solution for your business this year.
Do it yourself
Building custom software yourself is something that many companies consider. However, after doing their research, business owners often find that this isn’t the best option financially and time-wise. If you are an experienced software developer, you may feel confident taking on the challenge, but if you aren’t, you’ll need to dedicate a lot of time and energy to learning more about software development. You won’t be able to learn everything you need to know overnight. In fact, you’ll likely need years of studying to get to the place you need to be to start creating your own custom software.
Many companies consider building software themselves to be a cheaper option. However, when you start to look into the time it would take to get to a professional standard, you soon start to realise that using a software development company is probably more cost-effective. In fact, when you factor in the issues that may occur, you’ll often find this to be a more expensive solution in the long run. On top of that, you’ll likely need to hire team members to support you, as very few software products are created by one person alone. If you don’t already have team members who are qualified for this job, hiring developers is not going to be a quick or cheap task. Especially if it’s just a one-off project, investing in setting yourself up for this is likely not going to be worth the hassle.
The use of freelancers
The next option to consider is using a freelancer to work on your software development project. This is generally a good method for smaller projects, but anything too complex is likely to need a larger dedicated team. Many freelancers work alone or within a small team, and you’ll find they won’t have the resources or time to take on larger projects. There are also concerns with using freelancers about their experience, as almost anyone can sell their services online without having enough prior experience to warrant the fees they are charging. You’ll want to try and find a freelancer who is located within your country or time zone, as anything further afield can often cause issues and communication delays.
If you do opt to work with a freelancer, always check out their credentials first and ask for examples of previous work. You’ll be able to get a good idea of whether the quality of their work is aligned with your needs and expectations. On top of that, you’ll need to have a conversation up-front about their way of working and your expectations when working with them. You’ll need to be clear about how often you expect updates and your completion date. This is one common complaint when working with freelancers, as they are often trying to juggle multiple projects at one time, so you may find communication to be not up to your standards. Of course, you may also be extremely lucky and find someone who is willing to solely dedicate their time to your project with the right contract and payment.
Software development companies
Your third option when purchasing custom software is working with a software development company, such as the team here at BSPOKE Software. For most projects, you’ll find this to be the best solution for a wide range of reasons. Firstly, you’ll have a dedicated team of experts who are there to support you throughout every step of the project. They’ll be able to offer you the guidance and support you need. Especially if this is your first time creating a piece of software, you’ll find they can offer you answers to any question you may have and guide you through the project. You may also find that custom software is still affordable on a budget.
We find that many people who come to us have often thought about creating software by themselves but realise the time and effort just wouldn’t be worth it. We’ve also had clients who have had poor experiences working with freelancers. If you already have prototypes or ideas, we’ll be able to work from them and continue with what you’ve started. Software development companies are willing to work on projects of all shapes and sizes, and you don’t need to be working on a huge year-long project to benefit from our services. For start-ups and companies with too much other work on their plate, we can take the pressure of creating your new software out of your hands so that you can focus on more pressing matters.
Final Thoughts
As a business owner, the last thing you probably want to be doing is working on a software project. If that’s the case, you’ll be able to outsource this to us. We’ll offer you regular updates and clear communication about how the project is going. We will ask for your feedback to ensure that we are on the same page throughout our time working together. On top of that, you’ll feel reassured knowing that you are working with a team with many years of experience.
Most companies find that working with a software development company is the best option. This is especially true when working on larger and more demanding projects. Instead of spending endless hours trying to create a piece of software, you can simply outsource this project. For more information about working with BSPOKE Software, don’t hesitate to contact our team today. We’ll be happy to discuss your project requirements and create a plan and offer you a quote.
