Why Custom Software when Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Product are available?

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Why Custom Software when Commercial Off-The-Shelf
(COTS) Product are available?

Presenter Notes
Why Custom Software when Commercial Off-The-Shelf
(COTS) Product are available?

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• COTS are ready to use software which is developed
  for any specific industry or business process
  keeping standards and general norms as the
  perspective. Your next question will be, then why
  should I require custom software for my business
  process requirement? Here are two main compelling
  reasons for why should you invest in a custom
  software development
• No COTS software available in the market does
  exactly what you need-every business has its own
  need and style of functioning.
• The Ownership and Control of the software /
  application that is going to run your business is
  prime requirement or essential as a strategic
  asset.
• Either one or both of the above reason may apply
  to your situation, and within these main reasons
  there are additional factors which we can
  consider. Lets discuss at both of these reasons
  in a bit more detail.

www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
custom software development

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Nothing Fits Perfect
If you buy COTS Software, it is possible that you
may have to make changes in your business process
to accommodate with the Product Model you are
purchasing. Readymade Product may have features
and functionalities similar to your requirements,
but nothing in the world provides 100 exact
solution for all of your vital and important
functions. At the end you will find yourself
paying most of the product cost for the features
that you dont require or you are never going to
use it. The time efforts and cost of modifying /
customizing readymade (COTS) products could be
much more than the cost of the product itself. In
some of the cases, modification / customization
in the readymade software / product can also
exceed the total cost of custom built software.
www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
Nothing Fits Perfect

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• You basically have below two choices while
  selecting readymade product which is not 100
  perfect match
• Alter your current business processes to
  accommodate the product.
• Customize the product to suit your business
  requirements and processes.
• If you look at the first option, you will find it
  attractive and it may also help you to improve
  your business. In the case where your business
  process is very close to the readymade software,
  it could be very sensible decision to accommodate
  the readymade software by doing minor changes
  into your business process. But, where there is a
  major gap between your business process and the
  readymade software changes will be
  extraordinary, unrealistic and might affect your
  business badly. In such cases implement changes
  in your business process to accommodate the
  readymade software would be great troublesome.

www.semaphore-software.com
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In other hand, second option is most of the time
not feasible because nearly all the readymade
software is customizable. If still we try to
customize it then the results we get could be
dissatisfactory and costly. Here are the top 5
points to be considered when there is a
possibility of customization Feasibility Is
there any possibilities to mould the readymade
software to fulfill your necessity? Gap
Difference between the working of the readymade
software and how it should work as per your
business process? Friction How much your
software supplier is willing to or capable to
incorporate your business requirements? Cost
How much efforts in terms of time as well as
money are required to adjust the readymade
software to your requirements? Future What
would be the support cost and man power required
to keep the customization intact in case of new
versions of the product are released?
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COTS Software would win over custom developed
software where readymade software is closely
matching with your business process and
customization cost is under acceptable
level. You can also take into consideration
below if your industry is very much generalized
such as Insurance, Banking or Pharmaceutical. In
such case, it would be the perfect option to
select readymade software without any
customization. Here you will get all the latest
updates from the software vendor accommodating
regular changes in general laws or government
policies as you using readymade software without
any customization.
www.semaphore-software.com
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From other side of this story
Custom built software solution will be the best
suitable option, if readymade software is not
compatible with your business process and there
is no appropriate readymade software available in
the market and above all you want your business
process must work as per the way it is meant to.
www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
From other side of this story

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Customized Software / Application as a Strategic
Asset

• In most of the cases where the software is
  specifically developed as per your business
  process requirement provides very smooth
  operation and you can get significant advantages
  for your operations. It also increases your
  efficiency in terms of operation and gives long
  term advantage to your business. Here are some
  examples
• Everything is under your control and you can get
  more faster response on the changes and get
  positive effect on your business.
• Most of the time to get reasonable advantage,
  custom software can be modified as per your
  business requirement compared to using readymade
  software which cannot be altered easily.
• As source code is with you, it is also easy to
  alter it with your own software development team
  (if you have any) or it can also be done by your
  preferred software development company.
• Custom software understands your requirement in a
  better way as it is developed as per your
  business requirement. Due to this implement
  process will also become fast and smooth.

www.semaphore-software.com
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Summary
Taking decision of whether to go with readymade
software or to develop custom software would be
very crucial for your current and future
business. Following factors need to be considered
and evaluated against your business requirements
www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
Summary

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Readymade Softwares

• You may require making changes in your business
  process according to the software.
• The offering will cost less, but customization in
  the same (if at all possible) may add significant
  amount to your budget.
• Resistance from vendor for making changes is also
  to be considered.
• If vendor stops support or upgrading the
  software, you will need to start searching for
  replacement.

www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
Readymade Softwares

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Custom Softwares

• No need to change your business process.
• Initial development cost for customized software
  could be higher, but in long run it will be much
  lesser than support, customization and business
  tailoring you will do on the readymade software.
• You will get what you wanted compared to
  readymade software where you sometime get
  unwanted features which you may never use.
• You can upgrade and make it compatible with your
  business as your business grows.

www.semaphore-software.com

Presenter Notes
Custom Softwares

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Presenter Notes
Custom Software Development Services