Blog

NEXTGEN - Contact »
Build vs. Buy: Custom Software in Comparison to Standard Solutions
May 11, 2018

Balancing the needs of your company in relation to its long-term growth can be both paramount and challenging. Often you wonder whether you should aggressively invest in long-term initiatives or take a less expensive and more conservative approach. The decision to build versus buy is a significant decision for many businesses when addressing their software needs. Developing a custom software solution can provide a multitude of benefits but you should take careful consideration before making this decision.

Under certain circumstances, off-the-shelf software programs may be a sensible option, particularly for newer or smaller businesses who have a limited budget, lack of technical proficiency, lack of time, and where technology would not provide a competitive advantage. For companies that have been in operation for a significantly longer period of time or who are looking to scale their business, it may be a different story. As an evolving organization, custom software can lead to increased productivity, competitive advantage, and faster reaction.

The return on investment for custom software can be well worth it, but significant energy, resources, and time must be dedicated to the development process. Although off-the-shelf solutions can address many needs, if your company is larger with specialized requirements, customized software will be better qualified to meet them. Additionally, generic software can be rigid without the ability to modify its functionality or make it compatible with other programs. Through building your own software, you can integrate programs into one central hub.

Despite the initial up-front costs, custom software solutions are well worth the resources that it requires if a business wants to build towards a meaningful scale. Creating your own software that is specifically tailored to your company’s needs and focused on efficiency can make the difference between a commoditized service and a highly differentiated one. If your business is interested in learning more about how to increase productivity, provide large scalability, solve unique concerns, and engage in better workflow, NextGen Connect is the answer. Our team of experts work with you every step of the way to create a product that will be beneficial for years to come. 

NEXTGEN - Think Beyond »