Off-the-shelf vs. Custom Software

Off-the-shelf Software: Refers to products that are factory-packaged and available for sale to either a company or to the general public.

Custom Software: Custom software (also known as bespoke software) is software that is specially developed for some specific organization or other user.

What to Consider

When looking for a software solution to your current business problem, you need to carefully examine your options before deciding what will best meet your needs.

Generally, there are two options: off-the-shelf and custom. Each solution brings with it several considerations. The following are some of the questions that should be asked before deciding on a solution:

For an Off-the-shelf Product:

• Does it meet all of your essential requirements?
• Is the product easy to use?
• If the product is complex, would your staff use the product as it is intended?
• Would you be paying for a lot of features that you don’t really need?
• Does the cost of the product, including extra features you don’t need or won’t use plus training, provide you with the returns you need in order to justify the expense?
• In order for your staff to use the product effectively and efficiently, is additional training a necessity?
• Do you know the cost of training and support before you buy the product?
• Is the cost of training or support reasonable and within your budget?
• Are you required to pay additional licensing fees?
  When you buy off-the-shelf software you are frequently subject to licensing fees. The initial purchase price for a product often limits your right of use to a limited number of current users. You have to pay extra if you want the product to be accessible to more users.

For a Custom Solution:

In addition to the above questions, you also need to consider the following points:

• Your up-front investment cost may be higher than for an off-the-shelf package, so you need to factor in your long-term return on investment to determine the cost benefit of a custom solution.
• The time frame by which you require your application must be carefully determined. Sufficient lead-time is required in order to ensure that the product will be ready on time, whereas an off-the-shelf package can usually be picked up whenever needed.
• Sometimes a custom application can be integrated into an off-the-shelf product. An example of this is when you want to add a feature to an off-the-shelf product that it doesn’t currently have or that is very expensive to acquire as a ready-made solution. The latter situation would more likely apply to very large and expensive off-the-shelf products.
• Because custom software is designed to meet your specific needs, it will do exactly what you want it to.
• With a custom application you pay only for the features you need and have asked for.
• A well-designed custom application should be easy to use and intuitive.
• The cost of and amount of training required should be known up-front before you commit to the project. Additional support can often be negotiated on an as needed basis.
• You need to identify how much your problem is costing you if left unresolved.
• There are normally no licencing fees with custom solutions. Once you have paid for the product, you can usually make as many copies as you need.