Custom software development is the process of creating tailor-made software for a particular organization or user, that is generally not intended to be released for the mass market. In contrast to off-the-shelf products, bespoke solutions are developed with the consideration of the customer’s requirements.

Just as large corporations, so small businesses resort to custom software development in order to streamline their processes, align communication with customers, manage data, automate documentation procedures, etc.

In many cases, business owners go for custom development due to the reason that off-the-shelf solutions either cannot cover all the needs of the company and at the same time are not smart enough to be customized, or if the cost of modifications development will be higher than the cost of building a brand-new piece of bespoke software.

Obviously, custom software development has a number of advantages. Here are some of them:

Tailor-made. Businesses can get truly customized software, every element of which works like clockwork, instead of strenuously picking a suitable off-the-shelf package or using multiple apps at once to get all the functionality they need.

Cost-effective. Despite the fact that there is a bunch of free software for business, and the cost of some off-the-shelf solutions seems fairly low, it can still cost a pretty penny to make the entire system function properly, since you will most likely need to pay for several solutions, buy some functions separately, or spend money on premium subscriptions, for the sake of a couple of necessary features. In the long run, a custom application is definitely a more profitable investment.

Upgrade-friendly. Another reason to seriously consider developing a custom solution is full control over the product, which, if necessary, allows you to easily extend its functionality or rework some previously-integrated features. At Smartsys, we take a conscious approach to software development and create future-proof custom applications that are easy to maintain and upgrade.

Wide Functionality. Relying on the services of a software application development company, you can count on getting all the desired features integrated without exceptions. Forget about using multiple solutions from different vendors, premium subscriptions and buying over-priced plugins. All you really need is one custom application, because, with a custom solution, you always have options to choose from.

Flawless Support. It’s no surprise that custom app support is much better than those in the apps that can be found on the general market. You not only know every little detail in the application, but you always have someone to turn to for help. You don’t have to wait weeks for a response from help desks of popular solutions if you’ve decided to purchase a bespoke application for business.

Uncompromising Security. While cybersecurity is a pressing issue nowadays, custom solutions provide the very unbreachable protection that allows you to keep your data fully secured. Run your business under the aegis of cutting-edge technologies and rest assured that it is too tough for cybercriminals!

Many specialists work on the creation of custom software products, namely:

Project managers organize the work on the project, maintain communication between the customer and the contractor. IT project managers find out the needs of clients, help to form a vision of the final product, and give reports on the job done.

UI/UX Designers create user-friendly interfaces for custom software solutions. Their task is to make products not only functional and handy, but also aesthetically appealing.

Front-end developers are engaged in the development of the client-side of a web application, recreating a functioning layout prepared by a designer with the use of programming languages and frameworks.

Back-end developers create the core of the product, which is located on the server and is hidden from the eyes of users. These backend specialists create web application logic and set up database management systems.

At Smartsys, there are front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers – multi-skilled experts with a strong background in both branches of web development.

Testers and QA engineers work hand in hand to prevent a product from defects. They are also responsible for identifying and fixing existing bugs in an application in order to provide the end-user with a flawless experience.

On average, developing custom business software from scratch takes from six months to a year, depending on the complexity of the application and the number of specialists involved. The most time-consuming process is the creation of a prototype: it can take several months.

But at Smartsys, we understand how crucial the time-to-market rate may be, so we work against the clock to design and develop applications without sacrificing their quality. Exercising Agile methodologies, tooling up with modern programming frameworks and using well-coordinated development teams consisting of experienced developers, we can provide you with a lightning-fast, yet fault-free release.

At Smartsys, any custom software development project goes through 4 stages:

1. Consultation. This is the very moment when we first meet with customers to discuss their ideas and the ways of implementing them. We are always ready to help you shape the vision of your project from both tech and business points of view.

2. Estimation. At this stage, we finalize the concept and evaluate what resources are required to create the product. With broad strokes, we outline a roadmap, think over possible software architecture, choose a proper tech stack, look for a way to get rid of weak points.

3. Implementation. The longest phase involves designing the entire system, developing the application itself, its testing and, finally, its launch. It is also worth mentioning, that we conduct software testing using our own unique internal tools developed by Smartsys engineers. The workflow highly depends on the chosen development methodology, which is selected by the project manager taking into account all the factors.

4. Support. Our work does not end when the application is launched. We collect feedback from real users, analyze it and update the application as necessary.

This is what the whole development path of any application looks like at smartsys, from the very idea to the end product that will fall into the hands of final users.

We are always open for communication, and we have nothing to hide – we will go through all stages of development with you, providing detailed reports on the work done, so that you always know what is going on behind the scenes.

Custom business software development may be very diverse, but usually, businesses are looking for the following solutions:

• CRM/CMS/HRM software development and customization
• Web portal development
• Marketplaces and collaboration platforms development
• Browser extension development
• Warehouse management systems
• Remote dashboards
• Ordering and delivery platforms
• Password access managers
• Booking systems
• Online banking and payment solutions
• Business process automation systems
• MVP development

At Smartsys we deal with all the above-mentioned cases, providing custom enterprise software development of any complexity.

Minimum viable product or MVP is a version of a product with a very limited set of core features that are used to demonstrate to early customers certain functionality and collect feedback.

In today’s business world, developing MVPs is a necessary first step, since, with the right turn of events, it can be developed into a large project.

Such an approach is vital because it allows you to significantly reduce the risks. The development of an MVP is a kind of experiment that provides you with an opportunity to find out what real-world users think about your product, even before a substantial amount of resources is invested in the project.

If the customer and the vendor are moving in the wrong direction, then the MVP reviews will become the very litmus test that will allow you to identify all the weak points and, if necessary, eliminate the shortcomings or completely reshape the strategic profile.

Resource-intensive industries such as custom software development are largely based on the practice of MVP development. At Smartsys, we have designed a sheer number of MVPs, which later grew into large projects, entered the market, and became in-demand products.

No one doubts that all the big companies, be it Netflix or Uber, are ubiquitously using custom software solutions development.

For example, a giant called Amazon started out as an online bookshop, but in the relentless pursuit of innovation, Amazon has managed to take the leading role – today it is a multinational tech company specializing in cloud computing, e-commerce, streaming, and AI. Companies such as AirBnB, TikTok, and Google have got through a kind of similar path.

Small businesses work in a similar way: if you constantly integrate the latest technologies into your business, dare to experiment, reject obsolete practices and resist hackneyed patterns, then sooner or later all your business competitors will be left far behind.