Do you believe that Bespoke software is overpriced?

Breaking down the factors that contribute to the cost of Bespoke software can help you to decide if it’s right for you and your business, what’s involved and where the costs get attributed to.

These costs can be influenced by various factors throughout its lifecycle. Let's break down these factors into 3 areas: Development, Maintenance, and Scalability

1. Development Costs

a. Analysis of requirements

Thoroughly defining and understanding the requirements is crucial. Changes in requirements during development can lead to additional costs.

b. Design and Architecture

Creating a robust and scalable architecture requires careful planning. The complexity of the design can impact both development time and costs.

c. Programming and Coding

The actual writing of code is a significant component. Highly skilled developers may command higher salaries, affecting costs.

d. Testing

Quality assurance is vital to ensure the software meets its requirements. Extensive testing, including unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing will be required.

e. Deployment

Preparing the software for deployment and implementing it in the production environment involves additional effort for all parties.

DID YOU KNOW

*98% of UK SME’s still use spreadsheets for mission-critical work.

2. Maintenance Costs

a. Bug Fixes and Updates

Over time, bugs may surface or new features may be required. Maintenance costs include fixing issues and updating the software to keep it relevant.

b. Security Updates

As technology evolves, security vulnerabilities may emerge. Regular updates to address these vulnerabilities is heavily recommended.

c. User Support

Providing ongoing support to end-users, including addressing queries and issues, is a necessity.

d. Technology Stack Updates

The software may rely on specific technologies or frameworks that could become outdated. Updating the technology stack can be required.

e. Regulatory Compliance

If the software must adhere to specific industry regulations, ensuring ongoing compliance can contribute to maintenance costs.

DID YOU KNOW

*232 Billion could be unlocked if SME’s used more tech.

3. Scalability Costs

a. Scaling Infrastructure

Costs can be incurred as user demand grows, the need to scale infrastructure, such as servers and databases to handle increased load.

b. Performance Optimization

As the user base or data volume increases, optimising the software for performance may become necessary to maintain responsiveness.

c. Feature Scalability

Adding new features to accommodate business growth or changing requirements can involve additional development and testing, impacting both time and cost.

d. Data Scalability

If the software manages large datasets, ensuring that the database and data storage systems can scale efficiently is a consideration.

In summary, the true cost of custom software encompasses a range of factors from initial development through ongoing maintenance and scalability.

Careful planning, clear requirements, and effective project management can help mitigate some of these costs, but it's important for organisations to be aware of the various elements that contribute to the overall investment in bespoke software.

Ultimately, your Bespoke software should reflect the vision for your business.

Customised software can meet your specific business needs, saving money and time and increasing productivity, giving you an edge over competitors using generic software.

* Data sources: Gridfox state of technology in SMEs study and Sage Digital Britain report