There’s no doubt that watching your bottom line is one of the most important things you must do as a business owner; there are times you may even have to cut some budgetary corners to increase that bottom line. Using off-the-shelf software to run your many business processes, instead of working with a software development company to create custom software for your specific functions, can seem like an easy choice to make to save money; but the reality is that off-the-shelf software can keep your business from running efficiently and it can cause you to lose money, rather than save it. Here are 7 reasons you should avoid off-the-shelf software and consider having a software development company create custom software for you:
1 – Needless Complexity
Off-the-shelf software is designed to be used by a wide variety of businesses so it almost always contains an excessive number of features to accommodate those businesses. The problem is that you likely won’t need all of the features provided and you’ll have to pick and choose which you can use while avoiding those features you don’t need. This can make for needless complexity and more difficulty using the product.
2 – Steeper Learning Curve
Because of the needless complexity of off-the-shelf software, you can be sure that it will be more difficult for you and your employees to figure out how to use it. The more downtime you have while you’re trying to figure out your software, the more your bottom line will be affected.
3 – High License Fee
Off-the-shelf software is not only expensive, it usually requires you to pay a high license fee just to use it. So, unlike custom software, you won’t own the product; you’ll just use it while paying someone else, which can end up being more expensive for your business.
4 – No Ownership Of The Software
Because you won’t own the intellectual property rights to the off-the-shelf software, you won’t be able to sell it to another business, change the product’s features or have any other kind of influence on the product and how it performs.
5 – Lack Of Customization
Off-the-shelf software is designed for everyone’s business, not just yours; it, therefore, won’t be customized to work for your business needs. You may end up buying even more software or finding alternative solutions to make it work.
6 – No New Features
With off-the-shelf software, you will only get the features the software company wants you to have. So even if your business changes or grows and you need new types of functionality, you won’t be able to ask the developer to add them on.
7 – No Competitive Edge
When you compete in business, you need any edge you can get to succeed. With off-the-shelf software, there’s a good chance your competitors are using the same product. Custom software streamlines functionality and makes your business processes more efficient, which will give you the competitive edge you need.
Don’t settle for off-the-shelf software that keeps your business and your employees from performing the way you want them to. Call CedarWaters, the best software development company at (469) 535-7500 or visit axissoftwaredynamics.com to get the custom software your business needs.
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