You don't need development if...

Custom development involves significant investments. According to industry research, the average cost of developing a small product can start from $30,000 and increase depending on complexity and functionality.

It’s also important to consider the total cost of ownership. This is the sum of all expenses incurred by the buyer when purchasing or using the product.

For example, with product development, this includes:

• infrastructure;
• Google and Apple accounts;
• technical support;
• various additional services;
• user support;
• and so forth (depending on the project).

Action plan:

Market conditions sometimes require quick project launches, while custom development is a process that can take months or even years. Agile development and launching an MVP can help here, but they still require time. Most often, the first hypothesis can be tested with a simple set of steps, without resorting to development. You need to test the process and see if customers are willing to pay for it because the product may not be validated.

Action plan:

If you can fully satisfy your business needs with standard features, perhaps there is no need to invest in developing a custom solution. Yes, no two companies are exactly alike, but that doesn't mean you should immediately develop your own CRM system. Custom development tailored to your needs should only be considered once you encounter vendor limitations. If you're already operating and haven't tried any off-the-shelf options, it's likely you'll end up reinventing an expensive wheel.

Action plan:

Complex projects require knowledge and resources. If your team lacks these competencies or does not allocate enough time to interact with the contractor, managing a custom development project could become overwhelming. This doesn’t mean you should do the contractor's work; rather, it means full immersion is required since the contractor won’t know every nuance. On average, about 20% of the total project duration should be dedicated by the responsible person. For instance, if the development takes 1,000 hours, the responsible party would spend around 200 hours.

Action plan:

Custom development becomes critically important when standard solutions cannot meet the unique requirements of your business. This is particularly relevant for companies operating in niche market segments or having specific processes that demand a specialized approach to automation and data management.

Organizations whose operations or services don’t conform to common standards and require a special approach won't find suitable out-of-the-box solutions. Custom development allows precise tailoring of functionality to meet specific requirements and processes, enhancing efficiency and customer service.

Companies with unique business processes

For startups aiming to introduce innovative products or services to the market, standard solutions often prove limiting. Custom development offers the freedom to experiment and implement unique ideas that can form the foundation for future market success.

Startups with innovative ideas

Organizations with numerous disparate systems and applications can significantly improve their operational efficiency through custom development that integrates data and processes into a unified system, enabling automation and enhanced management.

In industries where security and data confidentiality requirements are especially high (such as finance or healthcare), custom development enables the creation of systems that fully comply with these standards, minimizing risks and ensuring client trust.

Businesses seeking to comply with specific security and privacy requirements

The choice between an off-the-shelf solution and custom development depends on various factors, including the nature of your business, budget, timelines, and strategic objectives. It's essential to remember that investing in personalized software can yield significant dividends in terms of market uniqueness, flexibility, and operational efficiency.