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Custom software development
advantages, methods and solutions
Summary
What is custom software and when is it worth using it
Custom software is software designed and tailored to the specific needs of a customer, which cannot be met by standard software already existing on the market. Custom software offers the customer the possibility of having a customized, flexible, scalable solution that can be integrated with other systems, which reflects his processes and priorities.
However, custom software development is not always the best choice, as it involves more costs and time than buying standard software, which can be cheaper, faster, and easier to install and use. In addition, standard software can benefit from updates, service and support from the manufacturer, which ensure the safety and functionality of the product over time.
So, when is it worth opting for custom software and when for standard software? The answer depends on the characteristics and goals of the client, who must carefully weigh the pros and cons of both options. In general, custom software is recommended when:
- the customer has special, complex or innovative needs, which cannot be covered by standard software;
- the customer wants to have total control over the software, being able to modify, adapt and improve it according to his needs;
- the customer wants to have a competitive advantage on the market, differentiating himself from competitors who use standard software;
- the customer wants to integrate the software with other systems or applications already in use, to optimize workflows and business processes;
- The customer wants to reduce the costs of licensing, maintaining and updating the software in the long run.
Standard software, on the other hand, is preferable when:
- the customer has common needs, simple or standard, which can be satisfied by a software already existing on the market;
- the customer wants to have an immediate, ready-to-use and easy-to-use solution, without having to invest time and resources in development;
- the customer wants to have the guarantee of a tested, reliable and safe product, supported by an experienced and qualified manufacturer;
- the customer wants to have access to additional features, service and support, updates and continuous improvements to the software;
- the customer wants to reduce the upfront costs of software development, implementation, and training.
What are the advantages of custom software and how can f.technology offer effective and functional solutions
- customization: custom software is designed and built according to the specific requests and expectations of the customer, who can actively participate in the development process and have a solution tailored to his needs;
- flexibility: custom software can be adapted and modified at any time, according to the needs and opportunities that arise in the business context, without having to depend on third parties or constraints imposed by the manufacturer;
- scalability: custom software is able to grow and evolve together with the customer, who can add or remove features, modules, integrations, based on the volume of work, the number of users, the required performance;
- integration: custom software is compatible and can be integrated with other systems or applications already in use by the customer, who can exploit the potential of both and optimize workflows and business processes;
- The competitive advantage: Custom software is unique and original, which allows the customer to differentiate itself from competitors who use standard software, offering its customers an innovative, efficient and quality solution.
To obtain all these advantages, however, it is necessary to rely on a qualified and competent partner, who is able to offer high-level custom software solutions, based on cutting-edge technologies, consolidated methodologies and best practices. F.Technology is the ideal partner for custom software development, as it has a team of experts, extensive experience in the sector and a range of solutions suitable for every need.
f.technology offers custom software solutions based on two types of technologies: open source and low-code. Open source technologies are those that use open source codes that are accessible to all, which allow you to create customized, flexible, scalable and integrable software, without having to pay licenses or royalties. Low-code technologies are those that use platforms or tools that simplify and speed up software development, reducing the need to write code and facilitating the creation of graphical interfaces, business logic, integrations and tests.
f.technology uses open source technologies for the development of web apps and mobile apps, i.e. web applications and applications for mobile devices, which can be used from any browser or operating system, without having to download or install anything. Web apps and mobile apps offer the customer the possibility of having an accessible, interactive, dynamic and responsive solution, which adapts to every screen and every context of use. f.technology uses the most popular and reliable open source technologies, such as PHP, React, Node.js, to create quality, secure, high-performance and scalable web apps and mobile apps.
f.technology uses low-code technologies to develop faster, more cost-effective solutions that require less time and resources than traditional development. Low-code technologies make it easier and faster to create custom software, thanks to drag-and-drop interfaces, predefined templates, reusable components, and automated workflows that reduce complexity and errors. f.technology uses the most advanced and powerful low-code technologies, such as Claris, to create quality, functional, integrated and secure custom software solutions.
What are the different ways of calculating the estimate and the cost of the project
Another important aspect to consider in custom software development is the calculation of the estimate and the cost of the project, which depends on the way the development process is managed and organized. There are two main modes: the waterfall approach and the agile approach.
The waterfall approach is a sequential and linear approach, which involves dividing the development process into distinct and orderly phases, which must be completed one after the other, with no possibility of return. Typical phases are: analysis, design, implementation, testing, release and maintenance. The waterfall approach requires a precise and detailed definition of the project requirements, functionalities, timelines and costs, which are established in advance and cannot be changed during the process. The calculation of the estimate and the cost of the project is therefore carried out in full, i.e. the cost of the overall solution is processed in advance, which must be accepted by the customer before starting development.
The agile approach is an iterative and incremental approach, which involves dividing the development process into short and repeated cycles, called sprints, which usually last two weeks, at the end of which a working prototype of the software is obtained, which can be tested, evaluated and improved. The agile approach requires a flexible and adaptable definition of project requirements, functionalities, timelines and costs, which can be changed during the process, based on customer feedback and market opportunities. The calculation of the estimate and the cost of the project is therefore done in time and material, i.e. micro quotations based on sprints are processed, which must be accepted by the customer before starting each cycle. The software features are divided into cards, which represent the units of work to be performed, and listed in sprint points, which represent the value and complexity of each card.
How does the f.technology price list work, expressed in sprint points and not in hourly costs?
F.Technology adopts the agile approach for custom software development, as it believes that it is the most suitable to offer the customer a customized, flexible, scalable and integrable solution, which meets their needs and expectations. For this reason, f.technology’s price list is expressed in sprint points and not in hourly costs, to enhance quality and teamwork, and not the time spent on work.
Hourly cost is a way of calculating the estimate and project cost based on the actual time spent on software development, which is multiplied by the hourly cost of the individual developer or development team. The hourly cost has the advantage of being simple and transparent, but it also has disadvantages, such as:
- it does not take into account the quality and complexity of the work carried out, but only the quantity;
- it does not encourage efficiency and productivity, but rather can encourage the extension of time and the reduction of quality;
- it does not favor teamwork, but rather can create competition and conflicts between developers;
- it does not satisfy the customer, who may feel insecure and dissatisfied with the final result.
The sprint points, on the other hand, is a method of calculating the estimate and cost of the project based on the value and complexity of the features to be developed, which are divided into cards and assigned to one or more sprints, based on priority and availability. The sprint point has the advantage of being flexible and adaptable, but it also has benefits, such as:
- takes into account the quality and complexity of the work carried out, and not just the quantity;
- encourages efficiency and productivity, rewarding the speed and quality of development;
- it promotes teamwork, creating collaboration and synergy between developers;
- satisfies the customer, who can actively participate in the development process and have a solution tailored to his needs.
The f.technology price list is expressed in sprint points, which are calculated based on a formula that takes into account various factors, such as the size of the project, the type of technology, the degree of difficulty, the number of developers, the development time, the added value. f.technology’s price list is transparent and competitive, and offers the customer the possibility of having a quality, functional, integrated and secure custom software solution, at a fair and convenient cost.
Integration with existing standard software
- exploits the potential of standard programs, which are reliable, updated and supported by manufacturers, and which offer advanced and tested features;
- eliminates the limitations of standard programs, which may be too rigid, complex or unsuitable for certain contexts, and which can take time and cost to adapt;
- integrates standard programs with custom software, creating a unique and coherent solution, which communicates effectively between the different components, and which avoids duplication or data inconsistencies;
- it makes custom software easier to use and understand, because it follows the company’s working method and solves specific needs, and because it is designed with an intuitive and user-friendly interface;
- it offers the customer the possibility to modify, expand or update the custom software according to his future needs, without depending on the producers of standard programs, and with reduced time and costs;
- it allows the customer to have a competitive advantage on the market, because the custom software is adapted to his needs and not to generic or common ones, and because it can differentiate itself from competitors who use standard solutions.
Quotations and estimates
As described above, custom software has an added value compared to standard software, and requires greater attention and care in its design, development and maintenance:
- however, to create a quality custom software, it is necessary to follow an agile and iterative methodology, which involves the definition of requirements, the estimation of times and costs, incremental development, tests and continuous feedback;
- this approach implies that development activities are divided into units of work called sprint points (SPs), which represent the time needed to complete a feature or a portion of software, and which vary from 1 to 10 SPs based on the complexity and level of detail required;
- it is impossible and not convenient to budget activities that are less than 0.5 SP, because it would mean spending more time on listing than on actual development, and because it would be difficult to accurately estimate the time needed to implement such a small and poorly defined functionality;
- therefore, customers are advised to request quotes only for activities that are at least equal to 1 SP, and to trust the professionalism and experience of the developers who work with custom software, who are able to better manage the challenges and opportunities that this type of solution entails.
Development Stages
Custom software development follows an agile methodology, which involves continuous collaboration between the customer and the team of developers, and the incremental delivery of the final product based on the customer’s priorities and feedback.
To make this process effective, it is necessary to define production phases that allow custom software to be planned, designed, implemented and tested in a structured and systematic way. The production phases are as follows:
Analysis phase
- in this phase, we establish through some interviews with the customer what are the objectives that the software must achieve and how it is expected as a final result. The functional and non-functional requirements of the software are also defined, i.e. the characteristics that the software must have and the constraints to which it must be subjected;
- this phase typically requires a minimum of 5 SP to 10 SP, depending on the complexity and size of the project. This overall analysis of the project is then declined in the individual functions during the agile process;
- the output of this phase is an analysis document that contains the description of the problem, the proposed solution, the use cases, the flowcharts and the time and cost estimates.
Design phase
- in this phase, we proceed with the creation of flow processes, the definition of user cases, and the wire-frame design of application screens. It involves representing graphically and schematically how the software will work and what the user interface will be like;
- this phase typically requires 2 SPs to 5 SPs, depending on the number and complexity of features to be designed. The design is carried out in collaboration with the client, who must give his feedback and approval before moving on to the next phase;
- the output of this phase is a design document that contains wire-frames, mock-ups, technical specifications and guidelines for development.
Prototyping phase
- in this phase, we proceed to the creation of final interface screens and sometimes interactive prototypes that we develop with Figma. It involves creating a visual and functional version of the software, which can be navigated and tested by end users or customers;
- this phase typically requires 1 SP to 3 SP, depending on the level of detail and interactivity of the prototypes. Prototyping is carried out in collaboration with the customer, who must give his feedback and approval before moving on to the next phase;
- the output of this phase is a prototype of the software, which can be a simple presentation or a working application.
Development phase
- in this phase, the software is coding, using the languages, frameworks and tools most suitable for the type of custom solution required. It is a matter of transforming the design and prototype into a real and operational product, respecting the technical specifications and the functional and non-functional requirements defined in the previous phases;
- this step typically requires 5 SPs to 20 SPs, depending on the complexity and size of the software. Development is carried out following an agile methodology, which involves the division of work into sprints, the incremental delivery of features and the continuous review of code and software quality;
- the output of this phase is a working and tested software, which is uploaded to a stage server for verification and validation by the customer.
Testing phase
- in this phase, the software is verified and validated, both by the team of developers and by the customer. It involves checking that the software is working properly, that it meets the customer’s expectations and needs, and that it does not have any errors or bugs;
- this phase typically takes 1 SP to 5 SP, depending on the amount and severity of the issues to be resolved. Testing is carried out following a test plan, which defines the procedures, criteria and tools to be used for the verification and validation of the software. Testing includes both automatic and manual tests, both functional and non-functional tests, both internal and external tests;
- the output of this phase is tested and approved software, which is released into production for end use.
Release phase
- in this phase, you deploy and install the software on the target server or device. It is a matter of making the software accessible and usable by end users, following the methods and timing agreed with the customer;
- this phase generally requires from 0.5 SP to 2 SP, depending on the type and complexity of the software. Release is done following a release plan, which defines the tasks, responsibilities, and resources involved in deploying and installing the software. The release also includes training and support for end users if necessary;
- the output of this phase is released and operational software, which is used by end users to achieve the set goals.
Questo contenuto è disponibile in Italiano