1. Off The Shelf Software Definition
2. Commercial Off The Shelf Software Means
3. Off The Shelf Software Vs Custom

Off-the-Shelf Software. Posted Oct 25 2012 5:44 PM. Or can I adopt off-the-shelf software to get close enough?' Sometimes, this is an easy decision.

This article needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2016) Custom software (also known as bespoke software or tailor-made software) is that is specially for some specific organization or other user. As such, it can be contrasted with the use of software packages developed for the, such as (COTS) software, or existing. Since custom software is developed for a single customer it can accommodate that customer's particular preferences and expectations. Custom software may be developed in an iterative processes, allowing all nuances and possible hidden risks to be taken into account, including issues which were not mentioned in the original requirement specifications (which are, as a rule, never perfect). In particular, the first phase in the may involve many departments, including, and general.

Off The Shelf Software Definition

Large companies commonly use custom software for critical functions, including, or otherwise to fill the gaps present in the existing software packages. Often such software is, developed before COTS or free software packages offering the required functionality became available. Custom software development is often considered expensive compared to off-the-shelf solutions or products. This can be true if one is speaking of typical challenges and typical solutions. However, it is not always true.

In many cases, COTS software requires customization to correctly support the buyer's operations. The cost and delay of COTS customization can even add up to the expense of developing custom software. Cost is not the only consideration however, as the decision to opt for custom software often includes the requirement for the purchaser to own the source code, to secure the possibility of future development or modifications to the installed system.

Additionally, COTS comes with upfront license costs which vary enormously, but sometimes run into the millions (in terms of dollars). Furthermore, the big software houses that release COTS products revamp their product very frequently. Thus a particular customization may need to be upgraded for compatibility every two to four years. Given the cost of customization, such upgrades also turn out to be expensive, as a dedicated product release cycle will have to be earmarked for them.

The decision to build a custom software or go for a COTS implementation would usually rest on one or more of the following factors:. Finances - both cost and benefit: The upfront license cost for COTS products mean that a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the business case needs to be done. However it is widely known that large custom software projects cannot fix all three of scope, time/cost and quality constant, so either the cost or the benefits of a custom software project will be subject to some degree of uncertainty - even disregarding the uncertainty around the business benefits of a feature that is successfully implemented. Supplier - In the case of COTS, is the supplier likely to remain in business long, and will there be adequate support and customisation available? Alternatively, will there be a realistic possibility of getting support and customisation from third parties?

In the case of custom software, the software development may be outsourced or done in-house. If it is outsourced, the question is: is the supplier reputable, and do they have a good track record?. Time to market: COTS products usually have a quicker time to market.

Size of implementation: COTS comes with standardization of business processes and reporting. For a global or national organisation, these can bring in gains in cost savings, efficiency and productivity, if the branch offices are all willing and able to use the same COTS without heavy customisations (which is not always a given). Contents.

Major fields Construction The construction industry uses custom software to manage projects, track changes, and report progress. Depending on the project, the software is modified to suit the particular needs of a project owner, the design team, and the general and trade contractors. For example, floor plans for a particular project are unique to that project and are available on mobile devices for the project team to consume through custom software.

In some cases, the floor plans use. Rooms and spaces on floor plans that use SVG are programmable; a room's fill color can change to red for instance if the room has outstanding deficiencies. Project-specific data is used in other ways to suit the unique requirements of each project. Custom software accommodates a project team's particular preferences and expectations, making it suitable for most construction processes and challenges:.

design development. tender calls. document control. shop drawing approvals. changes management. inspections and commissioning. way-finding use various platforms, like, to design and develop custom software for the construction industry and for other industries.

Hospitals Hospitals can keep the data of a patient and retrieve it any time. This enables a doctor and his assistants to transfer the details of a patient through a network. Keeping patients' blood groups in the hospital database makes the search for suitable-group blood easy. Hospitals also use billing software especially in their dispensary. Places of education Schools use custom software to keep admission details of students. They produce Transfer Certificates also. Some governments develop special software for all of their schools.

Is a school management system project implemented by the Education Department of Government of Kerala, India to automate the system and process of over 15,000 schools in the state. These projects brings a uniformity for the schools. Shops Billing is a common use of custom software.

Custom software is used by small shops, super markets and wholesale-sellers to handle stock-details and to generate bills. Major project successes. Main article: Failures and cost overruns of government IT projects have been extensively investigated by UK Members of Parliament and officials; they have had a rich seam of failures to examine, including:. The NHS. computer systems.

On 15 March 2006 the Chief Executive Johnson McNeil was sacked when a deadline of 14 February for calculating Single Payment Scheme entitlements was missed. the first trial could not even perform the most basic functions correctly; behind schedule and reportedly the project has been restarted. 1992 - LASCAD - the London Ambulance Service's new computer-aided despatch system - temporary crashes causing delays in routing ambulances. A previous attempt to develop a custom despatch system for the London Ambulance Service had also been scrapped. Advantages and disadvantages When a business is considering a software solution the options are generally between creating a spreadsheet (which is often done in ), obtaining an off-the-shelf product, or having custom software created specifically to meet their needs.

There are five main criteria involved in selecting the correct solution: Criterion Nature Development cost and time Quantitative Other staff costs Quantitative System efficiency Quantitative Service improvement Qualitative Flexibility Qualitative Although initial assessments of the options according to these criteria may deviate sharply from the reality of the eventual solution when put into practice, due to factors such as cost overruns, insufficient training, poor product fit, reliability of the solution, etc. These factors need to take into account the running of the business, its industry, size and turnover. As such the decision can only be made on a business-by-business basis to determine if it warrants a custom development, as well as ownership of the software. Advantages Custom software will generally produce the most efficient system as it is can provide support for the specific needs of the business, which might not be available in an off-the-shelf solution and will provide greater efficiency or better customer service.

Given a suitable approach to development, such as, custom software will also produce the best or most well-targeted service improvement. Businesses can tailor the software to what their customers want instead of having to choose a package that caters for a generic market. For example, one printing business may want software that responds in the shortest time, whereas another printing company may focus on producing the best results; as these two objectives often conflict, an off-the-shelf package will normally sit somewhere in the middle whereas with custom software each business can focus on their target audience. Although not always the most suitable for larger or more complex projects, a spreadsheet allows less technical staff at a business to modify the software directly and get results faster.

Commercial Off The Shelf Software Means

Custom software can be even more flexible than spreadsheets as it is constructed by software professionals that can implement functionality for a wide range of business needs. Disadvantages The main disadvantages of custom software are development time and cost. With a spreadsheet or an off-the-shelf software package, a user can get benefits quickly. With custom software, a business needs to go through a that may take weeks, months, or with bigger projects, years.

Bugs accidentally introduced by software developers, and thorough testing to iron out bugs, may impede the process and cause it to take longer than expected. However, spreadsheets and off-the-shelf software packages may also contain bugs, and moreover because they may be deployed at a business without formal testing, these bugs may slip through and cause business-critical errors. Custom software is often several times the cost of the other two options, and will normally include an ongoing maintenance cost.

This will often make custom software infeasible for smaller businesses. These higher costs can be insignificant in larger businesses where small efficiency increases can relate to large labour cost savings or where custom software offers a large efficiency boost. Hybrid model Particularly with modern cloud software, a hybrid model of custom software is possible in which the main focus is on the COTS software - mainly the mismatch between its features, functions and the business requirements, preferences and expectations. The idea here is to buy a COTS software which satisfies maximum number of requirement and develop a custom software (extensions or add-ons) to fill the gaps left by it. This is the standard approach used when implementing, for example.

References.

Custom Software Vs. Off The Shelf: The Pros & The Cons May 10th, 2017 by Mark Peterman Understanding the pros and cons of a custom and off the shelf software solutions is key to choosing the option that’s the best fit for your business. So what are the major differences? Custom Software – Pros.

By its very definition custom software is built for the unique challenges of your situation. It is designed specifically for your unique circumstances, and, when done well, provides an almost perfect solution to your problem. What’s more, it can be designed to meet every requirement that you had outlined in the evaluation phase. Rather than just labeling something ‘Nice to Have’, you can have it. Custom software can be easily modified and expanded, keeping in-step with your business as it, and technology, morphs and changes over years. You own the software, you can do what you need with it. Custom software also offers a competitive advantage over your competitors.

It’s something that they don’t have – indeed, your custom solution is something that they can’t have – and as long as it’s well-designed you should soon see yourself getting ahead of your competition. Custom Software – Cons. The built-from-scratch nature and endless customization that is possible with a custom software solution does mean that you’ll likely be looking at a larger upfront investment. It’s important to note, however, that the solution’s efficiencies will usually see this upfront investment richly rewarded in the future with a solution built perfectly to match your needs. Indeed, many off the shelf options are structured as monthly subscription packages in order to disperse the cost. The perpetual nature of this model can ultimately end up costing more than a custom solution. If you’re looking for a quick fix, a custom software solution may not be for you.

You’ll be facing a development phase that may take several months, which, while eventually delivering a great solution, simply isn’t feasible in certain situations. But the same could often be said for an off-the-shelf solution, as customizing and implementing software that wasn’t built specifically for your business can take a surprising amount of time. It’s not as easy as loading a program and getting an instant benefit. Creating a custom solution could leave you dependent on the custom software provider.

If they were to fold or become unavailable for whatever reason your business could be inconvenienced. At the same time, this small-scale, localized support is a terrific thing, as you’ve got the benefit of a software team that truly understands your business. It’s simply a matter of choosing your partner wisely. Off the Shelf Software – Pros. Are you needing a software solution sooner rather than later?

Off The Shelf Software Vs Custom

Good news – packaged software is designed for quick installation and use. It needs to be remembered, however, that a packaged solution may need to be customised and may not be compatible with your current systems, both of which will cancel out the speed benefit. The mass-produced nature of off the shelf business software results in a low upfront cost for most off-the shelf solutions. It should be remembered that these solutions may be cheap to purchase initially, but can cost you a lot more over time due to their inefficiencies, and any ongoing maintenance and subscription fees (e.g. Trusted packaged software will have broad adoption of the exact solution you’ll be using – you’ll be able to look up reviews online, check forums for feedback, and perhaps even give the software a test run before purchasing. That said, a good custom software partner will have a proven track record, and will start with a standard infrastructure, offering you similar levels of confidence.

In the same way that you’ll be able to check reviews prior to purchasing your packaged solution, you’ll also be able to access community support if any problems should arise down the track, as other users may be having the same issues. Off the Shelf Software – Cons. The major risk in going for a off the shelf solution is that it may not meet all of your business’s requirements. A piece of packaged software may cost a bit less than a custom solution, but if it’s half as capable or efficient you’ll soon lose all that money initially saved. You should consider the hidden cost of modifying your business processes and staffing to fit your business to the software versus fitting the software to your business. Most off-the-shelf business software is rigid and difficult to modify. As your business grows or changes you’ll be unable to grow or change the software with it, as you don’t control the changes and upgrades.

In order to get the changes you’re after you’d need to convince the software company that your needs outweigh their broader product roadmap. Off the shelf software often faces compatibility issues. It’s highly likely that your business’s operating systems, devices or other business software will clash with the packaged solution at a base level, making it either unusable or incredibly inefficient. By choosing an off the shelf software you’re choosing a solution that is available to all of your competitors.

This means that innovative and pioneering business ideas can be easily replicated by your rivals after you’ve put in the time and taken the risk in proving them. Summary The decision between a custom piece of business software and a pre-packaged solution is one that can have far-reaching consequences that are felt years down the road. It’s imperative that you make this decision with the long-term ramifications in mind. Short-term pain will often lead to long-term gain, while the unenviable opposite can also be true. Custom Software or Off the Shelf? You’ve identified an area of your business that has room for improvement, whether that be in the form of an opportunity to streamline your operations, or the chance to capitalize on a new revenue stream. In order to create this improvement you’ll need a capable piece of business software.

In this, you’ll learn what to consider when building custom software vs. Buying off the shelf. If you are ready to discuss your specific challenges or what CSG can offer, you can to learn more about how to start implementing your solution.