Custom Programming

Solution Development

The road to Custom-made software solution is often long, harsh, and fraught with dangerous pitfalls of sunk costs and wasted time and effort. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider these factors before deciding to choose an entirely custom-made solution.

Extent of Customization

This most obvious criterion for such a decision should not be brushed off so hastily. Careful analysis must be made to determine what needs to be customized, and more importantly what can't be customized through other means i.e. Built-in customization, customized add-ons, etc.

Developing a solution right from scratch

Theoretically, the best option is to develop a solution based on the company's business processes and operating procedures. It is easier said than done. Developing a custom solution require a huge outlay of funds and is often very risky with high risk of failure. Such solutions are also very expensive and difficult to change and restrict company's' ability to adapt the changing business environment.

Add-on Customization to packaged software

This is by far the most common thing being done by the organization in today's ever-changing economy. The benefit is its comparatively low cost and the ability to dismantle the add-on if not required in the future without redeveloping the whole solution.

Choice of Technology

The type of technology chosen to develop your custom solution is crucial to ensuring its continued usability and effectiveness in the future.

The choice should not be made simply due to adherence to traditional, proven technologies (i.e. Windows-based programming), nor should it be solely based on the trends and fads on the technological horizon (i.e. Web-based Programming)
The technology should be chosen because it would suit the direction and strategy of your business.

Windows based programming

Majority of the applications that are used with ERP applications as well as the majority of the ERP applications are windows based application. That is the user uses these programs user the Graphic User Interface allowing them to interact with the software primarily though the mouse clicks. Such solutions are faster to start and operate; however, these solutions can be made available to remote users as the web based applications.

Theoretically, the best option is to develop a solution based on the company's business processes and operating procedures. It is easier said than done. Developing a custom solution require a huge outlay of funds and is often very risky with high risk of failure. Such solutions are also very expensive and difficult to change and restrict company's' ability to adapt the changing business environment.

Web based programming

Web based applications and gaining more and more popularity with each passing day. The major benefit of such applications is the mode of delivery. A user can use a web based application from any remote location and from any computer or mobile device via a web browser.

These applications, however, take time to load for the first time and still have some limitations compared to the windows based applications.

Choice of Database

The database used by your business's custom-made solution would contain all of your company's most vital and sensitive data, as well as those of your clients, suppliers, and partners. Security issues aside, the Database must be able to sufficiently provide a standard uptime of 99.99% to ensure that your business remains competitive.

Open Source databases

Open source databases have gained popularity over a period of time with the global quest to save cost and maximize the profitability. Since these databases are free, their total cost of ownership (TCO) is (presumably) significantly less compared to proprietary databases.

The down side of using such a database is that since it is free, it may not be as user friendly or supported as the databases being sold by the developers with a profit motive. There can be situation where using an open source database may end up costing more by consuming more time to troubleshoot and lost businesses which the system is down.

Proprietary databases

Proprietary databases are owned and marketed by well knows companies. These databases are often expensive and are more robust and well supported. Usually the creators of the proprietary databases develop a team of partners who support such database and are backed by the database development companies.