Understanding bespoke software development
Leicestershire is home to a wide range of different industries, most notably, Wholesale & Retail, Manufacturing, Education and Transportation all of which employ significantly more people compared to the national average.
It is therefore no surprise that there is significant demand in Leicestershire for custom software solutions that allow companies to work efficiently, offer enhanced services to their clients and differentiate themselves in saturated markets.
There are a number of reasons as to why you might opt to choose bespoke solutions over off-the-shelf, but what's the difference?
In short, bespoke software refers to a system that is designed and built to your business's specific set of requirements, to achieve specific outcomes as defined by you and you alone. On completion, you will own the software and any updates or changes are done as you see fit. Off-the-shelf software on the other hand, is a ready built system that has been designed with features and functionality that appeal to a wide range of organisations and is usually 'rented' from the vendor via a monthly subscription fee. Any updates or changes are done at the vendors discretion.
Key aspects of bespoke software development
By its very nature, bespoke software development offers a number of distinct advantages over off-the-shelf solutions. Below are some of the key aspects that make bespoke development an attractive option for organisations in Leicester and beyond which are worth considering if you happen to be looking for software for your business.
Custom functionality
With custom software, it's for you to decide exactly what features and functionality your system needs to operate effectively within your business rather than a third party. You won't need to adapt your processes to fit the software because it is designed around how you actually work. Ultimately, this ensures every element serves a clear purpose.
Bespoke software can be modified, adapted or enhanced in line with your changing business requirements without dependency on a third party vendor.
Cost efficiencies
Bespoke software will often provide you with significant cost savings, particularly over the long term, through the lack of licensing fees, paying only for the features and functionality you need and through the use of streamlined and efficient processes, which saves time on manual labour, lost productivity and those dreaded data entry mistakes.
Integration capabilities
Another key reason why you might choose to go bespoke is so you're not forced to get rid of your existing systems and by extension, investments. Bespoke software can be built to integrate with and utilise the features of other systems your business may already be using.
Maintenance and support
With bespoke solutions, you get to decide when and how often to undertake maintenance and support activities rather than having a third party vendor dictate the schedule. Plus, you can arrange a tailored support agreement with a company of your choosing.
Components of bespoke development
There are many different components that may be being referred to when we talk about 'bespoke development services' from websites to desktop apps and everything in between - here, we will explore some of the most popular:
Website development
Chances are, you've heard of the term website development - after all, over 64% of businesses in the UK today have a website. Industries including Manufacturing and Education which are both well represented in the Leicestershire area, were in the top six industries for having a website in 2024. Website Development involves the design, build and often, ongoing maintenance of a website and is a crucial consideration for any business when it comes to showcasing what they offer, differentiating themselves from their competitors and giving prospects a way to connect with them. Opting for bespoke website development means your website can be designed and built from scratch, based on your exact requirements that align precisely with your business goals whether that be attracting more leads, being visually appealing or providing a fantastic user experience - the possibilities are endless.
Mobile app development
It is becoming increasingly popular today for companies to have their own mobile applications. They may be apps designed for internal use i.e. field staff management apps or for external use by their clients i.e. if you're an ecommerce organisation, you may have a mobile app that allows customers to browse stock, place orders and receive updates.
Mobile apps are usually complementary and used in addition to other core systems within your organisation such as websites, web applications or desktop applications but for some companies, this may be their core platform for promotion, interaction and management of their operations. By choosing bespoke for your mobile app, you're able to develop a platform with all the features and functionality you desire, that encapsulates and promotes your brand and that integrates with any other systems you may use in the organisation.
Ecommerce platforms
Ecommerce is a growing industry across not only Leicestershire and the UK, but across the world. It has never been easier to set up and run a shop online than it is today with many readily available options that allow business to sign up, create their shop and start trading all within the same day.
There are a huge range of sophisticated off-the-shelf solutions that you can utilise if you're an ecommerce organisation. However, if you require customisation elements such as the ability to integrate with your other internal systems, custom order processing or any other feature that is not available in an off-the-shelf solution, bespoke is definitely worth considering.
Operational systems
Operational Systems can refer to a number of different types of systems within a business that are used to manage day to day operations. Think Customer Relationship Management, Work Force Management, Enterprise Resource Planning and Quality Management Systems to name a few.
Whilst again, there are many off-the-shelf options available, opting for a bespoke solution offers a whole host of additional benefits that you would not otherwise get including having all the features and functionality you do need, and none that you don't, the ability to develop a system that is capable of integrating with your other systems (bespoke or off-the-shelf) and long term cost efficiencies through more efficient processes.
There's also no on-going licensing costs and a reduction in manual labour. If you can't compromise on functionality and have unique business requirements and/or processes then you should definitely consider going bespoke for your operational systems.
How can we help?
Here at Cool Code Company, we have over 30 years experience in designing and developing tailored solutions for businesses in Leicestershire and across the wider Midlands area. We understand the unique business landscape of the area, having been established here ourselves for many years and we use this knowledge and expertise to help you transform your business for the better.
Our Midlands based developers will work closely with you to understand and define your requirements before building and implementing our bespoke software solutions that set you up for success every time. We use a varied tech stack at Cool Code and will always provide you with options based on benefits versus risks so you can choose what's best for you. Come and have a chat with us today - we're a friendly bunch!
The Westermans International Partnership
Why not check out this case study to see how we transformed the operations at Westermans International, a long standing, Leicester based, family run business in the metalworks industry. They have been valued clients of Cool Code Company since 2008 and the partnerships continues to blossom to this day.
Case Study: Westermans International | Cool Code Company
