Bespoke Web Application Development

What is bespoke web application development?

Bespoke web application development is the process of building a web based application that’s designed specifically for you and your business. Unlike off-the-shelf software, which tries to cram every possible feature into a one size fits all solution, a bespoke web app is tailored around your unique goals, workflows and users. 

Typical characteristics of a bespoke web application

Whilst bespoke web apps are all unique by their very nature, there are several key characteristics that are found in most of them:

Unique design and user interface - Your app looks and behaves exactly the way you want it to. The user interface is designed around your brand and your users, so everything (should) feel intuitive and familiar from the get go.

Customised features & functionality - Instead of adapting your business to fit someone else’s software, your software is built to fit you. Every feature has a purpose. Every workflow is unique to you. 

Integration with existing systems - Bespoke web applications can be designed to integrate with your existing business systems, data streams and/or third party APIs regardless of whether those systems are bespoke or off-the-shelf.

They're scalable - A good bespoke web app should be able to grow with your business. Whether you’re adding users, expanding services or integrating new software with it, scalability is accounted for from the beginning so you’re never limited by your own system.

Automation - Bespoke web apps can be built to automate those insufferable activities that eat up far too much time - copying data between systems, updating spreadsheets, sending the same emails or carrying out repetitive admin.

Data your way - You decide what information the system captures, how it is structured and how it is used. You don't need to work around the limitations of a standard database or application; the data model can be designed around the way your business works in reality.

How do custom web apps differ from off-the-shelf web apps?

The key difference is very straightforward; custom web apps are built specifically around the needs of your business only, whereas off-the-shelf web apps are designed to appeal to a much wider audience, often targeted at businesses in specific industries.

With an off-the-shelf application, you choose a product that already exists and adapt your processes to work with it. With a custom application, the development starts with your requirements, processes and workflows and the software is then built accordingly.

Neither approach is right or wrong and one is not better than the other. It depends on what you need the software to do. Here's a quick overview of the key differences:

Why might you consider a bespoke web application?

There are plenty of reasons you might choose a bespoke web application. Here are some of the most commercially impactful:

They can be heavily customised

As we have covered above, bespoke web applications are tailored specifically to meet the unique requirements and workflows of your business only. This is in contrast to off-the-shelf solutions which offer generic features that may not fully align with the needs of your organisation - especially if it has more complex and nuanced needs. By choosing a custom web application, you can guarantee you will get what you need, in the way you need it.

They can be built to integrate with your existing systems

Rather than replacing every piece of software your business uses, a bespoke web application can be built to integrate with your existing systems. Whether it's your CRM, ERP, accounting software, payment gateway or third party APIs, custom integrations allow your data to flow automatically between multiple platforms, reducing errors and saving time.

They are scalable and flexible

By choosing a bespoke software application, you have the ability to scale and adapt the application as your operations grow and evolve. 9 times out of 10, off-the-shelf software comes with limitations with regards to scalability whereas a custom built application can be adjusted to incorporate new features, manage changing user demands and to integrate with other systems as needed.

They can reduce long term costs

It's a myth that bespoke software is more expensive than off-the-shelf. Whilst upfront investment is higher, you aren't tied into ongoing licensing fees for however many years you'll be using the software. This often proves to be much more cost effective over the longer term plus, you have a solution built specifically for your business that supports your processes efficiently and reduces the need for workarounds. 

They provide advantageous positioning

With custom software, you're able able to implement unique features and functionality that set you apart from your competition. This can provide your business with a significant competitive advantage by offering specialised capabilities and a distinctive user experience (particularly useful if the app in question is customer facing with a customer portal) that off-the-shelf products simply cannot match. Ultimately, this helps to  differentiate your business in the marketplace.

What type of projects work best as web applications?

Web applications have a large and wide range of use cases thanks to their accessibility, ease of updates and ability to run on any device with a browser - no downloads or installations required. It is common when people hear the word 'application' they immediately think of mobile apps. However, web apps can serve many of the same functions as mobile apps with much less hassle. Let's take a closer look - 

Customer portals

Systems where customers can log in to view information, make bookings, submit requests or manage their accounts are often best built for the web for maximum accessibility.

Ecommerce platforms

Online stores benefit from being web based as this allows them to reach the widest possible audience with zero need to install anything to start shopping.

Multi user and/or Multi device access

If your business has users that might have different devices or need to log in from different locations, web apps will ensure they have a consistent experience regardless of whether it's on a laptop or tablet, at home or in Spain.

Internal systems

Software meant for internal use including dashboards, intranets, CRMs, HR portals and project management platforms are great as web apps - they are easy to access from anywhere and generally quite simple to keep up to date.

How can we help?

If you're exploring whether a bespoke web application is the right solution for your business, you're in the right place! Our UK based development team has extensive experience in building custom web applications tailored to individual business needs - no matter how complex. We're happy to discuss your current setup and objectives to help you assess the pros and cons of bespoke development in the context of your unique environment and long term goals.

FAQs