The best custom software development companies

You have a problem that you need to solve.

You are currently weighing your options and doing research. Eventually, someone suggests you develop a custom software solution for your needs. But is that your best choice?

To make an informed decision, we put together this simple guide. After reading it, you should know if going down the custom software route fits your current needs.

As an added bonus, we'll add the best custom software development companies and how to work with the best fit for your project.

Do you need custom software development?

The first step is to evaluate where you and your company are in your journey.

Do you have an out-of-the-box solution that can't fulfil one specific scenario?

Have you tried multiple tools, none of them being a good fit?

Assessing where you are will help you gain clarity. If you have nothing and haven't evaluated any solutions in the market, you probably should cover your bases.

It's a common mistake to jump both feet into custom software development and spend considerable time and money to find out there was already something very similar in the market that could have got the job done.

Developing custom software is an ongoing commitment. In time, you'll probably want to expand its capabilities and will need to adapt the code and make changes. Some companies don't have the capacity or resources for an ongoing commitment of this tenor.

If you think your custom software will need constant improvements, it will require a dedicated team or custom software company.

It might be the case that using an established ready-to-use solution is ok-enough for now. As long as the implementation is done smartly to avoid tight coupling with one specific company. It could be your best move.

Not all solutions are created equal. How to avoid vendor lock-in

If you have previous experience working with software, the phrase 'vendor lock-in' probably sends shivers down your spine.

When choosing software, you balance solving your current issue and future growth. One of the main things to avoid is a dependency you cannot get rid of.

If you are researching multiple solutions, always envision how costly switching from one to another would be.

In one of our jobs with www.mellowcustomdevelopment.com, we created a middleware solution to decouple an existing dependency. It was a lot of hard work, but this middleware layer enabled our client to rest easy at night.

Effectively, the client now had an API layer between the commercial software and their clients, which meant if the software had to be altered, the API contract didn't.

Yes, you would still need to change the API service, but your clients could stay the same. Being strategic about how you interact with the solution is a part of the puzzle you want to consider.

Changing a small service independent of your code base can be a million times less traumatic than having a dependency so entrenched that you cannot live without it.

We have received calls or consultations from cases where the vendor raising prices makes the dependency unsustainable. The companies are forced to take drastic action and move away. However, the coupling between systems might be so tight that it's almost impossible to fix.

If you find an out-of-the-box solution that covers your initial needs, make sure that you use it cleverly. Plan ahead.

Sometimes even booking some time with a consultant might be a good idea. Making the right call at the beginning of a project can save considerable money!

I've done my research. I know I need custom software!

You conducted your research. None of the current solutions in the market come close to the quality or features you need. You want to develop a custom software solution.

If you have a small team of software developers, you'll need to work with them and scope out the requirements for your project. Depending on your in-house technical expertise, you might also need a project manager, a designer, a technical lead and maybe even a software architect!

Embarking in custom software development is a big commitment. Even if you have some in-house talent, it's probably a good idea to get outside help. Decisions taken in the initial steps are crucial to the success of your project!

There are multiple software consultancy firms, software and custom software development agencies. The key is to find the right fit for you and your company.

In our experience, what works best is a company that can provide the resources needed and set up the required systems to monitor the project once the initial phases are done. It's no use having a custom software solution if you cannot maintain it!

With this in mind, it's critical to have a strategy that allows for custom software maintenance. There are multiple options that you could implement. The essential parameter here is that it has to fit how you want your organization to run. Some companies will be ok with an ongoing relationship with consultants and outside companies to maintain the custom software. Others prefer to make hiring and up-skilling an in-house team part of the development process.

Whichever strategy you choose, you need to make your expectations clear from the beginning and avoid any misunderstandings.

This brings us to our final recommendation. How to choose a custom software development company that is right for you.

Choosing the best custom software development company for your project

If you do a quick search, you'll find many results under "custom software development agency". In the age of information, data abounds. The trick is to filter the wheat from the chaff.

While most companies might be great, you need one that will work for you. If you are a startup, your needs will be very different from a consolidated company.

The custom software agency you are bringing in develops software that fits your needs and speed. Big companies with big projects won't take startup projects. Small companies are fast and agile but won't be able to scale up enough to work on massive projects. Knowing where you are and what you expect is a helpful first filter.

Tied to this first point is speed. How fast do you need changes to be shipped?

Yes, we always want everything to be done 'by yesterday'. But in reality, good custom software development takes time. Make sure that the custom software development company you choose can deliver at the rate your business needs.

Sometimes boutique firms can be a solid bet as they guarantee exclusivity while the project is being developed. Big firms might not give you exclusivity but have more resources available.

The following filter to put your selection through should be what relationship you want to have with the custom software firm going forward. Big firms are not the ones to have very close relationships with clients. Once the project is handed over, the association is very likely done. Big firms have a lot of staff. It will be harder to track the same team that worked on a project to get them back working for you again. Sure, it might happen, but you shouldn't expect it.

If you want to build an ongoing relationship with a firm and for them to continue to work on your project(s). You need to pick a firm that can cater for that. A small or medium custom software development company is probably a better bet. The opposite is valid for one-off projects that don't need to be maintained or improved in the future. Big custom software development companies have more resources and can provide a very efficient handoff if required.

Last but not least, think about financing. How is the project going to be paid? Will it need to be paid in instalments? Do you need a payment plan?

Smaller firms might have more flexibility about the downpayment amount. Big firms will offer better payment plans and financing. There are certain risks that a smaller custom software company cannot take. Financing a deal that falls through in a small custom software company can be catastrophic. It will barely make a dent in a big company.

This is not to say that some small companies can be very accommodating. Some will even take on more risk and work against equity as payment if they think the project is worth it. You need to evaluate your choices and see what feels best for you!

As for most things, the trick is finding something that works for your needs. There is no 'one size fits all' solution. However, using some of these ideas as filters should help you sort out a good selection of candidates.

We've been involved in software for a long time, so if you have any questions regarding your project or want to chat with an expert consultant for your custom software, feel free to reach out!

You can message us at mellowcustomsoftware.com/contact or see more of what we do at mellowcustomsoftware.com. We'll be more than happy to help you.