When a business starts to develop, the same question usually arises: is it better to use applications that are already available on the market or create your own application? There is no right answer for everyone. Many businesses are more suited to using ready-made applications, while others only really develop after switching to custom applications. The question is not which one is better, but which one better suits your business conditions.
What is the Difference Between a Finished Application and a Custom Application?
When we talk about finished applications, what I mean here is an application that has been completed by someone developer and you can immediately use the application, usually by paying a subscription fee. Usually applications like this already have a name (brand-name) such as MOKA POS, Accurate, Mekari Jurnal, or Jodoo.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Applications So?
The main advantage of ready-made applications is that you can use them immediately without having to wait for the development process which can be time-consuming months. The initial costs are also much lower as you only have to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee. Apart from that, applications like this are generally used by many companies so that bugs that often appear have usually been fixed and the documentation is relatively complete.
But on the other hand, finished applications are created to meet the needs of many companies at once. As a result, it is possible that your company's workflow does not fully match the way the application works. You may need to change your business processes to fit the flow of the applications you use. In addition, applications usually have a limit on the number of users who can use the application at the same time, so subscription costs can increase as the number of teams in your business grows. style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Another thing to pay attention to is integration. If your company uses several applications at once, not all of them can exchange data easily. In the end, employees still have to do repetitive work such as copying data from one system to another and logging in to many different applications to work. style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:'Nunito Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Advantages and Disadvantages of Custom Applications?
In contrast to ready-made applications, custom applications are designed specifically according to your business needs. This means that workflows that are already running do not need to be forced to adapt the application. In fact, the application will be designed to follow your company's business processes. This often makes work more efficient because the features created really suit your needs and are not filled with features that are never used.
In addition, custom applications are also easier to develop in the future. As your business grows, you can add new features, connect with other systems, or change business processes without having to wait for the application provider to make updates.
But of course there are consequences. The cost of developing a custom application is usually much greater than using a ready-made application. The manufacturing process also takes time and requires good communication between you and the vendor so that the final result truly meets your needs. If your own business needs still change frequently, custom application projects also have the potential to experience many changes during the development process.
Therefore, custom applications do not mean they are always better. In certain conditions, actually using the application is a wiser decision.
Which Suits Me Better?
In general, I usually advise new or growing businesses to try a finished application first. Apart from being faster to use, you can also understand your company's business processes without having to spend too much investment. After some time, you will start to know what features are really needed and which parts actually hinder the work. style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">On the other hand, if your company starts using many applications at once, often doing repetitive manual work, or If you have a business process that is unique enough to make it difficult to follow the flow of applications available on the market, maybe it's time to consider a custom application.
There's no need to rush into creating your own application just because you feel your business has grown. However, don't use the application for too long if subscription fees, manual work and system limitations start to hamper company operations. The best decision is determined not by the size of the company, but by the business needs you want to solve.
