Choosing the right software for your company can be overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, including various “as-a-Service” technologies and predesigned products, why would you need to build your own? The reality is, no matter how many features or unique workflows are built into a platform, your company may have to change various aspects of infrastructure.
Change is not a bad thing; it is full of opportunities. But why fix something that is not broken? The option to build a proprietary platform over a predesigned product may be the solution you have been looking for all along.
Enhance Your Competitive Edge with a Proprietary Platform
If we have learned anything during the global health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus, it is that difference is a good thing. The ability to be flexible in our work, to stand out from the crowd, and to be innovative in our processes greatly benefits business when faced with adversity. The unique qualities of your workflows and processes are what help you keep a competitive edge, so why compromise them in any way to accommodate the workflows and features of a predesigned product that other businesses are using?
Deciding to build a proprietary platform should not be taken lightly. That is why we have taken the time to guide you through the process of custom software development and helpful hints necessary to produce your proprietary platform.
Making the Decision to Build vs. Buy
First, you must decide if creating a custom software solution is the best choice for your company. For more information on determining what is best for your business, you can read our article about building vs. buying software here. If building is what suits you best, then let us visit the drawing board.
Time to Visit the Drawing Board
You can start by making a list of what you like and do not like about the software you have tried in the past or currently have. The types of software up for review include packaged software, Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, Software as a Service, and more. Once you know what you prefer and what you do not, create an outline of the various workflows you desire, how you want them to connect, and features you want and need.
Be sure to meet with the different departments and teams within your company to hear what they have to say. It is essential to consider your infrastructure, the capabilities of your development team, and future maintenance involvement.
Do Not Forget about Features
A downfall to a proprietary platform can be too many bells and whistles. Make sure you include the basics that can keep your work environment flexible and resilient because this year proved the need to be prepared for anything. Here are a few features to include in your custom software solution:
- An online video platform capable of high-quality video streaming
- Video and voice calling
- Instant messaging
- Task assignment and organization
- A community-building platform
- Alerts and notifications
Design for Size
Scalability is a problem many users face after both creating their proprietary platform and when using a predesigned product. Make sure when designing a proprietary platform, you consider your projected growth, evolution, and transformation. The last thing you want to happen is to spend copious amounts of time and money on a platform that you will outgrow within a year or two.
Ask the Experts
Doing everything by yourself is not always a good idea. Getting an opinion and guidance from software development experts will pay off in the long term. The team of experts at Bauen Solutions helps companies solve complicated business problems by leveraging cutting edge solutions in Microsoft Azure, Dynamics, and the Microsoft SaaS architecture.
Bauen Solutions is a custom software development company that closely partners with your team to define, design, and deploy a proprietary platform that meets your needs and fits your budget.
With the help of cloud computing technology to build new tools and native-cloud products, the Bauen team transforms applications, whether built on the cloud or not, to new levels. By harnessing the power of the cloud, Bauen Solutions can quickly develop a scalable custom software platform that would otherwise take a massive bite out of your team’s time and budget.
