Through evolution and growth the need for bespoke software development within companies can increase. The creation of specific systems and processes to differentiate from competitors can offer unique customer solutions.
Since 2003, Ventureaxis has been helping organisations create systems that play key roles in their business processes or to offer solutions to their customers. This work has been carried out for a wide variety of clients in media, sport, distribution, retail, healthcare and many other sectors.
Bespoke development is also known as custom development. It is the process of building a system designed specifically to meet the requirements of a business or organisation, rather than taking an off-the-shelf "Packaged Application". Bespoke development is generally more expensive than packaged software, as it involves the design, development, deployment and maintenance of a unique system. The teams that develop custom software can range from a single person to hundreds of people, and timescales can range from a few days to several years.
Bespoke development is needed in a number of circumstances:
Custom software can also be important when flexibility or integration with other systems is required. Having the ability to quickly and efficiently modify a system to meet changing needs or respond to customer requests can provide a real advantage.
If you would like to discuss your needs with a trusted partner in software development then please get in touch for a no obligation call. We look forward to hearing about your requirements, ideas or opportunities.
Or contact us directly: contact@ventureaxis.comThe appropriate technology for a project will depend on a number of factors. Key to success is selecting a technology stack for which you can expect to find long term support. Many projects based on the "latest and greatest" technology have failed over the long term as the technology vendor and developers have moved on and replacements willing to work with the technology can not be found.
By selecting a technology that has been used to develop thousands of systems, with hundreds of thousands of developers from around the world capable of working with it, you can ensure that you will not end up with a prematurely legacy system.
Many technologies might be needed to deliver your solution, but listed below are the technology choices that we believe should form the core of any modern system, meeting the criteria of being supportable over the long term:
Software has become integral to the effective operation of most businesses. Over the last 40 years effective software development has become increasingly important as a mechanism to differentiate companies. To develop software that meets people's needs, it is necessary to understand the basic principles of software development methodologies, which enable the creation of high-performance teams who can deliver quality software development. Software development methodologies consist of a set of approaches that can be used to create software systems in a controlled, structured way. A good methodology will provide a set of organized activities used to efficiently define, develop, test and maintain software. Different development methodologies have strengths and weaknesses, so it is essential to know the goals, objectives, deadlines and budgets involved in the project to determine which is the most aligned approach.
Waterfall development is sometimes known as the Cascade Method. As its name implies, it is a development methodology in which each step leads to the next in a one way process. The development of the project is divided into a series of tasks, and progress is linear with the completion of one task leading to the next. Testing takes place at the end of development, at which time the software's functionality and quality are checked. This method of development provides an easy to understand, structured approach to projects, and has been used for many years to deliver systems where a clear scope and objective is known at the start of the project.
Agile development methodologies evolved to make the software creation process more flexible and provide greater agility for teams to adapt to changes during the project. In general, they are more malleable and have the foundation for teams to deliver results quickly. In general, agile methodologies work on four principles:
The decision to use either a waterfall development model or an agile model will take into account the predictability or required adaptability of the technical environment in which a company operates. In the case of the agile model, it is important that in addition to tools and frameworks, a culture focused on collaborative work is established, with an expectation of small incremental deliveries. The Waterfall model focuses strictly on completion of development with a design mindset, while the Agile methodology introduces a product mindset that focuses on ensuring that the developed application satisfies its end customers and changes accordingly.
Talk to an experienced and trusted partner, such as Ventureaxis. Without obligation we can help you assess the scope of your project and assist in determining a realistic budget and plan of action on how to reach your goals. We can help deliver projects that qualify for Research and Development Tax credits (R&D Tax Credits) which can help significantly with the cost of certain projects.
