Off-the-shelf software often struggle to fit the unique needs and workflows of a company, leading to frustration, inefficiency, and many hours wasted dealing with customer support.
Fortunately, there is something better: developing your own custom software.
This article will walk you through the key stages of how to develop a software product and the most important considerations you need to make before jumping headfirst into these ventures.
The Importance of Custom Software Products
Developing a software product empowers businesses to unlock a significant advantage in today’s tech-driven world. Pre-packaged solutions often struggle to keep pace with a company’s unique needs and evolving workflows.
Custom software development offers a powerful alternative. Some of the benefits of custom software are:
Addressing Specific Needs
In today’s increasingly digital landscape, businesses rely on software more than ever. The market is flooded with software solutions, some of which can be quickly implemented and do not cost an arm and a leg.
However, off-the-shelf solutions sometimes can be a poor fit, as they cannot be moulded to fit specific business operations and processes. This can hinder operations and can even be counterproductive in certain scenarios.
Note that a significant portion of off-the-shelf software cannot be heavily modified to address specific needs due to the way it was developed and the high costs of making custom modifications.
Scalability and Flexibility
As your business grows, your software needs to grow with you. Whether it’s to meet increasing demand or to incorporate additional features, there will come a time when your software needs an upgrade.
Unlike out-of-the-box solutions, custom software development empowers you to pivot and adapt your software to address new market demands or technological advancements.
Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, you’re not confined by limitations. Instead, you have the freedom to adapt and enhance your software as your needs and the market landscape evolve.
The only thing that stands in your way is the funds and time it will take your development team to execute the required changes.
Enhanced Security and Control
Custom software development enables you to implement robust security measures tailored to your specific needs and implement security features that combat the threats relevant to your data and operations.
During custom software development, your team can identify potential threats and implement safeguards from the ground up. Off-the-shelf software might only patch vulnerabilities after they’ve been discovered.
Take a healthcare company, for example. HIPAA compliance requires very strict patient data security, so you may want to prioritise patient data encryption at rest and in transit, along with multi-factor authentication for access control.
On the other hand, an e-commerce platform may want more secure payment gateways.
Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards demand secure payment gateways, so custom software lets you integrate secure payment processing with robust fraud detection mechanisms.
With custom software, you can have more access to controls and encryption methods and put authentication protocols in place that are specific to your needs.
Improved User Experience
Custom software allows you to design interfaces and workflows that cater to your specific user base, boosting productivity and fostering a positive user experience.
If you have invested in custom software, you can make design changes quickly based on your data and customer feedback. Off-the-shelf solutions are unlikely to offer this type of flexibility and design control.
One example of how custom software caters to your user base is an e-commerce business.
A small Etsy shop that struggled with a clunky, off-the-shelf inventory management system invested in custom software and was able to design a user-friendly interface that integrated seamlessly with their online store.
This resulted in faster order fulfilment, happier customers, and a significant increase in sales.
Considering this, the initial investment in custom software development may seem like a lot, but the long-term benefits in efficiency, scalability, security, control, and user experience can deliver an invaluable return on investment.
“If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.”
— Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover
A Roadmap on the Stages of Custom Software Development
Now that you understand the advantages, let’s delve into the software development process. This roadmap will outline the key stages involved in bringing your software vision to life.
Stage 1 – Planning and Product Design: Laying the Foundation
The cornerstone of any successful software product is a solid foundation.
Understanding how to develop a software product starts with this crucial phase, where you:
- Identify the problem you’re solving,
- Identify your target audience
- Detail your desired outcomes.
By defining these elements, you create a roadmap that guides the entire development process. While detail and focus are crucial, remaining flexible allows for adjustments as you learn more throughout the project.
Stage 2 – Technical Scoping and Feasibility: Turning Vision into Reality
This phase delves into the technical aspects of development, where your development team’s expertise shines.
A key aspect of knowing how to develop a software product involves critical considerations like tech stack selection, system architecture, API design, development methodology, and technical feasibility.
- Tech Stack Selection: Choosing the programming languages, frameworks, and tools that best suit your project.
- System Architecture: Designing how different software components interact and integrate with existing systems.
- API Design: Specifying how various software parts will communicate with each other.
- Development Methodology: Determining the coding approach, such as agile methodologies with iterative development cycles.
- Technical Feasibility: Evaluating whether your vision can be realised with available resources and technology.
A skilled development team can explain these concepts and ensure everyone is aligned as development progresses.
Stage 3 – Development: Building and Refining Through Iteration
This stage involves translating your plans and designs into a functional product. Knowing how to develop a software product emphasises an iterative approach over a linear one. This includes:
- Agile Development: Building features in smaller cycles, testing them with users, and incorporating feedback for continuous improvement.
- User-Centered Feedback: Gathering real-world insights from early adopters to validate assumptions and refine your product.
An iterative approach ensures your software design aligns with actual user needs, ultimately leading to a product that resonates with your target audience.
Stage 4 – Early Adopter Release: Gaining Valuable User Insights
Many businesses make the mistake of launching directly to the mainstream market.
However, if you understand how to develop a software product, you know the importance of a limited release with early adopters.
These tech-savvy users can provide insight into your software by:
- Providing feedback on user experience (UX)
- Offering insights into functionality and features, and
- Validating product-market fit.
Early adopter feedback allows you to refine your product before a broader launch, significantly increasing its chances of success.
“Quality must be enforced, otherwise it won’t happen. We programmers must be required to write tests, otherwise we won’t do it.”
― Yegor Bugayenko
Stage 5 – Broader Market Release and GTM Launch
With a confident understanding of your software’s strengths and a roadmap informed by real-world feedback, you’re ready for the public launch.
Learning how to develop a software product highlights the importance of a comprehensive Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy that includes brand positioning, marketing strategies, sales strategies, and customer support.
Leveraging the insights gained throughout the development process significantly increases your chances of launching a successful software product.
“Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.”
– Martin Fowler
What are the Costs of Developing a Custom Software Product?
Custom software can get pricey, so you have to understand that factors like project complexity, integrations, non-functional needs, development team, and ongoing maintenance are important. This way, you can set a realistic budget to cover the costs of software development.
| Attributes | Simple Software | Moderate Software | Complex Software |
| Coding Hours | 100 – 500 | 500 – 1,500 | 1,500 – 4,000 |
| Number of Features | 1 – 10 | 10 – 30 | 30 – 100 |
| Project Complexity | Low | Medium | High |
| Integrations | Few | Moderate | Many |
| Non-Functional Needs | Basic (e.g., security, performance) | Moderate (e.g., compliance, scalability) | Advanced (e.g., high availability, disaster recovery) |
| Development Team | Small (1-3 developers) | Medium (3-8 developers) | Large (8+ developers) |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Minimal | Moderate | Moderate |
| Estimated Cost (USD) | $5,000 – $25,000 | $25,000 – $75,000 | $75,000 – $200,000 |
How long does it take to build a software product?
Once you have a clearer understanding of the costs involved, you might be wondering about the development timeline.
So, how long does it take to build a custom software solution?
The truth is that it depends on its intended functionality and usage. Projects can take around 4-9 months or longer, from initial concept to final testing and release.
While this timeframe might seem lengthy to some, rushing development can lead to software that becomes inflexible and expensive to maintain in the long run. So, it is better not to rush and establish a generous project timeline.
Here is a general timeline that could give you an idea of how long each stage of the custom software development could take your team to complete.
| Software Development Stages | Simple | Moderate | Complex |
| Planning and Product Design | 2-4 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 8-12 weeks |
| Technical Scoping and Feasibility | 1-3 weeks | 3-6 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
| Actual Development | 3-6 months | 6-12 months | 12-24 months |
| Early Adopter Release | 1-2 months | 2-4 months | 4-6 months |
| Broader Market Release | 1 month | 1-2 months | 2-3 months |
Conclusion
Custom software development allows you to create a solution that seamlessly integrates with your unique workflows and strategic goals.
Unlike off-the-shelf software, it addresses your specific needs and challenges head-on, offering a perfect fit that eliminates inefficiencies and boosts productivity.
The adaptability of a custom software product allows your business to grow while remaining an asset.
Dazlab understands the intricacies of how to develop a software product that delivers exceptional value. Our team of experts collaborates closely with you throughout the entire development process, from initial concept to final launch.
Explore how custom software development can unlock new levels of efficiency, growth, and success for your business.
Contact Dazlab today for a free consultation today.
