If you run a business and you are searching for an appropriate software package, there are several criteria you have to keep in mind. Among the main ones, an element you should consider is the type of transactions you are performing. Are you collaborating with other companies or directly with your clients? Basically, there are two forms of commercial transactions: B2B and B2C. The first one stands for business-to-business, involving services delivered to another company, while the second means business-to-consumer and represents the process of selling a service directly to a client. Needless to say, the software systems supporting these models vary in size, purpose and administration, so it is important to pick the right one. So, which is the best option in terms of software development for B2B and B2C commercial transactions? Should you choose bespoke software UK development or standard services? Read on to discover some of the pros and cons of these two alternatives you have available.
Off-the-shelf software
When it comes to already existing software products, these have the great advantage of being suitable to a wide array of purposes. Taking this into consideration, these are also available for a great number of customers. It is true that they cost less money than a product that has been developed from scratch, for a particular purpose, and this is also something certain businesses stress on. In addition to this, since they are already running for other companies, you can also have access to these solutions immediately after you set up the software. While your IT people may already be familiar with it, you should be willing to compromise. The product is likely not to answer all your needs, which is a major drawback, especially in case of particular B2B or B2C transactions. Besides that, you can sometimes end up paying for features you do not really need, as off-the-shelf products are often quite complex.
Custom made software development
Bespoke services are the modern alternative to existing development solutions. This type of products is created only after the service provider learns exactly the needs of its customers, which is why it may be more efficient than off-the-shelf software development. So, what is actually convenient for businesses that choose this type of services is that they are tailored for them in particular, keeping in mind their requirements and demands. As a consequence, you are going to pay a price directly proportional with the features you get, in terms of B2B or B2C transactions. Besides costs, another great benefit of bespoke software development is that it is flexible and can be changed on the way, as your company evolves and your needs change. There are, of course, some disadvantages as well. The main one is that since the software app is developed from scratch and it needs testing and probably fixing, it may take some time until you can start using it. However, the wait is worth given the fact that you will end up with a product made one hundred per cent for your business.
