First of all, cross-platform approaches are different in software development for desktop and mobile devices. The core principle in cross-platform mobile app development is the concept of single, reusable code for all potential platforms. This is not always the case in cross-platform software for desktops and consoles, where versions for different platforms may have different codebases.

Also, some specialists tend to use terms “cross-platform” and “hybrid” as interchangeable synonyms. This is not entirely justified in the case of software development for mobile platforms, so this article distinguishes these two types of applications.

Progressive web applications can be also considered “cross-platform” in a sense that they are accessible across various platforms and operating systems with the help of web browsers. They can run on mobile devices but are not built exclusively for mobile platforms, so they will not be described in this article.

What Is Cross-Platform App Development for Mobile Devices

The term “cross-platform mobile app development” refers to one of the approaches to building a software program for mobile devices. Overall, there are three approaches to mobile software development, and all of them have their pros and cons. They are:

• Cross-platform. This type of software application is designed for use on different mobile platforms. The distinguishing feature here is that a cross-platform app usually has a single codebase. This means that the whole code, or at least its significant percentage is shared or reused on versions for different mobile operating systems. This is possible thanks to a variety of specialized frameworks. They help developers to minimize the limitations of this approach while attempting to deliver a “native-like” user experience.
• Native. This type of application is written exclusively for one particular platform. It is designed to utilize all relevant software and hardware features available on that platform. Because developers focus on one mobile platform, the same code cannot be reused on other platforms.
• Hybrid. This approach to mobile app development combines native and web technologies.  The code is written in programming languages for web development, such as CSS or HTML, and then is wrapped in a “native” shell. In many aspects, hybrid applications are similar to cross-platform apps, and their differences are often rather subtle. That’s why many specialists choose not to distinguish these two types for the sake of simplicity.

There are only two operating systems that dominate the industry of mobile devices: Android and iOS. Combined, they cover over 99% of the market, while the share of all other operating systems is negligible. That’s why, these days, a “cross-platform mobile application” generally means a software product designed to work on Android and iOS devices.

Main Advantages of Cross-platform Mobile App Development

1. One code for all platforms. The main concept of cross-platform mobile apps is the single codebase that can be fully or partially used on all target platforms. The realization of “reusable code” has its limitations but also leads to several further benefits.
2. Lower costs to cover platforms. “One code fits all” is a cost-effective approach that makes the most out of a limited budget. For example, there is no need for two dedicated teams to cover separate Android and iOS versions of software. Besides, native app developers charge more and are not easy to find. Cross-platform development reduces costs by using a single team with a single stack of technologies to deliver a software product on both mobile platforms.
3. Less time to deliver a final software product. Using one codebase and one team simplifies the process of software development compared with managing two teams at the same time. For example, managers do not need to synchronize the progress of two teams to release the software product at the same time on iOS and Android. Two native versions of an app would mean double coding, double testing, etc.
4. Larger user coverage. Thanks to cross-platform development, an application can reach more users. This approach offers a sufficient level of compatibility for different operating systems. It also maintains some level of “native” experience, so users feel more comfortable with their interaction with an app. That’s why cross-platform development is preferred if a project’s budget is not large enough to build two separate native applications.

Popular Cross-platform Mobile App Development Tools and Technologies

Over the years, developers have created many tools for building cross-platform applications. Here are the top 5 most popular frameworks that are currently used for this purpose:

1. Flutter. Created by Google in 2017, Flutter uses the Dart language to create software compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platforms. Thanks to its versatility and performance, this is the most popular framework with a high potential for further improvement. Google Pay and eBay applications are examples of using Flutter for cross-platform software development.
2. React Native. This framework was created by Meta in 2015 and allows building apps for mobile and desktop platforms. It also supports operating systems for smart TV, such as tvOS and Android TV, as well as virtual reality devices. For example, Facebook, Skype, Shopify, and Microsoft Office mobile apps are created using this framework.
3. Apache Cordova. This framework is almost exclusively focused on mobile platforms: Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Its predecessor, PhoneGap, supported a much larger variety of phones and operating systems, such as Blackberry, Nokia Symbian OS, Tizen, etc. Apache Cordova uses the combination of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript and the capabilities provided by native WebView.
4. Ionic. Though Ionic focuses on building hybrid apps, it is considered the fourth most popular cross-platform framework these days. It supports Android, iOS, and the Universal Windows Platform. Ionic allows developers to combine web code written in such languages as Sass, CSS, and HTML with native code.
5. Xamarin. Microsoft bought this framework in 2016 and maintains it as a tool for building applications for various types of smart devices. It allows developers to use Microsoft .NET and Visual Studio to create software for Android, iOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Xamarin enables reusing and sharing code written in C# across different platforms. It also supports the Universal Windows Platform and macOS.

Tips For Developing Mobile Cross-platform Software

There are several factors you need to consider before deciding to make a cross-platform mobile application.

• Your target audience. Should you cover both Android and iOS? Is it better to narrow down your audience?
• Your budget. Will it be enough for two teams or only one?
• Your potential development team. Does it have enough specialists? What tech stacks do they use?
• Your time to market. When would be the optimal time to release your software? Can a team meet this deadline?

Do marketing research. Analyze your plans. Find answers to these questions before moving to development.

To sum up, you should consider cross-platform development instead of a native approach when:

• You lack budget for two native apps;
• You need to release your software as fast as possible;
• You need to cover both Android and iOS at the same time.

However, the benefits of cross-platform app development come at a certain price. There are certain drawbacks you need to consider if you decide to make a cross-platform mobile app.

• Lower performance compared to native apps.
• More testing is required to ensure compatibility with several versions of different mobile operating systems.
• Inability to use the full extent of hardware and software features provided natively.
• Higher maintenance requirements to adapt to system updates on all target platforms.

All those drawbacks can be mitigated to a certain degree by a proper choice of cross-platform mobile app development technologies. A skilled team will be able to make the most out of the selected framework and other tools to ensure good quality.

Conclusion

As you can see, cross-platform development can be confusing at first glance. But once you learn more about it, you become impressed by its numerous advantages. Modern frameworks for cross-platform development are supported by such IT giants as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and many others. Thanks to the efforts of the loyal community, these tools have become very effective in delivering native-like experience across various platforms.

At Intellectsoft, we have skilled specialists in various cross-platform technologies. We offer a wide range of mobile app development services to create software for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Whether you want to release your application on all these platforms or just one, we can deliver the solution. Contact us and tell our solution advisor what kind of native or cross-platform mobile application you want.

The post A Brief Guide to Cross-platform Mobile App Development in 2023 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Like many industries, the banking sector wasn’t immune to the tsunami of instability – quite the contrary. Covid-19 was only the start of uncertainty. It may have been the catalyst for rising interest rates, inflation, and political disruption, but what has become unquestionable is the fragility of financial institutions.

So, where does this leave commercial and business banking? To understand the challenges it faces, one needs to identify the threats.

Accelerated digital banking, a surge in cyber hacking, geopolitical threats, and climate change are all disruptive forces that can potentially reshape the sector.

According to The Banking in 2035: global banking survey report, about 76% of banking executives surveyed believed the industry has an obligation to address societal needs and issues, while 82% were of the opinion that financial services organizations can simultaneously better society while pursuing profit.

How do banks go about doing this? By prioritizing client needs without compromising on profit. In this article, we’ll take a look at the future of business banking and how adopting certain business models can help you be at the forefront of future banking trends.

Future Business Models and Competitive Arenas in Business Banking

In the ever-changing business landscape, banking institutions have to fight to stay relevant. According to EIU’s financial outlook 2023 report, fintech and cryptocurrency sellers will find it harder to weather the storm.

Adapting to your new reality isn’t always easy, but adjusting your business model is one way of keeping abreast of the latest developments.

Banks that are open to change can benefit directly from disruptions “by combining their unparalleled domain expertise, reputation, and relationships with innovations in technology and a client-centric approach,” said Dr. Christian Thun while writing for Moody’s Analytics Risk Management: The Decade Ahead.

“Fortunately, the business banking sector has proven its resilience over the past decade by bolstering their capital and liquidity positions, and leaving behind non-core activities and markets,” EIU’s financial outlook 2023 report found.

It also sets up the sector for benefiting from future trends by improving digital services, becoming more financially inclusive, and investing in sustainable banking services.

So, what will business banking look like in the future?

Accenture’s Global Banking Lead Michael Abbott’s predictions could soon become a reality. According to him, business and corporate banks’ innovative products could mirror that of the Amazon Prime model.

Just like mobile platforms, banks will take a dip into the metaverse, which will open a world of possibilities, but Abbott warns this won’t be without risk.

As a way of outperforming their peers, banks must help their clients solve their problems rather than increase their customer base. This taps into the notion of “life centricity”, whereby institutions take a holistic approach to customer wellbeing.

Abbott also believes data should be viewed as a product “that has the potential to transform the foundations of banking.”

The Banking in 2035: global banking survey report mirrored Abbott’s predictions when listing its most important outcomes for banks over the coming decade, with improved cybersecurity and data protection leading the pack with 46%.

The Impact of Data and Money Regulation on Business Banking

Banking regulations are a way of enforcing rules to protect the client, ensure financial stability and prevent financial crime. By design, they ensure sound banking practices.

Who regulates the banking system? In the US, four federal agencies have been tasked with this duty, namely the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve System, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Easier access to data has become a building block for successful business practices, and a way of doing this is via application programming interfaces. APIs have been utilized in the banking sector for years, even more so in recent times.

But like other innovations, data sharing raises questions around privacy and regulations in the digital market.

The 2007-2009 financial crisis was a huge eye-opener for banks, prompting governments to install their own initiatives.

OECD cited an example of this with the 2015 EU Payment Services Directive II (PSD2) – a regulation that aims to enhance competition by granting open access to certain types of customer banking data for nonbank licensed providers.

During its research into Digital Disruption in Banking and its Impact on Competition, the NPO mentioned how Japan revised its Banking Act in 2017 to include provisions encouraging banks to open their APIs and facilitating banks’ acquisition of or collaboration with FinTech firms.

Nonetheless, banks can leverage their digital technologies in response to regulatory authorities’ questions by improving both regulation and supervision and, in turn, helping regulators and firms decrease the costs of compliance, OECD recommended.

Implementing Digital Transformation for Business Banking

Customer expectations are growing, and so too should your business if you want to grow with them.

Digital transformation is a given when it comes to business banking. By taking advantage of the huge data pool, businesses can automate processes and reduce costs.

Simple changes such as AI, cloud technology, and automation can help improve services and functionality, resulting in customer loyalty.

Below are the key drivers to consider when going digital:

Customer Needs

Here’s where data aggregation takes the lead. It can be challenging at times, but analyzing it leads to a clearer understanding of who your customer is and your targeted audience.

When segmenting your strategy, consider the following: Which products are generating the most profit? Which of your digital services mostly appeal to your customer? Which new offerings could encourage growth?

The intention here is to offer digital services via targeted marketing.

Cloud-based Systems

Previously, business banking was only sought out by big corporations and brands. It was associated with companies that had clout behind their names. Today, the environment is fast-changing and becoming accessible and inclusionary.

With a complete cloud-based system, banks can close the socio-economic gap by offering full access and functionality to clients, from loan applications to international money transfers.

However, there are setbacks to using this type of technology. Old legacy software systems might not be adaptable to comply with new software. The challenge coming with this is the huge costs involved to ensure a fully integrable system.

Thankfully, there is a workaround – some cloud-based technologies are consumption-based, meaning clients can experiment with them before doing a complete rollout.

Compliance Ready

Regulatory requirements are growing steadily, and to make sure your systems are compliant, you need to keep up-to-date of the latest rules and regulations governing the banking sector.

Dismissing these could lead to costly repercussions, which could easily have been avoided.

Security

In June 2022, Flagstar Bank, one of the USA’s largest financial providers, fell victim to a massive data breach whereby the Social Security numbers of almost 1.5 million customers were leaked.

Initially, the bank failed to disclose how cybercriminals hacked into the system, but investigations showed that the attack may have happened as early as December 2021, highlighting the urgent need for ransomware protection.

The Credit Sussie data leak from February 2022 saw the details of accounts linked to 30 000 of its clients leaked. This resulted in one of the world’s biggest private banks having to do brand damage control after it was discovered some of its clients built their wealth on drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.

Building the Future of Banking

Overall, banks should future-proof themselves by investing in products that give them a competitive edge. This doesn’t only apply to business banking; commercial banks are finding themselves in the same boat, jostling for a larger clientele.

Major trends are reshaping the industry, forcing the sector to evolve instead of fighting against the current. The good news is that digital business banking has embraced rapid change, considering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns the world is currently experiencing.

Australian author James A. Gardner poured his years of experience as a career innovator into his book ‘Innovation and the Future Proof Bank: A Practical Guide to Doing Different Business-as-Usual.’ In it, he discusses in detail how banking institutions can become future-proof by “leveraging the power of the new to establish unexpected revenue lines, or make old ones grow.”

Steps to Success in Digital Business Banking

According to Statista, about 27% of Americans use an online-only bank, and 60% of consumers say they are very interested in using digital banking in the next year.

If your company is not using innovation and the latest technology to snag customers, you’re setting yourself up for failure. How do you go about rewriting your success story?

For starters, by hiring a reliable and professional fintech software development partner, you’re already halfway to reaching your goal.

Intellectsoft is a financial software development company that helps clients accelerate innovation by creating tailor-made software solutions.

Why Choose Intellectsoft?

Specializing in banking and financial institutions, Intellectsoft has a proven track record. Our clients include some of the most prominent brands in the world, including the NHS, Universal, and Jaguar.

Some of the financial software development services we offer are online banking, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, AI and ML, trading and securities, and robotic process automation (RPA).

To Sum Up

One positive that the pandemic produced was the uptake of digital payments. About two-thirds of adults worldwide now make or receive a digital payment, resulting in growing developing economies from 35% in 2014 to 57% in 2021, the World Bank found.

One could look at it as purpose-driven banking, a social responsibility of sorts, which we may add, has been predicted to be another big banking trend in the next decade. Banks that are more engaged with societal issues could have the biggest positive impact.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella once said, “Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the future.”

It’s fitting words, considering the world is always in flux. Reinvention is the name of the game. Ask yourself, can you afford to be left behind? If the answer is negative, get in touch with us to get the most efficient digital business or commercial banking solution.

The post The Future of Business Banking appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

What is Quality Assurance in Software Development?

Quality assurance, or simply QA, is a complex process that covers several stages of ensuring the required standards of quality. In software development, this process involves a wide range of measures and starts long before writing the first lines of code. It includes proper planning of the development process, as well as evaluating, controlling, and testing the quality of a product throughout its creation. QA also covers optimization and reporting routines which will be described later in this article, along with other components of quality assurance.

The Role of Quality Assurance in Software Development

One can safely say that quality assurance is of vital importance in software development. It is true not only because of financial reasons. Though business priorities always revolve around money, QA also protects reputation. A software product with subpar quality can lead not only to financial losses but also to the loss of trust of customers and business partners. This could be a fatal blow to the startup or a company.

As a result, entrepreneurs highly appreciate the importance of QA, particularly in the field of IT. They understand that time and money spent on ensuring the quality of a software product are fully justified. It is highly important to find and correct errors in software as early as possible. The longer those flaws remain undetected and unresolved, the bigger risk they represent and the more difficult it is to fix them.

The role of QA in software development is much larger than just testing and finding bugs. It goes beyond quality control to the field of methodology. In particular, quality assurance deals with means and standards to organize the development process in such a way that prevents the appearance of errors. In other words, QA specialists research how to satisfy the client’s requirements while eliminating potential vulnerabilities and defects. This analysis at an early stage of development prevents a lot of trouble that may arise at subsequent stages.

The Quality Assurance Process in Software Development

Considering its major importance, quality assurance is not performed chaotically but as a strictly specified process. Some people, who are familiar with various models of the software development life cycle, believe that QA is just a step generally called “testing” in this process. However, this common misconception is far from the truth.

Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality assurance extends throughout the whole software development process. Let’s take, for example, a conventional “waterfall” model of the software development life cycle. It has five phases or stages: analysis, design, coding, testing, and operations. The purpose of QA is to make sure that all the processes in those phases are performed according to the respective quality standards.

Product testing is the task of Quality Control (QC), which in its turn is a component of an extensive Quality Assurance (QA) routine. It is a crucial stage before the deployment or release of a software product. However, it is necessary to distinguish QA and QC.

Quality Control focuses on ensuring the quality of a product by performing tests, finding flaws, and correcting them. QC also determines if the product meets the client’s requirements. Testing, bug fixing, optimization, and other aspects of Quality Control must be completed before the product or feature moves to the deployment stage of the development process.

Quality Assurance oversees the processes during software development to prevent errors by abiding standards, implementing efficiency metrics, performing verifications, etc. So, the main difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control is that QA is more extensive and process-oriented, while QC is more focused and product-oriented.

QA Standards for Software Development

To make quality requirements more uniform, engineers have designed specific strict rules and practices to be applied in various industries. The International Standards Organization has a family of standards for quality management labeled ISO 9000. Within this family, the document ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003:2018 sets specific guidelines for implementing the standard ISO 9001 for a quality management system in the field of software engineering.

Most Common Techniques in QA

Quality Assurance specialists have several methods and established processes at their disposal. As an example, five of the most widely used techniques in the context of software development are briefly described below.

1. Standardization. This technique is used to determine whether the product, feature, or process satisfies the applied standard. In this context, the standard in question is usually ISO 9001.
2. Code review. This activity represents the “classic testing” aimed at finding bugs in the code and is most commonly associated with QA. This is one of the crucial steps to prevent flaws from becoming bigger problems at subsequent stages of the software development life cycle.
3. Simulation. This technique allows developers to observe how the simulated program would behave under normal working conditions. This is done when the software build is not ready physically, so a virtual model is created.
4. Functional testing. Specialists use this technique to see what the current build of the software can do in the context of its intended functions.
5. Stress testing. As the name implies, stress testing is intended to show how the software can handle situations that exceed normal working parameters. For example, one of the most common scenarios is the performance of an app when too many users are trying to access it at the same time.

It should be noted that this list is merely illustrative and not exhaustive. Many other techniques can be used for QA purposes, including auditing, static testing, design analysis, etc.

PDCA Cycle in Software Development

One of the quality assurance methods in software development is the PDCA cycle. It is used as a repetitive process of making changes for the improvement and optimization of features and products. The cycle consists of four steps that are repeated until all flaws are corrected. The names of the steps make up the abbreviation “PDCA”:

• Plan. In this step, the specialists pinpoint the problem that must be corrected. If several problems are discovered, then priorities must be established. Each problem or flaw is considered an opportunity to make an improvement. Then specialists set the objectives and design the optimal course of action. They define the schedule with deadlines and assign executives to carry out every set task.
• Do. The plan is set to action. The assigned specialists with the required skills perform every objective according to the plan. This process is monitored, and data is gathered to be analyzed later.
• Check. Now, the actions performed in the second step are analyzed, and conclusions regarding the results are made. If those actions were not enough to achieve improvement, further adjustments are planned.
• Act. The final step is taking an action based on the analysis conducted in the third step and all the data collected during the previous three steps. If the problem is solved, the measures that were taken to fix it are recorded as a solution for further reference. This way, if a similar problem occurs in the future, there will be a proven detailed way to fix it. If the problem still persists, the initial plan and objectives are adjusted based on obtained data, and the cycle repeats until a proper solution is found.

In software development, the PDCA cycle not only leads to the improvement of the product but also enhances the existing methods of Quality Assurance and Control. The documentation of problems and processes helps in finding new solutions and preserving effective ways of finding and preventing flaws. It also helps in teaching specialists about newly invented tools and practices of QA.

Benefits of Quality Assurance in Software Development

Since QA is focused on improving the quality of a software product, it has an immense potential of providing various advantages both for product owners as well as for users. Let’s review the benefits that arise from better quality.

1. Higher efficiency. A top-quality software product runs much better than one with subpar quality. This means that the software performs its intended functions faster, which saves users’ time and improves productivity.
2. Better reliability. QA ensures that the final product is safe to use and can handle prolonged sessions of uninterrupted use as well as stress conditions. For example, a software product will not crash under heavy loads, which prevents data loss or other harmful aftermaths.
3. Improved security. Quality Assurance is essential for providing the best possible protection of confidential data, which is one of the main requirements across all industries. This is especially true for such areas as healthcare, retail, and other businesses that deal with personal information, payments, etc. For example, Quality Assurance is responsible for making a healthcare software application HIPAA-compliant. QA ensures that storages that contain sensitive data are protected from break-ins and the related infrastructure is secure against malicious attacks.
4. Enhanced functionality. As a result of QA processes, the final software product should have all the intended functions as set in the specifications. Quality Assurance oversees the proper implementation of the functions and the correct integration of the software into its working environment, infrastructure, networks, etc.
5. Easier maintenance. QA makes sure that the software product can be easily maintained and adjusted according to changed conditions, if necessary. Even when a client requires a limited set of software features, Quality Assurance specialists should enable the possibility of adding more features in the future. According to QA practices, a software product must be allowed to evolve and improve.

All the listed advantages ultimately lead to one: benefit your business. A quality software product will earn more money for its owners. It will be more effective and easier to use, which will draw more loyal clients. Moreover, a software product created according to quality standards will promote its owners’ business, earning respect and building a good reputation.

Conclusion

As you can see, Quality Assurance is a crucial part of the software development process. Due to its extreme importance, QA must be performed and managed by highly skilled specialists. Moreover, they should be organized into established teams with effective communication, reporting, and feedback, as well as specialized equipment.

If you want to ensure the flawless quality of your product, contact us. Intellectsoft has 15+ years of experience to provide you with a wide range of QA and testing services. Our Quality Assurance engineers will oversee the whole software development life cycle and perform comprehensive testing and optimization. They will make sure that your product is built according to your requirements and in  line with quality standards. Our company is ISO 9001-certified, so the quality of your software will be the responsibility of approved top-tier professionals.

The post Why Quality Assurance is Crucial for Software Development appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

This is why understanding custom software advantages and disadvantages is necessary. By doing this, you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages to determine whether or not customized solutions are appropriate for your overall business needs.

You can choose the best option for your brand using certain prerequisites. This includes the size of your organization, the difficulty of your work, the types of customers you serve, your plans for scaling up, and the profitability of the solution.

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of bespoke software. But first, let’s examine what custom software entails and why business leaders should give careful consideration to this choice.

What Does Custom Software Mean?

The process of developing custom-built solutions involves creating, designing, launching, and maintaining applications specifically for a set of end-users, functionalities, or brands. Comparatively, commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) is a tailored solution with features adapted to generic market needs.

Businesses occasionally require specialized solutions to handle challenges peculiar to their processes or sector. While it may be easier to deploy, COTS just doesn’t solve those problems.

This is why bespoke software has become popular for small-scale businesses and enterprises. However, there are many more custom software benefits beyond customization.

Advantages of Custom Software 

Are you planning to solve a problem in your market? Building a custom-made solution might be your best chance. Below are some benefits of custom software development:

Personalized Solution for Your Brand Only

This is one of the notable advantages of custom-made software over off-the-shelf software. Bespoke solutions allow you to build exactly what your business wants or needs.

This means you can solve a specific problem rather than respond to a generic market. As such, you will differentiate your business and have a competitive edge. You will also have full control over the software, meaning you can make changes at any time, add key features, and implement customer feedback.

More Customer Personalization 

The modern user wants a personalized experience, not a generic-looking service. In fact, 80% of customers are more likely to patronize a business that provides a tailored experience. This is because customers want to feel like they’re being treated as a person.

With customized software development, you can provide more personalized solutions and add value to the business-customer relationship. This is bound to increase customer loyalty, retention, and satisfaction.

Better Return on Investment

Although high cost is one of the disadvantages of custom-made software, there is a better ROI in the long run. You won’t have to pay for unnecessary hardware or pointless features you don’t need. If your software is worth the value, it’s a smart investment regardless of cost.

Scalability and Flexibility

Every business wants to grow. However, using off-the-shelf solutions is as good as setting yourself up to remain stagnant for a long time.

Scaling ready-made solutions to meet company growth or new market demands is almost impossible. They can’t be manipulated at will, and you may infringe licensing contracts if you do.

However, custom software development grows with your business to meet future needs and requirements. You can make changes at any time based on customer feedback, upgrade based on emerging technologies, and conduct regular maintenance.

Seamless Integration

If your business has existing tools or technologies, building custom software facilitates seamless integration. You might want all business systems to communicate with one another or need to create interfaces that make data exchange smoother.

These functionalities are often challenging to find in a ready-built tool, especially due to arbitrary APIs. However, this compatibility can be included in a custom-made application. Although there may be some alternatives for off-the-shelf software to merge with other programs, this integration may not be as seamless as you might prefer.

Enhanced Security 

Since you’re building from scratch, you have control over software security by creating it in. Off-the-shelf software is notoriously easy to hack because they use open-source code and are available to everyone. This means attackers already know the vulnerabilities of such software.

On the other hand, custom-made software is a closed-source project. In addition, your developers can observe secure DevOps even before writing the first line of code.

Improved Software Support

Custom software has the assurance of a reliable technical support team involved during the development life cycle. They can deal with any problem because they are familiar with your software.

You’ll get a swifter response and resolution time as long as you include Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in your contracts.

Note that support is usually out of your hands with ready-made solutions.

Disadvantages of Custom-Made Software

Bespoke software solutions aren’t all roses. There are a few drawbacks to note before you begin development.

Let’s look at the disadvantages of custom software:

High Upfront Cost

Perhaps the biggest flip side to bespoke software is the initial investment. Developing customized software can be expensive because you’re starting from scratch.

While this upfront cost may yield better ROI in the long run, it can be challenging for certain organizations without sufficient finance.

However, the increased productivity your employees will experience, the competitive edge for your business, and the personalization for your customers will rapidly compensate for the expenditure.

Longer Time-to-Market

Custom software can take time to develop and deploy into the market. This can be a problem for businesses that want to get a solution into the market quickly. Depending on your needs and project specifications, it takes around 4-9 months while off-the-shelf software is ready to use.

Bespoke software requires organizations to invest time into providing specific requirements to the outsourcing vendor or in-house development team.

Time will also be dedicated to developing and testing software from a user’s perspective. This may include multiple iterations and bug fixes before getting the desired results.

Risk of Choosing the Wrong Vendor

There is the risk of choosing a wrong outsourcing company to develop your custom software. Unfortunately, picking an unprofessional vendor might cost you even more. This is because you would have invested time and money into a project that won’t be completed or won’t be built to satisfaction.

Choosing a reliable software development partner to outsource your project is essential for the best outcomes.

Why Choose Intellectsoft for Custom Software Development

Intellectsoft is a best-in-class software development company with over 16 years of experience in custom software development across different industries. We have a track record of the world’s leading enterprises and Fortune 500 companies.

At Intellectsoft, our professional services cover software engineering, consulting, and outsourcing. We understand that pricing can be a concern in bespoke software development. As such, we provide a competitive and reasonable pricing model that fits your budget and business needs.

We consider time-to-market, so we provide a dedicated team for your project. Our team of skilled developers is happy to get to work immediately after signing a contract.

You can also check out our client success stories involving small-scale businesses to enterprises. We have provided custom-made solutions to companies in oil & gas, transportation, entertainment, fintech, construction, tourism, and healthcare, among many others.

Final Words

Each organization has unique requirements. Most of them are aware that commercial software won’t live up to their expectations or solve the problems their customers face.

You know your customers’ pain points more than anyone because they are the center of your business. Once you understand the problems your customers face, you’ll be able to develop custom software solutions that address those issues.

As a rule of thumb, you should have software that can accommodate your company’s requirements, which is not always the case with off-the-shelf solutions. This is why businesses hire a development team to build unique applications that satisfy their needs and requirements.

In addition, bespoke software provides customers with more personalization. This is likely to generate higher customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.

Ultimately, the pros of customized software outweigh the cons. Building bespoke software is your best chance to succeed if you want a competitive advantage and make a real difference in the market.

Do you have a big idea in mind? Then you should get the best hands for the job. Our team of experts at Intellectsoft is more than happy to discuss your project.

Regardless of industry or company size, you can trust us to successfully implement your business requirements. Contact us today, and our managers will answer any questions you may have.

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Why IT Consulting Is Important

Even highly successful enterprises can end up losing their dominance in the market or going bankrupt because they have failed to make proper use of digital technologies. One of the most illustrative examples of such a fall is the story of Blockbuster. In addition to bad financial decisions and unsuccessful business models, the company was too late to realize the potential of online services and make them appealing to customers.

On the other hand, Netflix turned essentially the same DVD rental business into an online empire that both distributes and produces digital content. Its success was shaped by the agile business strategy combined with the work of IT experts who advised, planned, built, and enhanced the required infrastructure. Now, thanks to timely IT consults, among other things, the annual revenue of Netflix is about 31.6 billion US dollars, and its users have convenient access to the impressive video library from their mobile devices, smart TVs, etc.

The lack of IT consulting caused many promising startups to crash and burn, burying great ideas and losing investment money. Still taking the video streaming industry as an example, Quiby and LeSports are two well-known failed startups that had the biggest funding. Each of them lost about 1.7 billion dollars of their respective investors’ money.

Any startup or enterprise should take into account the recommendations from both types of experts and treat them as equally important for future success.

Just like business advisors evaluate the financial perspectives of an enterprise, IT consultants focus on the practical implementation of digital technologies. Any startup or enterprise should take into account the recommendations from both types of experts and treat them as equally important for future success. So for the sake of business, it is simply not wise to follow financial advice and disregard the opinion of IT specialists, or vice versa.

What Are IT Consulting Services?

As the name suggests, IT consulting services are when a client turns to software development experts for advice. These specialists usually have significant experience and skills to deal with the hardest questions in their field. They analyze the needs of a client’s business and suggest the most efficient way to solve the existing problems, ensure productive operation, and chart the course for future development. This is a complex process that includes several stages with specific consulting on each of them.

A good IT consulting company always researches the needs and capabilities of each particular client before suggesting a course of action. For startups, for example, a simple mobile or web app might be enough to showcase their features, provide basic functionality, and draw first customers without going overboard with the budget.

For large-scale enterprises, it depends on how “digitized” they want to become. For whatever reasons, some of them intend to remain as “traditional” as possible and stick to “analog” methods with minimum essential digital technologies. Most likely, such businesses will need the same basic services as many startups, unless the consultants persuade them to make more drastic changes in order to fit better in the modern world.

However, many modern companies are not afraid to undergo a complete digital transformation and integrate IT solutions into all stages of operation. This task involves building a complex infrastructure that allows remote monitoring and management. It also binds all activities and departments into one robust network. Correspondingly, the scope and complexity of IT consulting services required for such customers increase greatly.

Stages of IT consulting

As a rule, the process of IT consulting has a certain flow, meaning different sets of services take place in a predetermined order. Generally, experts recognize four main stages of IT consulting:

1. Requirements analysis and feasibility investigation. At this stage, IT specialists take a close look at their client’s idea and define what it is going to take to turn the idea into reality. The experts determine whether it is physically possible to realize the client’s wish and how to do it effectively given the current state of technology. They also estimate the rough budget of the future endeavor to correlate it with the investment fund and intended profits.
2. Solution specification and structure development. After it has been determined that the client’s idea can be realized within the given budget, it’s time to elaborate on its implementation. The IT consultants plan and specify the architecture and structure of the proposed solution, whether it is a single application, several apps integrated into a common platform, or a complex work environment comprising several systems. The experts also determine the optimal tech stack for a solution or for all its parts, if needed. According to the determined set of technologies and the scale of the projects, the IT consultants can also estimate the number of team members required to deliver the solution.
3. Scalability and integration research. Depending on the scope of a project, the consulting specialists should suggest implementing the scalability feature. This way, the delivered solution can be extended and upgraded as the business grows. IT specialists can also foresee and provide the requirements for the future integration of a solution into a system that unifies several modules or applications into a single work infrastructure.
4. Modeling and simulation. When the structure and scale of the solution are outlined, tech specialists can evaluate its behavior under various conditions. These IT consulting services involve careful modeling of the proposed solution taking into account the scale of the business, the stack of technologies, and other factors. Then, this model is tested by simulating possible stress situations to find the vulnerabilities. Ultimately, the IT consultants come up with measures to make the solution more secure and robust against malicious attacks, heavy loads, or other threats.

It should be noted that a customer may order any particular stage separately if they are sure that the rest of the consulting services are not needed. However, it is more beneficial when the whole process is performed without omissions.

Benefits of IT Consulting Services

Now, when we have defined IT consulting services, let’s see how they can benefit your business.

1. You will get a sensible evaluation of your business concept. If you come up with a new business idea, you may be biased and overconfident in your insights. That’s why it is always better to get an outside perspective from a group of experts. This can prevent a financial disaster at the earliest stage before it leads to heavy losses.
2. You will get comprehensive technical advice on the optimal ways to realize your business concept. Simply put, the IT consultants will tell you exactly what types of software and tech you need to get an effective solution. Whether you need a mobile app, a web app, an enterprise management system, or any other software product, the experts will tell you what technologies are optimal for building it and how many developers should be involved.
3. You will get estimated budget calculations. Based on the tech stack and the size of the development team, IT consultants will draft an approximate budget. Depending on your needs, it may include development, deployment, and post-release support.
4. You won’t have to worry about the quality and security of your software solution. IT consultants will recommend putting it to extensive tests to detect weaknesses and find ways to fix them. Usually, the consulting specialists work alongside the skilled developers who will perform this task at your request. Sometimes, IT consultants themselves have the required skills and experience to provide both consulting and development services. If so, they can suggest testing, perform tests, and fix the found flaws in the software. This way, your digital infrastructure will be fool-proof, robust under load or during accidents, and protected against unauthorized access. As a result, your enterprise will have a safe and smooth flow of operations and tightly secured documentation and other sensitive data.
5. You won’t fall behind your competitors due to outdated technologies. The consultants will suggest the ways and the tech to modernize your existing environment with minimum downtime and a reasonable budget.
6. You will increase the productivity of your business. Switching to modern technologies under IT consultants’ guidance will boost the performance of your existing business and processes. New tech requires investments but gives much more in return: higher efficiency, lower costs, less maintenance, and as a result – more potential revenue.

Why Choose Intellectsoft for IT Consulting

Considering the risks and the impact of decisions, IT consulting should be performed by highly experienced specialists who take full responsibility for their advice. Over the last 15+ years, Intellectsoft has gathered a skilled team of professionals to provide a wide range of consulting services, including:

1. Enterprise architecture consulting;
2. Digital strategy consulting;
3. Software requirements consulting;
4. Data security consulting;
5. Emergency recovery consulting, etc.

So, if you need comprehensive research, reasonable opinions, and expert advice, contact us. Our specialists will help you to get a head start with the new business, perform a digital transformation of your existing company, or develop a custom IT solution from scratch for any given task.

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