Off the Shelf or Tailor Made Which Tech Is Best For Your Business

Off the Shelf or Tailor Made Which Tech Is Best For Your Business No matter what sort of business you are in or industry you serve, the chances are that in some way your company will be heavily reliant on technology. There is a huge range of choice out there, however, which can make the simple task of choosing a piece of software or a tool confusing and bewildering. In fact, one of the biggest decisions you will make as a business owner is your choice between an off the shelf technology or something tailor made and custom built precisely for your needs. The big question is which is best? In this guide, we’re going to run through everything you need to know about the differences between off shelf and custom built technology to ensure you make the best possible choice. Let’s get started straight away with some of the basics. Off the Shelf vs. Custom Built the Key Differences First of all, let’s take a look at what we are talking about. Off the shelf technology refers to products like software that has pre-built integration, are available to anyone, and tend to be sold by vendors to millions of different customers. Think Microsoft Office and you will be somewhere close to the relevant ballpark. Custom built tech, however, is a bespoke solution that is built purely for your business. For example, custom software development companies will look at your exact business needs to come up with a solution that fits you perfectly. As a rule, tailor-made technology solutions are thought to be the more expensive of the two but is this really the case? The cost The idea that off the shelf tech solutions are more expensive than a custom built alternative is simply untrue. The myth stems from the fact that because of their vast reach, off the shelf solutions will often appear to be moderately priced. With a custom build, you will be paying for something developed for you alone, so there will obviously be a cost attached to that. But it isn’t that simple. When you buy generic software, you pay for a lot of features that you just won’t use, whereas, with something made for you, everything is relevant to your business. Furthermore, you have to bear in mind that performance is often an issue with a generic product you have to take time and use resources to seek out the best possible solution for your business, and even then you might not get a perfect match. In terms of value for money and bang for your buck, it is almost always best to take the custom built route. The service Finally, you also need to consider the level of service you will get from each possible solution. As a rule, buying off the shelf means that your business makes up only a tiny fraction of the tech company’s business it simply won’t be their priority to cater to your individual needs. With a tailor-made solution, however, the company will have a smaller set of clients, and a lot more focus on keeping you happy as a result. Conclusion If you are serious about your business, at some point you need to find a system and the technology that works specifically for your business. Off the shelf, solutions may well do a job for you, but ultimately you will be at the mercy of the selling company. Tailor-made alternatives give you more control and power and more value for money. What are your thoughts?