Custom applications have transformed how businesses switch from offline to online operations. With the number of smartphone users increasing every day worldwide, web applications have served the purpose of both a website and mobile application, and developed to be adaptable to all the latest market trends and consumer demands.
We know that every business has specific needs and to fulfill the requirements and boost sales online, custom app development plays an important role in doing so.
In this article, we will be filling you up with a brief overview of custom app development, its types, and its advantages and disadvantages, to give you a clear view of the same and choose the best for your business.
Read: Custom Web App Architecture
But before moving ahead with this article and discussing the same you should be clear about the idea of what you want in your application.
It is essential since it will give you a clearer view of the features and functionalities, the market trends, and demands, along with the budget and technology stack to develop a full-fledged application.
An overview of Custom App Development
Custom app development is what the name suggests - Developing an application that is customized, to meet all the needs and requirements of a client or a business.
Also known as bespoke software, it can also be defined as software designed, developed, deployed, and maintained with a specific set of features, for users and organizations, as specified by a client. It also involves scaling and upgrading software to reach the business goals, to increase revenue over time.
Read: Custom Web Application Design Patterns
Custom applications are usually developed for a single client/business/or a user but are highly preferred by both large-scale and mid-scale companies to increase productivity and manage operational activities along with providing a seamless user experience.
Although there is no such thing that small-scale companies cannot use customized software for their business purpose, it all depends on the requirements. And do not forget developing custom software is an iterative process and also includes risks as well. Further in this article, you will get to know more about it.
Types of Custom Applications
Now that we have a clearer understanding of what a custom application is, you should know about the types of custom software that are available in the market. This will help you to choose the right type according to your necessities.
The different types of custom applications are -
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Content Management System (CMS)
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
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Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP)
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Static Applications
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Dynamic Applications
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Single-Page Applications
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Progressive Web Applications
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eCommerce Software
Content Management System
Also known as CMS, a content management system is an application developed to create, manage, and modify digital content (the content that is available online), without any expertise on the technical end and also without needing to write code. CMS is used for enterprise content management and for web content management.
Read: Tips to Choose a Custom Web App Development Company
WordPress is one such popular example of a content management system, with a market share of 65.1% worldwide.
Pros of CMS are -
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It is easy to use since it has a graphical user interface and even people with limited knowledge can use the software.
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It is accessible anytime and anywhere, enabling users to update content in real-time, without having the need for a developer to do the work.
Cons of CMS are -
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It is highly dependent on widgets and plugins.
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It sometimes affects the site loading speed and performance.
Customer Relationship Management
Also known as CRM software, is developed for businesses with a centralized zone, where they can store customer and prospect data, track customer interactions, and other similar things to build a better relationship with the customers which indirectly helps a business grow. HubSpot is one such popular CRM software.
Read: CRM in Real Estate
Pros of CRM are -
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It enhances efficiency by automating repetitive tasks.
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It also helps in providing better customer service with detailed analysis which helps in boosting sales.
Cons of CRM are -
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It requires staff training and upskilling to be able to use the software fully.
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It might be costly with hidden costs like subscription fees and premium features.
Enterprise Resource Planning Software
Also known as ERP, it is a business management software that helps in streamlining and automating the operations and overall activities in an organization with a system of integrated and centralized applications. It also provides complete accessibility and visibility to the core processes of a business along with the capability to collect, store, manage, and interpret data as per the requirements.
Pros of ERP are -
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It enhances the business reporting capabilities with better tools and real-time information.
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Also aids in providing better customer service, with faster response, quick resolution, and other important activities.
Cons of ERP are -
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It is a bit pricey to develop an ERP software since it includes maintenance, third-party add-ons, implementation costs, and many other important factors which heighten the cost of development.
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It also requires thorough training to understand the business process and functions, along with the knowledge of the technical aspect as well, which might be both time-consuming and expensive.
Static Applications
It is basically a web page developed to display the same information for all users, from all contexts. Additionally, these applications are rendered in the user's browser without any need to process them on the server side.
Pros of Static Applications are -
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It provides improved security as compared to dynamic websites.
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Also, it has fewer or even no dependencies on databases or other application servers.
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Added advantages of static apps include that it is quicker, easier, and cheaper to develop such applications.
Cons of Static Applications are -
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The biggest drawback of static applications is that their content cannot be changed easily, which implies that it requires the expertise of a web developer to update any content on the application.
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It has limited functionality.
Dynamic Applications
It is an application developed to provide custom content for a user based on the results of a search query or some other search request. It is also known as interactive applications since the pages are created for each user in contrast to the billions of static Web pages that do not change.
Pros of Dynamic Applications are -
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It enables a better user experience since it is designed to be very user-friendly by providing a seamless browsing experience to the user.
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It is professional looking and is easy to update and maintain the application.
Cons of Dynamic Applications are -
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It might be expensive to develop such applications for smaller firms.
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It also has additional costs which include the cost of training to make use of the application at its best.
Single-Page Applications
Also known as SPA, it is developed to interact with the user dynamically by rewriting the current web page with new data. The primary goal of developing single-page applications is to make faster transitions which give the user the feel of a native app.
Pros of Single-Page Applications are -
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It has a quicker loading time and provides a seamless browsing experience to the user.
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It eases the development of feature-rich apps.
Cons of Single-Page Applications are -
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It is not SEO friendly, which is a major drawback when ranking on search engines.
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It is prone to cross-site scripting attacks which means it is vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Progressive Web Applications
A progressive web application or PWA is an app-like website designed and developed to deliver a similar experience to using a mobile app or website and is accessible on any device with an active internet connection. Additionally, it is delivered through the web using different programming languages like HTML, CSS, Javascript, and other popular languages. Starbucks and Makemytrip are popular industry giants that use PWAs.
Read: ProgressiveWeb Application Development
Pros of Progressive Web Applications are -
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It provides a seamless experience like a native mobile app and has a faster page loading speed.
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Additionally, these applications are shareable, which implies that users can share the link of the application, which they can install easily on their devices.
Cons of Progressive Web Applications are -
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These applications have no access to app stores, which is why users have to visit the website to be able to access the application on their smartphones.
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It has lower performance as compared to native apps.
eCommerce Software
One of the most popular types of custom applications is eCommerce software. It allows you to operate your store or business online and make every product, good, and service available anytime and anywhere. It also includes tools like inventory manager and other module managers to ease the workflow and increase productivity.
Pros of eCommerce Software are -
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It has a simple and faster checkout process and also caters to the users with multiple payment options, some even support the buy now and pay later option.
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It also helps in retargeting customers and also personalizes the in-app experience for the customers.
Cons of eCommerce Software are -
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The eCommerce market is highly competitive so you require proper research to develop a full-fledged app to stand out in the market along with providing the best user experience.
Advantages of Custom App Development
Developing custom-made software has innumerable benefits which cater to both the business, its client and the end users. It also eases the workflow and other operational activities and additionally also saves a lot of time, effort, and money, plus helps in a higher ROI with a promised development and growth in business and sales.
Read: Mistakes to Avoid in Custom Web Application Development
A few of the advantages of developing custom software are mentioned below-
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The first and foremost benefit of developing custom applications is that it helps you create a unique identity for your business in the market.
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Developing a custom app gives you scalability, which means that you can monitor the growth and other important factors, to help you plan the future of a business accordingly.
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Lets you stay updated with the latest market trends and consumer demands.
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It also lowers the cost to integrate an additional functionality or feature into the existing application.
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It helps you monitor the business operations effectively and efficiently to increase productivity and achieve the specified goals.
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You can also use these apps to promote your business to attract potential customers.
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An added advantage of developing a custom app is that it provides a better way and platform to communicate with fellow workers and teammates to build better relationships in the workplace.
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It also helps you to use the available resources efficiently and in turn, reduces operational costs.
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It eliminates all the possible human errors and also minimizes the amount of paperwork that is done when a business is operated manually.
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Makes your business accessible anytime and anywhere.
The above were just a few of the advantages of developing customized applications, and there are many more that you will come across when developing a custom application. They have innumerable benefits that fit almost every business requirement, helping them to leverage their sales and gain a good customer base.
Conclusion
Above we have mentioned the advantages and disadvantages specifically for each type of custom application and until now you might have shortlisted your type according to your requirements and budget.
But if you still have difficulty in deciding what to choose and what will suit the best according to your requirements then you can hire a development company and they will help you choose the best.