The software question: customised or standard?

Standard software refers to ready-made software solutions that have been developed for a broad user base. These ‘programmes’ are usually ready for immediate use and cover a wide range of functions that are relevant for many companies. Well-known examples of standard software are ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM systems (Customer Relationship Management) or accounting software.

Customised software, on the other hand, is developed specifically for an individual company. It is customised to optimally support a company’s unique business requirements and processes. In contrast to standard software, every detail is customised according to the wishes and needs of the company.

Unsure which software is right for your company? Let us advise you in a free strategy meeting!

Focus on standard software: opportunities and risks

While standard software provides a proven basis for general business processes, its limitations can lead to problems when it comes to special requirements. It is important to carefully weigh up both the benefits and the potential limitations.

Advantages of standard software

• Cost efficiency: Standard software is often cheaper to purchase as the development costs are spread across many customers. However, this is not always the case, as customised development only incurs costs for the functions actually required. This means that standard software comes with a large number of functions, many of which are not even used, which can result in hidden costs.
• Fast implementation: As standard software is ready for immediate use, the implementation time can be significantly reduced. However, this only applies if no complex customising is required, as this can prolong the implementation process and significantly increase costs.
• Maintenance and updates: Standard software is regularly maintained and updated by the provider.
• User experience: As standard software is used by many companies, the solutions are generally well tried and tested.

Disadvantages of standard software

• Adaptability: Companies can often only make changes to a limited extent, which can mean that specific business requirements are not optimally covered.
• Dependence on the provider: Changes and customisations to the software are often tied to the provider.
• Functionality: Standard software often offers a wide range of functions, but not all of them are always required. At the same time, essential functions that are specifically required for the respective company may be missing.
• Integration: The integration of standard software into existing systems is often difficult, requires compromises and leads to additional costs and complexity.
• Licence costs: Standard software usually requires ongoing licence fees. These costs can add up over time.

Customised software: What are the advantages? What’s against it?

Customised software offers ideal coverage of a company’s specific requirements, but can present challenges when it comes to implementation and maintenance. It is important to weigh up this flexibility against potential complications.

Advantages of customised software

• Adaptability: Customised software is developed specifically for a company and is therefore perfectly tailored to business requirements.
• Innovation opportunities: Customised software allows companies to implement new ideas and functions directly without having to rely on standard solutions.
• Long-term benefits: Customised software is tailored to a company’s goals and processes over the long term. This means that it can grow and develop with the company.
• Ownership of the source code: With customised software, the source code belongs to the company. This makes it possible to make changes and adaptations independently of the original developer and thus to further develop the software at any time.
• Integration: As customised software is developed specifically for a company, it can be optimally integrated into existing systems and processes.

Disadvantages of customised software

• Development time: The development of customised software takes time, which means that companies have to expect a longer waiting period until full implementation compared to standard software that is ready for immediate use.
• Maintenance and support: The responsibility for maintenance and further development often lies with the customer. This requires either internal resources or the commissioning of an external service provider.
• Scalability: Customised software may need to be adapted as the company grows or changes.

When looking at the advantages and disadvantages of standard and customised software, it becomes clear that companies often face the challenge of finding the balance between cost, adaptability and implementation time. At soxes, we offer a powerful option with our KUBE-X development platform, which takes advantage of the benefits of standardisation and allows custom software to be implemented more cost-effectively and quickly. However, it is important to emphasise that KUBE-X is an option, but by no means a must. We respond flexibly to your needs and find the solution that best suits your company.

The advantages of KUBE-X

Companies want to bring their products or services to market quickly without compromising on quality. With our KUBE-X development platform, we guarantee: Fast development with high quality, in which up to 70% of an application consists of standardised, repeatedly tested components. This saves you up to 50% of the costs and increases the security and stability of your software.

With KUBE-X, we can also reduce development time by 40% to 50%. Instead of starting each project from scratch, we use ready-to-use standard functions and concentrate on the individual requirements of your application. This allows us to significantly reduce the time to market while ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.

You receive high-quality software at an optimised price-performance ratio. Standardised components increase security and transparency, while our developers can concentrate on the really important, individual aspects of your project. Find out more here.

In many cases, it is not necessary to strictly opt for one of the two solutions. A combination of standard software and customised software can unite the advantages of both approaches.

Companies can use a proven standard solution for general business processes and enhance it with customised individual software to meet specific requirements. These bridging solutions offer the best of both worlds: the stability of standard software and the flexibility and efficiency of customised software.

Although ERP, CRM and PPS systems cover many functions, there are often specific business requirements that these standard solutions cannot fulfil, as they are designed to meet the general and frequently occurring requirements of many industries. Despite their versatility, standard solutions often reach their limits when it comes to specific, unique business requirements.

Do you want to optimise your existing standard software? Let’s discuss how customised software can enhance your system!

Market development and trends in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the demand for customised software solutions is increasing, especially in medium-sized companies. While standard software is still widely used, more and more companies are recognising the advantages of customised software, which can be better adapted to specific requirements and seamlessly integrated into existing systems.

According to a recent study, the Swiss software industry generated around 20% of its turnover in 2022 through the customisation of standard software and the development of bespoke solutions. The ‘Swiss Software Industry Survey’ (SSIS) also shows that the demand for customised software is also increasing in the public sector, with 20.3% of the turnover of customised software companies coming from public contracts. This emphasises the growing importance of such solutions in Switzerland.