The development of software and its maintenance is sometimes quite expensive. It's almost always more affordable if you could use existing software that already exists. And there really is a lot of software out there. In addition, you can skip the entire development process and testing. You can start right away and take advantage of the benefits. It is therefore always advisable to first execute a market analysis to see if there might already be a ready-made app that you can use.

 

The disadvantage is of course that it is not always 100% in line with your way of working and demand. It is often possible to build a piece of customization yourself and to have it communicate with the existing application. However, the latter can result in unexpectedly high costs.

You also need to pay licensing costs for existing software. Often in the form of a monthly subscription. When this is calculated per user, it can also add up very quickly.

 

If no suitable solution can be found for your company or licenses of other packages are too expensive, it is interesting to develop custom software. This is a longer process, but the advantage is that the software fits perfectly without unnecessary bells and whistles. In addition you are also the owner and you do not pay any license fees.

 

For several years we've also seen a third option: No code platforms. You then pay a a license for a tool with which you can develop and launch an app yourself without the needs for programming knowledge. Well-known systems are Mendix, Outsystems and Betty Blocks. This market is still developing rapidly and the licenses are often very expensive. For companies that only want a simple app, this is often not a smart choice. However, it can also be cheaper in the long run as you don't have to worry about maintaining the code.