Benefits of Investing in Custom Software Development for Your Business in Dubai

The modern day businesses depends heavily on various software applications and digital tools. In fact the operation of today’s business is nearly impossible without utilizing technology. The software applications range from a simple accounts tool to a complex HRMS and a full-fledged complete Business OS (operating system). Different businesses have different needs, different industry sectors have different norms and standards, hence different level of software are required. However, one thing is sure that all modern day business are using some sort of software tool. It could be even a humble email client, like outlook, that too is a software tool. Or it could be a highly sophisticated ERP system to manage thousands of employees and huge business operations. Businesses in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and all around the UAE tend to be early adopter of the modern technologies. Furthermore businesses and companies from all around the world have presence in Dubai and all around the UAE which raise the competitiveness and diversity of the business landscape in the country. It is the strategic location of the country and its ports along with its highly business-friendly government policies which is and which will keep attracting more businesses, therefore it is important to make your business as much competitive as possible.

Benefits of Investing in Custom Software Development for Your Business in Dubai
Benefits of Investing in Custom Software Development for Your Business in Dubai

The Importance of Technological Advancements in Business

The technology help businesses boost performance and productivity, it streamline internal processes, enhance customer experience, improve product/service quality and it offers better monitoring and tracking capabilities. That is why it is crucial to leverage technological advancements to remain ahead of your competition. When it comes to the software solutions, there are two distinct ways to do that, the commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) solutions and custom software development. Both have their pros and cons, businesses are using various different types of software on different levels and with different complexity and sophistication. For example, if you need an email client, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you can use any off-the-shelf email client. But if you need an ERP, HR System, or a document processing system or an intranet application, CRM, or other such tool, then you should seriously consider your requirements, goals and objectives and then decide which software solution type will serve you best. Every business evolved differently, and it is this difference which attracts your customers. This also means that every business have different goals and objectives with exclusive needs and requirements. Which can only be fulfilled with custom software development, the COTS are standardized applications and doesn’t offer much room for customization.

The Importance of Technological Advancements in Business
The Importance of Technological Advancements in Business

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development for Businesses in Dubai

When business owners, managers or decision makers go with the custom software development they are usually doubtful about the impact of this project. Most of the time businesses are reluctant to go with custom software development because it requires much more time, efforts and in some cases initial cost is also higher comparing to available commercial off-the-shelf solutions available in the market. Here are some key benefits of custom software development for business in Dubai, which will assure them higher success and greater impact than the counterpart COTS.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Customization

One thing that businesses can never achieve from commercial off-the-shelf software solutions is the ability to perfectly align the software with their unique needs and ability to addressing to the very unique challenges they are facing. However the custom software development not only personalize the software solution as per your business needs but it also helps you to address the unique challenges you are facing and tend to deliver exclusive advantages which can gain you great competitive edge. The custom software development project starts with intensive requirement gathering drive, which help the development team to understand all your needs and challenges. That is why the custom software development can deliver more effective software solutions. Furthermore when a software solution is built exclusively for your needs it will also allow you to choose the features, technologies and work flows as per your needs. This also help integrating custom software with your existing IT infrastructure in a nearly seamless manner.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Customization
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Customization

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Cost-Effective

It is a common misconception that the custom software development is expensive, however, that is not true at all. It might seem that the initial cost of the commercial off-the-shelf software solutions is less and they can setup immediately, even within a day or two, however, the COTS have recurring cost, which diminishes with long-term cost-effectiveness and even it makes them much more expensive than the custom software solutions. The initial deployment cost of the custom software development is quit higher, it also require a lot of time and efforts to breathe life into an idea. However, the customized software solutions offers better and cost-effective scalability, customization and very less maintenance cost. There is no recurring cost and you can always get them managed and customized from your internal IT team or any vendor of your choice, thus you are also not limited and stuck to a specific vendor. All these factors results in an exceptionally higher ROI and great future readiness.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Cost-Effective
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Cost-Effective

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Security and Reliability

The security and reliability are few of the most important and crucial factors to consider while deploying a software solution for your business. One of the biggest advantage of custom software development is its ability to let you chose the features and technologies. With the custom software development businesses can chose the top-notch technologies and platforms to ensure highest level of security and reliability. Especially when you want to meet the highest industry standards and regulatory compliances, the custom software development is the best choice. Businesses can not only customize the features but also the frameworks, platforms and hosting environments which assures highest level of data protection. Any security breach or leak of customers’ data can completely ruin your reputation. As the custom software development involves intensive requirement gathering and rigorous testing which makes your custom software apps more secure, reliable and less sensitive towards common technology challenges.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Security and Reliability
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Security and Reliability

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Flexibility and Scalability

In the modern fast-paced business landscape of Dubai, businesses needs are not fixed and businesses have to accommodate for the impact of ever-changing customer needs and technology advancements to remain competitive. The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions can provide a good quick fix to your current needs, but doesn’t offer the flexibility, development and customization that you might be needing in the coming years. On top of that the commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) are designed for masses hence lack the personalization and ability to customization to address your exclusive challenges. However, the custom software development on the other hand can offer great flexibility and scalability. Whether you need to address your unique challenges, or you have sophisticated business needs, you can mold the customized software they way you want. As time pass and your requirements changes or your needs grow you can further add more features and increase the capacity of customized software.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Flexibility and Scalability
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Flexibility and Scalability

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Seamless System Integration

In today’s modern world, the businesses and organizations have become more sophisticated and require a lot many different IT solutions and software tools. In order to effectively execute a task or to ensure seamless business processes for higher productivity and performance it is absolutely essential that all the different software, systems and solutions work in full harmony by enabling seamless communication between them. This communication means exchange of data, information and instructions. This is what is called system integration, it also known as integration or third-party integration. The custom off-the-shelf software solutions only provide limited integration capabilities. However, custom software development will enable businesses to build the software to be more compatible with their existing systems, databases, and IT infrastructure which makes them more compatible and integration friendly. Furthermore businesses can also customize them to achieve their integration objectives.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Seamless System Integration
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Seamless System Integration

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Higher Productivity

The custom software development help businesses to achieve higher efficiency and productivity. There are several factors that help improving performance and efficiency, such as:

  • Custom software development let businesses build the user-friendly software solutions
  • Intuitive user interfaces (UIs) can greatly enhance user experience (UX)
  • Ability to customize the UI and workflows help employees easily adopt the new system
  • Customized feature help employees get their tasks done with higher efficiency
  • Different user groups can have exclusive features which further enhance their efficiency
  • System integration allow minimizing repetitive work and enhance performance
  • Ability to integrate mobile applications can greatly increase accessibility and convenience
  • Customized features and functionalities help improving workflows and business processes
  • Ability to monitor and track performance offers higher visibility

Businesses can greatly improve employee performance by deploying customized software solutions. That is not all, the custom software development offers businesses full control over the working of all features and help them get the desired outcome which can greatly improve internal processes, workflows and help businesses gain higher productivity.

Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Higher Productivity
Key Benefits of Custom Software Development: Higher Productivity

Why Businesses in Dubai should Invest in Custom Software Development?

As I have mentioned above there are several benefits of custom software development which makes it superior from commercial off-the-shelf software solutions. The custom software development help businesses digitalize their internal processes and maximize their efficiency by leveraging the automation. Furthermore when a software is exclusively designed for your business it will fully align with your needs, internal processes and strategic objectives. This makes it more impactful and productive comparing to commercial off-the-shelf solutions.  Here is why a business in Dubai should invest in custom software development:

  • The commercial off-the-shelf software only partially match your business needs, however, the custom software development enables you to design and develop an exclusive solution which fully aligns with your business needs, integrates with your existing IT infrastructure and it also offers long-term service and support.
  • The development process of a commercial off-the-shelf software solution is slow, it only offers upgrades when a large majority of the users need it. However the custom software grows with business needs, any need can be met immediately either by customization or by adding more features and so on.
  • The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions are provided by a vendor or service provider, which offers very less control over various important aspects of the software. However with the custom software development businesses not only have full control over their data, storage and software but businesses also have full ownership rights for their customized software.
  • The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions are designed for masses and the vendor doesn’t have much interest in your exclusive needs or challenges, in fact the vendor follow the industry standards and market trends. However, the for the customized software solutions you get in touch with the software developers, designers and IT specialists who are designing your software application, thus they have better understand of you needs, concerns and challenges.
  • Although the initial cost of the commercial off-the-shelf software solutions is relatively lower, however, there are several recurring expenses. The COTS offer very limited customization but it is very expensive, moreover the scalability too is very expensive. The custom software development of the other hand have slightly higher initial cost, but in long term have no recurring cost, in fact it offers full ownership rights to the businesses and offer more flexibility, customization and easy scalability.

As the market landscape in Dubai is very competitive and dynamic therefore businesses need higher productivity, lower operational cost and better tools to gain greater competitive advantage. And the custom software development can provide all of these.

Why Businesses in Dubai should Invest in Custom Software Development?
Why Businesses in Dubai should Invest in Custom Software Development?

Conclusion

In this modern and fast-paced market landscape in Dubai, where the customer needs are growing endlessly, rapid and sudden change are very common across all industry verticals, businesses need a proactive software development approach to mold and align their tools with the changing and growing needs. The custom software development is the way to design and develop software which are exclusively build according to the business needs and latest industry trends. Furthermore the businesses need to integrate various software and applications in order to improve their operational capabilities and to boost the employee performance. All this can only be achieved with a more flexible and controllable software development method which is only offered by the custom software development. The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions might offer lesser initial cost and are extremely easy to setup, however, in longer run neither they remain relevant nor cost-effective.

The custom software solutions on the other hand has incredible ability to grow as business grows and offer great ROI in long run. In this blog we have covered key benefits of investing in custom software development for business in Dubai and all across the UAE. If you want to learn more about the subject or if you want our help with your next custom software development project, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

Custom Software Development for Healthcare Industry

Healthcare industry and organizations providing medical services are constantly seeking ways to enhance their internal processes, healthcare delivery, patient experience and management capabilities. In today’s digital era, where technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, the healthcare sector is increasingly dependent on digital solutions and IT tools to achieve its goals and objectives. Given that the importance of patient satisfaction and well-being is paramount in every healthcare and medical facility, the global demand for healthcare software development is massive. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands at the forefront of modernization and digitalization in the Middle East, the healthcare industry is no exception. Healthcare and Medical service providers in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and across the UAE are well-known for their world-class services and the highest quality standards. This reputation has been achieved through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and IT tools, with healthcare and medical software leading this revolutionary change. In this blog we will discuss how the custom software development is completely transforming the healthcare industry in the UAE, leading to a new era of efficiency, modernization, innovation and patient-centric business approach.

Custom Software Development for Healthcare Industry
Custom Software Development for Healthcare Industry

What is Custom Software Development?

Before we dive into our main topic, it is important to understand the custom software development. There are two types of software solutions. One is COTs or commercial off-the-shelf software and the other is bespoke or custom software solutions. The commercial off-the-shelf software are ready-made tools, which are designed as per the best industry practices. These software and apps are widely available and are designed for masses. Thus chances are your competitor or industry rival might also be using the same software application, offering no competitive advantage from technology stand point. However, the custom software development on the other hand is not just buzz-word but a complete game changer. The custom software development is a process of customizing a software application as per your needs. This means the custom healthcare software will be designed exclusively by keeping your unique requirements in mind hence it would be able to address to the challenges you are facing while also helping you grab the opportunities no one else could get.  The custom software development ensures that your healthcare software solution is exclusive and meet all your needs, which could give you a great competitive advantage and it is also very helpful in integrating innovative features that are fully aligned with your goals.

What is Custom Software Development?
What is Custom Software Development?

Why Custom Software Development is Important for Healthcare Industry in UAE?

The UAE healthcare sector is a rapidly growing and evolving industry with its diverse and dynamic needs. The government emphasize on high-quality standards encouraging healthcare and medical establishments to adopt more patient-centric practices. The adaptation of the cutting-edge software solutions in the healthcare and medical sector is not just a trend but an absolute necessity. Organizations in healthcare sector want to improve their efficiency, clinical workflows, hospital information system, appointment booking system, pharmacy management, telehealth tools, patient flow management and several other crucial business functions. Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and all other regions of UAE have diversified population with a large amount of expats coming from all around the world. This means the healthcare service demands are increasing exponentially. In such conditions, offering easy access, and personalized experience could greatly increase patient satisfaction. The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions are designed for masses, however, only the customized software development can help healthcare and medical facilities to deal with their unique and exclusive needs. The customized software allow organizations to build solutions that align with their needs and are more efficient in solving their unique problems.

Why Custom Software Development is Important for Healthcare Industry in UAE
Why Custom Software Development is Important for Healthcare Industry in UAE

Advantages of Custom Healthcare Software Development

There are several advantages of custom software development for the healthcare and medical industry which makes them far superior to commercial off-the-shelf solutions. Here are a few key advantages or custom healthcare software development:

  1. Tailored Solutions: Healthcare and medical facilities often have very unique needs due to their internal processes and business practices. With the passage of time hospitals, clinics, medical facilities and testing labs could develop quite unique workflows. It is very difficult achieve the highest possible efficiency with the commercial off-the-shelf solutions as they are made for general audience. However, the custom software development can solve this problem by delivering tailored solutions that 100% match with the unique and exclusive business needs.
  2. Improved Service Quality: The healthcare and medical facilities often had to deal with a variety of different levels of priority based on the medical service urgency and criticality. Hence dealing every customer in a same way is not practical. Therefore healthcare facilities, hospitals and clinics and other medical establishments make policies and develop workflows to facilitate every patient while maintaining an optimum level of service quality. A customized healthcare software application can fully align with existing processes, boosting performance by lifting up employee workload and optimizing internal processes. This results in significant improvement in service quality and patient satisfaction.
  3. Better Patient Experience: The healthcare and medical facilities often have to deal with a bulk of patient data which sometimes could make it difficult to provide information and communication in a timely manner. However, the custom healthcare software development enables organizations to integrate multiple communication channels such as online patient portals, mobile apps, WhatsApp, SMS, email and much more which can instantly provide patient with the updated information. These additional modules not only provide data and information but also help healthcare organizations to streamline several internal process, which can greatly improve patient interaction and journey, lifting up patient experience.
  4. Improved Compliance: The healthcare sector and medical facilities are often subjected to comply with complex regulations and government policies. Most of the time several penalties are also associated with these compliances and regulations. A commercial off-the-shelf software often failed to facilitate the compliance process. However, a custom software development ensures that all your needs and requirements are incorporated in your healthcare software solution which can greatly improve the compliance and your ability to cater to emerging compliance needs.
  5. Innovation and Automation: The innovation and automation are the two key aspects of digitalization. The custom healthcare software development help organizations to offer innovative features for both their patient and their employees which greatly improve patient experience and employee performance. The healthcare organizations and medical facilities can offer more control and freedom over healthcare plans, personalized services and much more by enabling patients to utilize self-service channels to perform various tasks by themselves. All such features enhance patient experience and also boost employee performance.
  6. Flexible Integration: The integration is one of the most crucial and absolutely essential factor to consider while implementing a new software or solution. The commercial off-the-shelf software application usually lack at their ability to integrate with other third-party tools. Often additional cost and efforts are associated with integration. However, the custom software development enable healthcare and medical facilities to customized their software in a way that they can seamlessly integrate with existing software, systems, patient databases and central information management system.
  7. Scalability and Adoptability: The healthcare industry and medical practices are constantly evolving. The commercial off-the-shelf software solutions fall short when it comes to scalability and adoptability. However, the customized healthcare software tools are very flexible towards scalability and adoptability. Businesses can easily incorporate more features or modify existing functions to scale them with their emerging business needs. The ability to add new features and customize the existing features as per the emerging needs can greatly enhance the adoptability and scalability, offering a great competitive advantage without raising the cost. Hence the custom healthcare software development offers much higher ROIs comparing to COTs.
  8. Enhanced Performance: Most of the time the employees working in healthcare industry have to perform repetitive routine tasks and manual work. The customized software development help healthcare and medical facilities to add productive features which can handle most of the routine tasks for the employees, and with the help of digitalization and automation many errors can be prevented which are normally associated to manual work. Furthermore custom healthcare software tools also offer customized reporting and analytical data collection which provide great visibility and monitoring over the entire operations hence resulting in improved human resource planning and better management which can greatly boost the operational performance.

The custom software development offers great advantages. The healthcare and medical facilities can leverage the custom software development to build their own unique brand image while boosting performance, productivity and efficiency of the entire organization.

Advantages of Custom Healthcare Software Development
Advantages of Custom Healthcare Software Development

Conclusion

The healthcare industry and medical services are rapidly evolving and transforming into more patient-centric organizations in the world. The global healthcare industry software industry is rapidly growing showing the importance and effectiveness of the software solutions in the industry. When it comes to software development, the healthcare organization have two way to go, either choose the commercial off-the-shelf software or the custom software development. The custom software development has proven itself to be far superior with its ability to cater to unique business needs while supporting scalability, customization, and growth. The commercial off-the-shelf solutions are generic however, the custom software development offers exclusive tailored solutions. That is why the businesses in healthcare and medical industry are embracing custom software development. Furthermore the customized healthcare software and tools tend to have long lifecycle with ability to quickly respond to emerging needs. In this blog we have discussed how customized healthcare software application can help organizations gain competitive advantage, patient satisfaction and operational excellence. If you want to learn more about the subject or if you want our help to develop a tailor-made software solution for your healthcare organization or medical facility. Please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

Top Trends in Custom Software Development: What’s Shaping the Industry?

Any modern day business runs on a variety of different software and digital solutions. The software and digital ecosystem is considered to be the backbone of modern business landscape. Every business’s day-to-day operation depends on different kinds of software tools. That is true in some industries the software are more important than the others, but in modern day and age, no business can effectively and efficiently operate without leveraging any software tool, even the emails that you use daily are also through a software tool. That is why business invest a huge chunk of their profits in modernizing and digitalizing their various operational processes. When it comes to acquiring a new software solutions there are two ways, either businesses can go for a commercial off-the-shelf software solution or they can go for custom software development. The questions arises which one is better? Well, in short the custom software development is much better than the commercial off-the-shelf solutions (COTS) as it can fulfill your 100% of needs, it offers excellent ROI and enable businesses to mold their software and applications as per their emerging needs. In this blog we will discuss the top trends that are reshaping the custom software development industry.

Top Trends in Custom Software Development: What's Shaping the Industry?
Top Trends in Custom Software Development: What’s Shaping the Industry?

What makes Custom Software Development the Ideal Solution for your Business?

The custom software development offers many benefits and advantages over commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) solutions. The COTS are ready-made software which are designed for masses, the custom software development is dedicated to cater to the needs of a single business. The initial cost of COTS is low, it can be deployed even within in a day. The custom software development on the other hand is a lengthy process. However, the custom software are exclusively designed for the business after doing rigorous research on the business needs, and are fully aligned with the business requirements. The COTS are designed as per industry standards, and mostly failed to fulfill all needs. The custom software development allow businesses endless customization. Whereas the COTS doesn’t offer a flexible customization, in fact the COTS allow very limited but very expensive customization. Which is why businesses either end up using multiple software or they have to replace a software which is not ideal. The customized software are keep on evolving with emerging business needs and doesn’t have any restriction which makes them ideal for businesses. Similarly the customized software are more flexible with integration, upgrades and can evolve according to emerging business needs which make them much superior to the commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) solutions.

See Also: Why the Custom Software Development is Good for Your Business?

What makes Custom Software Development the Ideal Solution for your Business?
What makes Custom Software Development the Ideal Solution for your Business?

Top Custom Software Development Trends that are Reshaping the Industry

In today’s fast-paced markets businesses heavily rely on data and information flow, in fact the information and data is considered to be the lifeblood of the modern technology-oriented business operations. Therefore most of the time when a business needs a new software or application it has to be integrated within their existing digital and IT infrastructure, just like a jigsaw puzzle, every piece should align with each other to form the perfect picture. Businesses utilize a multitude of software, tools, and technologies to drive efficiency and performance in their operations, day-to-day work, and data management. This further complicates the digital ecosystem as multiple technologies, platforms and software types are work collaboratively and in harmony to ensure the desired performance. For example, businesses tend to have ERP systems, performance management system, customer feedback systems, CRL or customer relationship management system, facility management system, inventory management system, accounting system and HRMS or human resource management systems are the few most commonly used software tools. Furthermore businesses use websites, mobile apps, and other digital channels for communication and even to deliver service and support.

See Also: Trends in custom software development in 2022

Top Custom Software Development Trends that are Reshaping the Industry
Top Custom Software Development Trends that are Reshaping the Industry

All different software types, tools, technologies and platforms evolve and transform on a different pace. For example, the ERP systems may evolve quickly comparing to asset management system, and so on. All different software and tools are built on different technologies, different programming tools and with different platforms. Although this might not sound a big problem, but for large enterprises and organizations this could be a very challenging task, however, startups and small businesses who might not have as much diverse digital eco-system doesn’t face much problems with their IT needs. That is why when it comes to a custom software development, businesses must have to seriously consider the technology barriers and integration limitations. Therefore businesses who are planning to implement a new software solution or a business tools must have to consider these facts, or else they should be aware of the latest market trends. Because all top custom software development trends are influenced by all these technological advancements and all external factors which is why if you follow the top trends, you will get a perfect application which not only aligns with your business needs but also with the industry standards and your existing digital ecosystem and this will enable you to leverage your custom software at its full potential and maximize its ROI (return over investments). Here are some top trends in custom software development which dominated the year 2023 and are going to dominate the software development market for many coming years.

See Also: Step-by-step Guide to Develop Custom Enterprise Software

Businesses utilize a multitude of software, tools, and technologies to drive efficiency and performance in their operations
Businesses utilize a multitude of software, tools, and technologies to drive efficiency and performance in their operations

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

A progressive web apps or PWAs are developed using modern web platforms in a way that user can have a user experience like a native or platform-specific apps. Another great advantage of progressive web apps is that a PWA can run seamlessly on multiple platforms/devices, same like a modern websites while having only a single codebase. Thus the progressive web apps or PWAs enables the developers to utilize the native features and security of multiple compatible platforms while having only one codebase. Traditionally the software and apps are developed exclusively for the platform or are platform-specific. This means that if a business have users who are utilizing multiple platforms then they have to develop it separately for all these platforms, each platform will have its native codebase which is not usable on other platforms. This results in developing a similar app for multiple time which undermine the user experience, as each platform could have slightly different user experience, furthermore the business will have to pay for each individual platform which increase the cost too. With the progressive web app (PWA) the users can have a similar experience on all platforms, the business can get them in very less cost, the maintenance, upgrades, customization and updates are very easy and cost-efficient. That is why more and more businesses in Dubai and all around the UAE are embracing PWAs.

See Also: Custom Software Development Progressive Web Apps – Beginner’s Guide

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
Top Custom Software Development Trends: Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Web 3.0 and Blockchain

The Web 3.0 or Web 3 is the third era of internet, it could be as disruptive as the first-age internet was and it could have great potential to completely transform the internet, software and web industry. The Blockchain is a Web 3.0 or Web 3 technology and it is currently in its infancy but businesses all around the world are exploring different ways to integrate it within their existing digital ecosystem. The primary different between the Web 3.0 and the Web 2.0 or what form of internet we are currently using is that the Web 3.0/Web 3 would be open-source, decentralized, and would offer highest level of network security. This means that the fraud and theft would be closer to none, as all the transactions, information and data will be distributed and open to all. The Blockchain is the perfect example of Web 3.0, although it may take it a few more years or a decade to gain significant market share, but it is evolving rapidly and tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta and other key players are already involved in it. The Web 3.0 not only have potential to integrate smart technologies, but it will streamline data flow and communication between people, devices and services which will help developers to overcome several security related problems and will also help businesses to boost automation and efficiency.

See Also: Common Mistakes to Avoid in Custom Software Development Projects

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Web 3.0 and Blockchain
Top Custom Software Development Trends: Web 3.0 and Blockchain

Top Custom Software Development Trends: IoB and IoT

The IoB is the internet of behavior and the IoT is the internet of things. The IoB or internet of behavior is the technology to connect physical objects/devices to the internet and monitor human behavior or how human interact with the environment around them. The IoB is majorly based on behavioral science, IoT or internet of things and edge analytics. The IoB platforms are designed to gather huge amount of statistical and analytical data from multiple sources and leveraging this data to enhance customer experience. The IoT or internet of things connect digital devices via internet and let them interact with each other and based on this interaction or human intervention, the connected devices behaves according to pre-programmed instructions or direct instructions from the human user. This is why it is very useful in IoB as the internet of behavior platforms utilize the data from digital devices, wearable tech, and user behavior on internet via mobile phones or laptop and then utilize this data to enhance user experience and help businesses to improve their communication and solutions according to customers’ needs. The major application of IoB is in customer experience management, e-Commerce, communication, self-service solutions, and SEO (search engine optimization).

See Also: Why Laravel Framework is gaining popularity in Software Development?

Top Custom Software Development Trends: IoB and IoT
Top Custom Software Development Trends: IoB and IoT

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Microservices Architecture

The Microservices Architecture is a custom software development methodology where an application is developed in smaller modules or a collection of multiple smaller services. The Microservices Architecture is also referred as only Microservices. A Microservices software application can call on multiple microservices to perform the task as per user’s instructions. Another important thing to understand is that all the microservices that are used in a single software application are usually loosely coupled and can independently deployed too. This means that these services can be developed by different teams as well. The Microservices Architecture is very popular in custom software development as it allow developers and software engineers to utilize many pre-built or ready-made services and build their software application above these microservices, which speed up the development and delivery process and also allow businesses to get innovative features at a comparatively less cost. Another great advantage of microservices architecture over monolithic software is that businesses can independently upgrade or customize individual component of the software or individual microservice which also help optimizing the maintenance and customization cost and results in more stable product.

See Also: Which Software Development Trends Yield Success in 2023?

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Microservices Architecture
Top Custom Software Development Trends: Microservices Architecture

Top Custom Software Development Trends: DevSecOps

The DevSecOps is a short form of Development, Security and Operations. This method is majorly adopted in custom software development to improve security and performance of the customized applications. The DevSecOps is a method of custom software development where the security features are introduced and implemented at all phases throughout the software development lifecycle. Traditionally the security features are implemented at the end of the software development and usually by a different team who is specialized in software security. However, with the DevSecOps method, the security features are implemented from designing up till software delivery phase including from designing, development, integration and testing phases of the software development lifecycle. This method enables multiple security layers in your custom software applications while prioritizing the security as the primary goal of custom software development. The DevSecOps help businesses leverage the security features of the application and infrastructure while ensuring maximum performance and seamless operation of their custom software application. The DevSecOps method not only ensures ultimate performance but also ensures highest level of security while keeping the cost at the minimum and instead of slowing down the development process, it tends to speed it up.

See Also: How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

Top Custom Software Development Trends: DevSecOps
Top Custom Software Development Trends: DevSecOps

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Artificial Intelligence or AI is the buzz word in today’s world where the ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing Chat, Google Bard, Proplexity, MidJourney and countless others have become internet sensation over the night. Everyone is talking about these tools, especially the ChatGPT have taken the world like a storm. But what does this means for the businesses and how does businesses can leverage the power of artificial intelligence to boost their productivity, performance and quality of the work? Normally the artificial intelligence or AI is referred to a software tool or application which can perform tasks which are normally not performed by ordinary computer programs or which are normally performed by humans. Just imagine you can have a computer software which is capable of analyzing data and information, monitoring a situation and taking decision like a human in real-time, working non-stop and 24/7 with extraordinary ability of processing huge data and numbers which no human can does! This is what artificial intelligence is capable of, it is not just limited to chat bots or automated customer call center, the artificial intelligence or AI can do much more than we can imagine. Although it is still in its infancy, but sooner it will be everywhere, it will become an integral part of software development and its scope and ability to operate will be greatly enhanced.

See Also: Why custom software is more cost efficient in UAE?

Top Custom Software Development Trends: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Top Custom Software Development Trends: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

How Top Trends in Custom Software Development can Help your Business Grow?

Businesses often are not familiar with the custom software development trends, which results in using technologies and platforms that are fading away or losing the edge they might have had a few years back. That is why it is important to know the latest software development trends as well as emerging trends so your bespoke software remains relevant for many coming years and yield you the best ROI. Mostly software trends comes and goes, but only a few stay, for example, the world is slowly adopting to AI and moving toward cloud computing, and it seems that in coming years these two technologies will grow exponentially, that is the reason major giant technology companies are investing huge in these two sectors and for the matter of fact many more such trends are here to stay for long. All the technological advancements in custom software development and enterprise solutions are aimed to streamline data and communication, drive automation and to boost performance. Businesses can gain a great competitive advantage by leveraging the latest trends and technologies in software development. Therefore it is important to follow the right trend and develop such applications which can evolve with your emerging and upcoming needs. Choosing technologies and trends that are fading away will limit your software’s ability down the road and will compel you to a point where you will have to replace it with more modern and efficient technology. That is why it is crucial for businesses to follow the popular trends in custom software development.

See Also: Importance of Custom Software Development in Dubai

How Top Trends in Custom Software Development can Help your Business Grow?
How Top Trends in Custom Software Development can Help your Business Grow?

Conclusion

Businesses need customized software tools to boost their operational performance and capabilities. A good software tool can provide a great competitive advantage, however, it is important to understand that deploying a software is not the only part, in fact you should consider the future needs, customization and the technology you are using. It is important that the software you are implementing will remain relevant for coming years too, the technology and platform it is based on should also grow so it can support your future needs and it can support your growth. For that businesses should follow the latest custom software development trends. A custom software development requires a lot of time and resources, which means repeating the same after a year or two is not good at all. Therefore if the software you will develop based on latest and emerging trends can remain relevant for many years and offers you a great ROI over a longer period of time. In this blog we have listed top emerging custom software development trends which are not only emerging but gaining huge popularity and are meant to stay for many coming years.

If you want to learn more about the top trends in custom software development or if you need any help with your upcoming custom software development project, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

See Also: Guide to Custom Software Development

Why Off-the-Shelf Solutions Fall Short: Advantages of Custom Software Development

The customer demands are rising, the competition is getting tougher day by day. Businesses are seeking tools and ways to gain competitive advantage to stay relevant in the market. UAE in particular is a highly advanced nation, with almost 99% of the population having access to internet. Businesses operating in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and other parts of UAE are well-aware of the importance of the digital experience. Whether it is your customers or employees, the digital interaction and platforms are dominating the modern day business landscape. Businesses wants to grow continuously and they want to optimize their operations and expenses to maximize the performance. High performing businesses not only grow rapidly but also achieve higher profitability. With the rise of technology the software have become an essential part of a business’s day-to-day operations. It is hard to comprehend if a business can survive on manual paperwork and management practices in this modern day and age. Typically any business tool or a software requires updates or upgrades after a few years, in some cases some software applications are entirely replaced with new more robust and innovative solutions. This is an ongoing ordeal, businesses regularly have to face situations where they need a new software application.

See Also: Custom Software Development Trends

Why Off-the-Shelf Solutions Fall Short Advantages of Custom Software Development?
Why Off-the-Shelf Solutions Fall Short Advantages of Custom Software Development?

What is the Difference between Custom Software and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software (COTS)?

When a business needs a new software they have two options, either they chose a ready-made commercial off-the-shelf solution or they get a custom software exclusively developed for their business needs. The custom software are the software that are developed for a particular user group or for a particular business, these tools and apps are developed to meet the design and functionality requirements of the business. However, the COTS or commercial off-the-shelf software are designed for a broader user-base, typically these software are general purpose or designed for a specific industry only. This is why when it comes to aligning the business needs with the features of the COTS, the ideal scenario is to choose a software that matches your 80% of the needs. The COTS can be purchased as a one-time charge or on a subscription based plan. The off-the-shelf software have comparatively less initial cost, and they are can easily deployed. A business can have a commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) solution running within a day or two. However the custom software solutions are difficult to build, require research, have longer development time and could require months to test and deploy for the end-users.

See Also: Why the Custom Software Development is Good for Your Business?

What is the Difference between Custom Software and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software (COTS)?
What is the Difference between Custom Software and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software (COTS)?

What are the Advantages of Customer Software Development?

Now the question arises why the custom software development is gaining popularity and why businesses are preferring bespoke solutions over the commercial off-the-shelf solutions? Here are the key advantages of the custom software development which make them superior from off-the-shelf solutions.

Advantages of Customer Software: Unlimited Customization

One of the biggest advantage of a custom software development is that it offers unlimited customization. The COTS offer limited functionalities and in some cases there are different packages and plans with a different set of functionalities. Sometimes for just one or two additional functionalities a business might have to purchase a higher tier which also comes with a lot many other features which are not required or never utilized, but still the business will have to pay for them. The custom software development on the other hand is very flexible and offers unlimited customization, a business can have any features they want and as many features they need. There is no limit or restriction with custom software development, which enables businesses to build innovative features and align their software applications with their needs. The entire solution is built around the very specific business needs and requirements. Hence there is no gape left and the business can leverage the full potential of their software application. Adding a new features, or customizing an existing feature is not a problem at all. Businesses have full control over customization and they can also make the GUI aligned with their needs which also increase effectiveness and performance of the custom software.

See Also: Why custom software is more cost efficient in UAE?

One of the biggest advantage of a custom software development is that it offers unlimited customization.
One of the biggest advantage of a custom software development is that it offers unlimited customization.

Advantages of Customer Software: Flexible Upgrade and Scalability

The commercial off-the-shelf solutions are owned by the vendor or service provider, they only update them when they want. If your business grows and you needs increases you will either have to pay additional cost for scaling your software up or in some cases you might have to switch to an entirely different solution. This could be very expensive and problematic. However, the custom software development offers a great advantage, the entire software is built exclusively for your business hence you are the one who owns it, the entire software, and source code belongs to you. So, a business can have full control over it, they can customize it, scale it up, expand features, and upgrade the software whenever they need or want. You don’t have to bear hefty fees or you don’t have to switch to entirely different solutions in order to meet the increasing demands. The COTS are designed for a large user-base and they are designed as per industry standards, hence unless there is a large demand from most of their customers, they usually don’t make huge changes in their software. That is why sometimes when businesses are growing their needs are expanding and they need certain features they will have to migrate to entirely new software. Which is very time and effort consuming and also have huge cost.

See Also: How to Choose the Right Software Development Vendor for Your Business

The commercial off-the-shelf solutions are owned by the vendor or service provider, they only update them when they want.
The commercial off-the-shelf solutions are owned by the vendor or service provider, they only update them when they want.

Advantages of Customer Software: Easy Integration

One of the biggest challenge in implementing any new software application is the integration. The modern businesses rely on a highly integrated IT infrastructure and digital eco-system where information and data can flow seamlessly and made available for all users when then need it. The integration allow different software applications to communicate with each other in real-time and ensure all the users have the information they need and whenever they need. This is why the integration is usually one of the most crucial aspect of software development. When a business goes for a commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) solution the integration options are always limited. This is why businesses sometime have to migrate and synch data manually which slow down several internal processes and it can interrupt various work-flows. However, with the custom software development the entire source code is in your control, you can mold it in any way you want and you can customize it to align with your integration needs. The capability of easy integration makes custom software far more superior than the COTS. Furthermore businesses can also customize their software whenever they are adding a new tool or software to their digital eco system which increase the compatibility and lifecycle of your custom software application.

See Also: How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

One of the biggest challenge in implementing any new software application is the integration.
One of the biggest challenge in implementing any new software application is the integration.

Advantages of Customer Software: Data Privacy and Security

In today’s modern world the data privacy and security is one of the most important aspect of any software application. Any data leak could completely destroy a business, and we have witnessed huge enterprises falling and bankrupting after serious data breaches. From the customer standpoint if a business is unable to secure their data and is vulnerable to security breaches, they will immediately lose trust. Which could be devastating for your business growth and even it could jeopardize your business’s survival as well. When we think about the commercial off-the-shelf software solutions, we know that these solutions are offered by large and multinational service providers, who have top-notch security experts and tools at their disposal. However, the history has proven this wrong, we have witnessed mega security breaches and attacks on large enterprises in past. This is not due to negligence or any wrong doing at their end, usually the biggest reason of such breaches is that these large software are available for masses all over the world, which somewhat exposes their structure and make them more vulnerable. However, the level of exclusivity offered by custom software makes them unique, which means no one outside your team will have access to the important sections of your software. Above all your data will be stored with you and will not be hosted on a remote server which might be located on the other side of the world. This is what makes custom software more secure and offer higher levels of data privacy and protection.

See Also: Common Mistakes to Avoid in Custom Software Development Projects

In today’s modern world the data privacy and security is one of the most important aspect of any software application.
In today’s modern world the data privacy and security is one of the most important aspect of any software application.

Conclusion

Software are an essential part of modern day business operations. No matter which industry you belongs to or what is your business model, you must be using some kind of software applications to boost efficiency and productivity. Even the Microsoft Office we used on daily bases is a commercial off-the-shelf solution. The modern day businesses need to be proactive in order to meet the rapidly changing markets and ever-increasing customer needs. For that businesses needs a lot of different software applications and digital solutions. With the passage of time the businesses grow, hence they need highly scalable solutions to support their growth. Furthermore every business have different needs, different preferences and unique culture which requires unique solutions. When a business decides to implement a new software, they have two routes either they can chose a commercial off-the-shelf software solution or commonly known as COTS, or the business can acquire the services of a software development agency in Dubai, and go for the custom software development project. The custom software development offers many advantages such as the software is fully aligned with the business needs, it is exclusively built for the business keeping the user-preferences in mind, and furthermore the custom software offers flexible integration, scalability and unlimited customization which makes them ideal for the modern businesses.

In this blog we have discussed a few advantages of the custom software development and why the off-the-shelf solutions fall short on certain aspects. If you want to learn more about the subject or if you want our help to build a custom software application for your business, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

See Also: Guide to Custom Software Development

Why Laravel Framework is gaining popularity in Software Development?

The digital eco-system is evolving at a rapid pace, businesses will have to keep up with the changing trends, customer demands and competition in order to ensure growth and stability. A modern day business needs a variety of software tools and applications in order to maintain required productivity and performance. Business management software and tools not only help improving operations, but they also help minimizing the cost and help businesses drive innovation which gets them a great competitive advantage. Here in Dubai and anywhere else in UAE businesses knows very well that how competitive the markets are and how demanding customers could be. In order to maintain a steady growth in such environment businesses need to level up their game which is impossible without implementing right software tools and digital solutions. This need gives rise to software development industry in the country, especially the customer software development. The customized software are exclusively designed for businesses to fully align with their business needs and vision. Furthermore the upgrading and customization is a fundamental need of any custom software application.

Why Laravel Framework is gaining popularity in Software Development
Why Laravel Framework is gaining popularity in Software Development

What is Laravel Framework and Why is it So Popular?

When we talk about custom software development it is extremely important to choose the right development tools and frameworks. These days with the rise of cloud and in-depth integration of smartphones, the web-based software applications are gaining huge popularity, as they are cost-effective, require less time to develop and offer better customization and scalability. The PHP (general purpose scripting language) is one of the most commonly used programming language. We have witnessed the emergence of hundreds of different PHP frameworks over the period of last two decades. The Laravel Framework is one of the most popular framework of PHP programming language. The Laravel Framework gained this popularity due to its modular development approach, easy scalability, high efficiency and innovative functionalities. The major architectural pattern of the Laravel Framework are based on Symfony, which is an open-source PHP library featuring reusable components. The Laravel Framework is also open-source and free to use which made it best alternate to CodeIgniter, which is another rapid development framework used for web-based software development. The Laravel Framework offers more convenience, easy-to-use tools and components which makes it the most popular PHP Framework.

What is Laravel Framework and Why is it so Popular
What is Laravel Framework and Why is it so Popular

What makes Laravel a Perfect fit for Modern Software Development Needs?

The modern software development industry requires more robust, efficient and scalable applications which extend the lifecycle of the software and enable businesses to keep improving their applications over the time. Here are some key features which makes Laravel Framework a perfect fit for the modern software development needs:

  1. Process Automation with Packaging System: Laravel Framework enable packaging multiple support tools and software along with ability to add pre-built libraries which help developers achieve process automation in their web-based and custom software applications. Laravel uses an advance dependency manager, a composer which manages all the packages and information needed to manage these packages and allow developers to automate processes.
  2. Object-Oriented Approach and MVC Architecture: One of the best advantage of using Laravel Framework is that it uses MVC or model, view and controller architecture along with exceptionally easy object-oriented syntax.
  3. Advance File System and Distributed Environment Support: The Laravel Framework have in-built support for multiple file system and it can support local storage, cloud storage and rack-space storage. On top of that the Laravel Framework offers easy-to-use APIs which remain same for all the systems and also enable developers to use all three file systems as a distributed environment.
  4. In-built Authentication and Authorization System: The Laravel Framework offers in-built configurations for the authentication and authorization system. The developers can implement authentication and authorization to their custom software application by using only a few simple commands which saves time and is very simple-to-use.
  5. Enable Real-time Data with Broadcasting Feature: The modern-day software applications requires a lot of real-time data broadcasting between the server-side and client-side. The Laravel Framework offer an in-built Events and Broadcasting features which enables software developer to implement real-time data and live feeds in their customized applications.
  6. In-built Command Line Interface (Artisans Console): The Laravel Framework offers an exclusive in-built command line interface, named Artisans Console. The Artisans Console allow developers to easily publish packaged assets, migrate databases, seed and generate boilerplate code for controllers and models. The Artisans Console also support custom command which gives developer more control.
  7. Advanced Task Scheduler: The Task Scheduler was introduced along with in-built command line interface, Artisans Console. The Scheduler utilizes Cron Daemon to execute a single Artisans Console job which executes the configured tasks. This enable developers to easily do programmatic scheduling of the periodically executed tasks.
  8. In-built Object Relation Mapper (Eloquent ORM): The Laravel Framework offers one of the best object relation mapper, known as Eloquent ORM and it comes as an in-built utility. The Eloquent ORM allow developers to use expressive syntax to manage database relationships and to interact with database objects.
  9. Blade Template Engine: The Laravel Framework comes with highly effective in-built templating engine, known as Blade Template Engine. Blade Template Engine also offers internally mapped control structure for PHP counterparts such as conditional statements and loops, etc. It also enable combining one or more template to produce resulting views with a data model which can greatly improve the performance of the software application.
  10. Multiple Testing Modes: The Laravel Framework offers in-built unit testing functionality featuring multiple tests to prevent and detect regressions in the framework along with ability to integrate PHP unit testing framework. The Artisans Console, command-line utility can also be used to run unit tests on the application.

Above are some of the most commonly-used features of the Laravel Framework which make it superior to other open-source PHP Frameworks.

What makes Laravel a Perfect fit for Modern Software Development Needs?
What makes Laravel a Perfect fit for Modern Software Development Needs?

Highly Advanced Out-of-the-box Official Laravel Packages

Here is a list of official Laravel Packages which can make integration of different features super-easy with the application built on Laravel Framework:

  • Laravel Passport: The Laravel Passport allow user authentication via API while utilizing the OAuth Server. The API uses token and the Laravel Passport enables full OAuth Server implantation with simple steps which takes only a few minutes.
  • Laravel Socialite: The Laravel Socialite is an excellent package to easily implement login and authentication mechanisms via social media sites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, GitHub, etc. for your customer software application.
  • Laravel Horizon: The Laravel Horizon is a highly effective intuitive monitoring tool which enables both dashboard and code-driven configurations. It is used to monitor the output of a job along with time required to execute the job and it also tracks job failures.
  • Laravel Cashier: The Laravel Cashier is a great in-built package which is used for e-Commerce and payment-based software applications. The Cashier is used to manage coupons and invoices and offer a full toolkit for managing subscription billing services.
  • Laravel Envoy: The Laravel Envoy simplified the automating the common tasks using minimal and simple syntax. The Envoy utilizes a similar syntax as Blade template and it makes it easier to setup tasks and utilize Artisans Console commands.
  • Laravel Scout: The Laravel Scout is a full-text search engine which utilizes the Eloquent ORM model along with Angola as its default driver which offers excellent service. The Scout also support custom drivers to enable improving the full-text search functionality.

The features and out-of-the-box packages offered by the Laravel Framework are better than any other available open-source PHP framework which is the main reason of its popularity in software development.

Highly Advanced Out-of-the-box Official Laravel Packages
Highly Advanced Out-of-the-box Official Laravel Packages

Top Software Development Trends which will Increase the Demand of Laravel Framework in Coming Years

The Laravel Framework is trusted by millions of businesses and developers all around the world and it is known for developing high-performing and featured-rich custom web-based software applications. Here are the top software development trends which will definitely increase the demand of the Laravel Framework in the coming years:

  • Rising Demand for Multi-device Integration
  • Emerging Trend of IoT Implementation and Integration
  • Rising Demand of Intuitive User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UI)
  • Emerging Trend of Blockchain, Digital Payment and Crypto Currency
  • Security, Encryption and Password Protection
  • AI Enabled Customer Service Chatbots
  • Rapid App Development and Cost-optimization
  • Increasing Popularity of Cloud-based Software Applications

These top trends of software development industry are indicating even higher demand for the Laravel Framework in the coming future which is also sensed by the software development industry and that is why the popularity of the Laravel Framework is rapidly increasing.

Top Software Development Trends which will Increase the Demand of Laravel Framework in Coming Years
Top Software Development Trends which will Increase the Demand of Laravel Framework in Coming Years

Conclusion

It is important to understand that whenever a business decides to develop a customized software application they have certain goals that they want to achieve with it. However, there are certain things which every business wants in their software applications such as the software application should be fast, feature-rich, intuitive, have high compatibility, integrates with existing infrastructure, have low cost, develops quickly, require less maintenance and easy to operate. These are some fundamental requirements every business have in mind when they are planning to develop a custom software application. Here in Dubai and all around the UAE you can find tens of hundreds of software development agencies who can build your customized software applications with the desired features and functionalities. However, it is important to understand that your software application should be have certain capabilities such as easy-integration, low-cost scalability, simple upgrade and customization and should be able to stay relevant for coming years.

The Laravel Framework is the excellent if not only choice to achieve the same. The Laravel Framework is open-source, the skilled developers are available easily, and it packs a tons of modern and highly advanced features which makes it the perfect choice for the customized web-based software application development and that is the reason why the Laravel Framework is rapidly gaining popularity not only in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and other parts of UAE but all over the world. If you are interested in learning more about the subject or if you want our custom software development service for your next game-changing software application development, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

Many businesses and organizations in Dubai and all around the UAE are using customized software solutions. There are a few reason why a business decides to go for a customized software development instead of acquiring a ready-made off-the-shelf software solution. The biggest reason is the untraditional needs and requirements, the second reason is the other challenges such as cots, maintenance, and longevity. For off-the-shelf solutions usually the software solution provider offers a subscription base model, which means that there will be some monthly, quarterly or annual fee. Along with that the biggest problem is with the customization, integration and other data security issues are also big concerns.However, with the customized software development a lot of such issues can be avoided. The customization help businesses to implement their innovative ideas and get very specific solutions for their untraditional and very unique needs.

How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

The customized software development also offers proprietary rights to the customer which means that there is no regular subscription fee. With the ownership of the application the business is free to acquire any other third-party company to do the customization and modifications in the future and such approach makes it all very convenient and cost-effective. On top of that the custom software development doesn’t require any change or adjustment in the on-going business processes and practices, in fact it aids them and help businesses perform well. The custom software development allow businesses to leverage the full potential of the software solution or application. There is another most compelling reason to go for a custom software development which is the innovation, as the markets are evolving very rapidly, trends are changing more frequently and there are other such factors which compelled businesses to prefer custom software development over traditional off-the-shelf or ready-made software solutions.

How to Develop a Custom Software in Dubai?

In this blog we will cover how a business should execute a great custom software development project to get an efficient and good quality solution:

  1. What is Custom Software Development?
  2. The Benefits of Bespoke Custom Software Development
  3. How to Execute a Custom Software Development Project?
  4. What are the Custom Software Development Methodologies?
  5. How to Choose Right Software Development Company in Dubai?
  6. What is a Customer Software Development Agreement?

What is Custom Software Development?

Around two decades ago the software development market was dominated by the COTS or Commercial Off-the-Shelf solutions. Now a day’s the businesses have liberty to have a customized tailor-made software solutions as well along with COTS software solutions. By definition a custom software is a software or tool that is designed to be used by a particular group of people or a company.Businesses usually go for an off-the-shelf software solution for their day-to-day needs however, in the every changing dynamic market like Dubai, UAE the businesses need to evolve very quickly if they want to stand out of the crowed the need higher maneuverability which is only possible with a custom software development solutions. That is why more and more businesses are considered replacing traditional off-the-shelf or COTS solutions with custom software solutions and tools.

What is Custom Software Development?

The Benefits of Bespoke Custom Software Development

In the recent few years in Dubai and all around the UAE the custom software solutions are proving to be more robust, agile, future compatible and budget friendly. However, there are still a lot of businesses who are reluctant to start any custom software development project. That is why we are listing here some key benefits of bespoke custom software development:

  • Higher Efficiency: The custom software are developed according to the needs of the business, hence the tailor-made solution is completely aligned with the existing business processes and business functions, which means it aids the existing business processes and doesn’t demand from business to make adjustments and changes in their processes and functions, which significantly increase the performance of the business.
  • Easier & Quicker Adaptation:Since the custom software is designed for a particular business and it builds the UIs as per the need and requirements of the users so, a wider, organization wise adaptation requires less efforts and less training and learning time. The employees or users doesn’t have to make any change or adjustments in fact the custom software is already programmed as per their current working methods, which also make adaptation easier, quicker and comparatively less costly.
  • Very Flexible Integration:The COTS (Commercial Off-the-shelf Software) solutions are very rigid towards data integration and in some cases they don’t even allow integration. However, a customer software is very flexible towards the integration and there is absolutely no limit or restriction. The business have full control over integration and it is also less expensive comparing to the COTS solutions.
  • Scalability: The custom software development provides more control over the application and its source code, which enable businesses to keep adding new features and enhancing existing as and when the need arises. With the growth of the business the custom software also grow hence the lifecycle of a customer software is also extended which results in higher ROIs. Business don’t need to replace the entire software for a long time, in fact they can update and upgrade the custom software to keep it relevant for a lot many years in future.
  • Better Competitive Advantage: A customer software is solely developed for a business or organization and that business have full ownership rights over the software, it means that none of your competitor would ever be able to acquire the same software. Furthermore the features and functionalities that you might be utilizing would remain confidential, all your business processes and a lot many other details will remain private.
  • Vendor Independence: The business or organization who is acquiring a software development company to build a custom application for them have full ownership rights and will get all the source codes, resources, and material and they can anytime shift to a new vendor to get support or customize the application further. Businesses can even utilize their in-house teams for maintenance and customization as well.
  • Cost-Effective: The custom software development is a one-time cost. There is no licensing fees or annual fees or anything like that. Business can add more users, features and do the customization without paying any licensing fees or getting into new agreements or something like that which makes customer software development more cost-effective and usually the custom software and tools tend to offer better ROIs in the long term.
  • Resale & Profitability:Since the custom software is exclusively developed and designed for the business, the business have full ownership rights to sale, distribution, trademarks, and also the entire software and all its source code, IP, resources, etc. The businesses can start selling the same application to their partners, subsidiaries and even in the open market as well to generate profits.

The Benefits of Bespoke Custom Software Development

How to Execute a Custom Software Development Project?

There are several project execution methods that a business and customer software development company can choose with mutual agreement. However, there are certain stages of a software development project that should be done in a proper manner to ensure the final product will be able to fulfill the expectations and needs of the business.

  1. Phase I – Requirement Gathering:This is the most important phase of any project and it is also called discovery phase. During the requirement gathering phase the business’s owner or top management identify the need and challenges employees are facing and what would be the best solution to rectify them. Firstly the feedback and opinions are taken from the employees, managers and relevant stakeholders, then the vendor get involved and many meetings or sessions are held to finalize the requirement for the customer software application.
  2. Phase II – Formulation of the Scope Charter and Project Plan: The next phase is to put all the requirements in a bit more technical manner in a single document or set of document and those documents will serve as the scope of the work for the software application. This document includes detailed information about all the features and functionalities that are required along with the technologies that can be used, prerequisites and also dependencies and inputs required from the business in order to complete the project. A complete project plan with milestones and respective completion dates is laid down and both parties should agree on that.
  3. Phase III – Wireframe and UIs: The next phase is to prepare wireframes and design the UI/UX or user interface and user experience. The wireframes provide a detailed layout and flow of all the functionalities whereas the UI and UX provide the actual look and feel of the final product. These two phases are very important and it is better to share the wireframes and UI/UX designs with the users and stakeholders to get their opinion.Thispractice make the software more intuitive and user-friendly and ensure a better user experience which is a key to better performance.
  4. Phase IV – Development: This is the actual development phase where the software development company develop the source codes, algorithms and logics into the application. This phase can be done in a single go or in multiple phases where each phase is marked as a milestone in the project plan. At this stage the programmers do the actual programming of the software by adding and connecting the fragments of the software to form a single functioning application.
  5. Phase V – Technical Testing: The technical testing is usually done by the software development company and its internal teams, such as quality control, project manager, business analysts and other relevant personals/teams. In some cases the software development company also involve the business’s technical team as well to ensure everything is as per the plan. Security and penetration testing can also be done at this stage.
  6. Phase VI – UAT: The UAT or User Acceptance Test is the final stage when the customer software is migrated to a real-life environment from the production environment and the custom software is made available for the selective teams from the business who test each and every functionality and feature of the customer software and formal approval and sign-offs are also done.
  7. Phase VII – Beta Launch: The beta launch or soft-launch is the pre-launch phase where the customized software is made available for the selective users such as managers, supervisors, selective employees and their feedback is taken about the user experience and technical aspects of the software. Sometimes the user training is also done at this stage which is good.
  8. Phase VIII – Launch:Once the software made through the beta launch it is time for the full launch. In the full launch the customer software application is deployed on the commercial server or the real environment where it is intended to host and it is made available for all users all across the organization.

How to Execute a Custom Software Development Project?

What are the Custom Software Development Methodologies?

There are different methodologies all across the world, some are using them and some aren’t. It really doesn’t matter much if you acquired a good software development company, as they will be able to guide you with that. Sometimes the businesses can also demand to follow a particular methodology from the customer software development company. Here are the most popular software development project execution methodologies:

  1. Agile:It is a purely iterative method of developing customized software and applications. The software application is done in several different phases. And at the end of each milestone there is a collaborative discussion to evaluate the outcome and to align it with the project objectives and desired features.
  2. Waterfall: The waterfall project execution approach is a very simpler, linear and sequential model for customize software development project. If a business doesn’t have sufficient project management team or the team is not much familiar with the process, the Waterfall method is great to make things easier and more convenient.
  3. DevOps: The DevOps stands for development and operations, the method involves more aggressive communication tactics which ensure a maximized collaborative communication process between the Operation Managers and technology experts/developers. Hence the final outcome is far superiors.
  4. Scrum:The scrum is also an extension of the Agile methods, it involves regular communication between the engineers and technology experts. A detailed project plan is formed beforehand, deadlines are set and the project is complex but need to be completed at as soon as possible. It is the easier way for the businesses to get a highly productive software development applications.

What are the Custom Software Development Methodologies?

How to Choose Right Software Development Company in Dubai?

When it comes to selecting a vendor or service provider for the custom software development project, the business in Dubai and all around the UAE faces one big challenge, which is that there are too many vendor and software development service providers. In such case, it is very difficult to choose the right customer software development company in Dubai, UAE. Here is a list of some key features that you should look to evaluate a customer software development company in Dubai:

  1. Location: The customer software development company should be located within the Dubai or any other emirate of UAE.
  2. Company Size: The company size also matters, a lot, make sure the company have enough resources to and skilled staff to be able to deliver the project in timely manners.
  3. Relevant Experience: If a company have experience in developing the similar software application then they would be able to deliver high quality work.
  4. History & Performance: Since when the company has been established and whether they have delivered the projects bigger than that of you need or not is a very important factor to consider.
  5. References & Testimonials: The software development company must be able to provide you reference of the previous customers and they must have some testimonials published on their website or blog.
  6. Security & Compliance: Make sure the software development company in Dubai must have the experience in security and is fully compliance with the local law and relevant bodies.
  7. Support: Make sure the customer software development company should be able to offer adequate technical and general support.
  8. Avoid Freelancers: Avoid freelancers and off-shore custom software development companies.

How to Choose Right Software Development Company in Dubai?

What is a Customer Software Development Agreement?

In Dubai and all around the UAE each business who seeks to acquire services or want to purchase a product from other businesses is bound to get into a legal agreement. The agreement between the businesses and custom software development companies/agencies is known as the Software Development Agreement. The agreement provides a comprehensive roadmap of the terms and conditions and rights in case of any dispute in the future. Basically there are two types or sub-categories of software development agreement, the Project Agreement and the NDA or Non-disclosure Agreement.

Here are a few things that a business should include and clearly specify in the project agreement:

  • Project Requirement, Objectives and Goals
  • Comprehensive Scope of the Project
  • Business/Customer Rights & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Data Protection, Privacy and Confidentiality Terms
  • Agreement Limitation and Liabilities
  • Penalties, Damage and Data Breach Terms
  • Terms of Arbitration in SLA and Otherwise
  • Employee Solicitation and Fraudulent or Attentional Harm
  • Terms to Prevent Service Provider form Using your Name in Marketing and Publication Materials
  • Mentioning of Applicable Local Law and Governing Body in Case of Dispute

What is a Customer Software Development Agreement?

Here are a few things that a business should include and clearly specify in the non-disclosure agreement:

  • Clear and Accurate Introduction to Both Parties, their Background and Role
  • Clear Definition of the Confidential and Proprietary Information
  • Define the Needs of Barricading the Information from Public Exposure
  • The Timeframe of the Agreement and Limitations
  • Clear Definition of the Project for Which the NDA is Being Signed
  • Clear Definition of the Repercussions and Actions to be Taken in Case of Breach of the NDA
  • List of All which is Included of Excluded from this Agreement
  • Clear Definition of the Mediums/Channels by Which the Confidential Information should be Shared/Transferred

What is a Customer Software Development Agreement?

It is better to go for a Unilateral Non-disclosure Agreement. As in case of customer software development project most of the time the business is the sole owner of the confidential information which they have to share with the custom software development company. In case if both parties are require to share confidential information with each other than the Mutual Non-disclosure Agreement can also be done. The sole purpose of the NDA is to preserve the rights of the involved parties and maintain the integrity of the confidential information which may harm the other party in case of leak, breach or amendment.

See More: How to Develop Customized Software and Business Tools

Conclusion

The Dubai and in fact the entire UAE is a very diverse, vibrant and dynamic market with businesses and investors coming from all around the world the market has become very competitive. The customers trends are also rapidly changing hence the businesses also need to evolve on a rapid pace. In such scenarios each business needs to implement unorthodox methodologies and bring innovation to stay ahead of the peers. For that sometimes the commercial off-the-shelf software solutions or COTS couldn’t provide enough support that is why businesses need to rely on custom software development. A custom software development project in Dubai or any other part of UAE could be very challenging due to a variety of factors. That is why in this blog we have covered all the nitty-gritty of the custom software development and provided all the basic instructions and know-how to let our audience be able to execute a successful custom software development project. If you need more help on the subject or if you want us to help you with your next custom software development project, please feel free to contact us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

Check out this blog: Importance of Custom Software Development in Dubai

How to Develop Customized Supply Chain Software?

How to Develop Customized Supply Chain Software?

The efficient supply chain management is absolutely necessary for any business’s success. Businesses in Dubai and all around the UAE are using fully digitalized or partially digitalized software tools to manage their supply chain. Mostly businesses are adopting to a one-stop-solution for all their supply chain needs. Using multiple tools and manual management has become less efficient over the time and as much as the manual work is involved the risk of errors and miscalculations are higher. That is why businesses are proactively improving their supply chain management techniques and methodologies. Another most important aspect of supply chain management is that it streamlines the production process, from idea generation to creating or developing an actual product/service there are too many variables and moving parts. These all also impact the overall cost, quality and resultantly the profitability and revenue of the business. That is why it is extremely crucial that a business have an efficient supply chain software and tools to manage each and everything in their supply chain.

How to Develop Customized Supply Chain Software

The supply chain management is a very complex and sophisticated process. It involves managing business processes from the idea generation to acquiring raw materials, producing the products, storing them and then tracking where they are going to drive the future strategies and sales. Similarly for the businesses who offers services the supply chain may involve different ingredients but it is still relevant and crucial for a long term success and sustainable growth. The supply chain software manages and track all relevant business processes, purchasing, acquiring services, outsourcing, internal manufacturing or development, information technology, suppliers, finance, dealers, wholesalers, resellers, and consumers or customers and all other relevant business processes. The purpose is to boost the operational efficiency of the business and reduce unnecessary resource consumption to increase profit and performance.

Why Businesses Need to Develop a Customized Supply Chain Software?

The supply chain management is a very crucial task, it involves several variables and the business’ success is heavily dependent on its supply chain management. When businesses are opting for an off-the-shelf or a ready-made supply chain software, it could pose a lot of limitation and it will also require making adjustments and iteration in existing business processes as well as the business tools which a business is currently using. The ready-made or off-the-shelf solution doesn’t offer much flexibility to let businesses configure it as per their existing business processes, and eventually businesses end up using multiple tools for several processes and mostly require synchronization either automatic or manual to be able to perform certain tasks. This complicates a lot of business processes and also put more strain on the employees and the management which reduce their performance.

Why Businesses Need to Develop a Customized Supply Chain Software?

However, a customized supply chain software doesn’t put any limitation and doesn’t require businesses to make any adjustment or changesto their existing business processes and practices. In fact it help them to boost the productivity and performance with least efforts made to alter any existing business process or methodology. The customized supply chain software doesn’t put any additional work load on the employees or the management instead it help them with their tasks and also enhance their performance by reducing their work load and streamlining all business processes. That is why a business needs to develop a customized supply chain software instead of going for an off-the-shelf solution.

Key Steps to Follow While Developing a Customized Supply Chain Software

Obviously going for a ready-made supply chain software is very easy and quick. Whereas developing a customized supply chain management software is lengthy process. That is one of the main reason why business go with an off-the-shelf supply chain software instead of a customized solution. However, when we compare the perks and the features of both solutions, the customized supply chain software is the best and it can prevent a lot of hustle and mismanagement or waste of resources in the longer run. That is why we are writing this blog to provide our readers with a step by step guideline to make the customization process simpler and easier. The very first step of any project should be planning and setting up goals.

Start with Settingup Goals and Identify Needs

Setting up goals and identifying needs for any customized system is critical. The business should start with analyzing the current supply chain tools and associated business process. Consulting with the employees who manages different supply chains and their relevant operations can provide a deeper insight to the current business processes. At this stage businesses should also engage the customized supply chain software development firm and ask them to assist them in gathering requirements and setting up goals and objectives for the project. The discovery stage of any project is very important, for supply chain software the discovery stage should involve all the concerned personals and departments along with the additional help from the software development firm. Also prepare a list of all the tools or features that you need in your supply chain software. If you are using multiple tools then it is a better idea to customize a single solution to have all those features, this could also save a lot of cost too.

Start with Settingup Goals and Identify Needs

The supply chain management heavily relies on the data collection from various steps and inputs of the supply chain. Sometimes it require integration with other systems and sometimes it require manual data. The automation is a best and very efficient method, but the customized supply chain software should be able to handle both the automated digital data synchronization via APIs or system integration and manual data inputs as well. Similarly there would be a lot many other very specific functionalities and business processes that you will be needing, enlist them all. After finalizing the list of features and functionalities, compare it with the goals, will you be able to achieve those goals or not? Add all missing features that could be helpful in achieving those goals. The consultancy or the software development firm can be a great help at this stage.

Requirement Gathering Stage

Once the needs are identified and new goals are set the next stage is to gather requirements. At requirement gathering stage usually the software development firm pull the strings and you need to be cooperative with them by providing them all the information they need. It will require a business to communicate with its existing partners and the vendors who are supplying or managing their existing IT infrastructure. The success of any IT project such as a software or business tools is very much dependent on its capabilities to absorb and distribute information. That is a very critical part and it require highly technical and experienced personals to make it right. Choosing a well reputed software development company such as RSI Concepts will save you a lot of hustle during the customized software development project and afterwards as well.

Requirement Gathering Stage

This stage involves meeting and discussions between the IT stakeholders and management teams with the supply chain software development firm. As all the needs are already identified and the goals are set so all stakeholders can contribute to find a solution for any problem. At this stage a detailed project plan can be prepared as well. A supply chain software is not just used to manage the suppliers, but it is used to manage the entire operation, from managing the suppliers, vendors, distributers, consumers and also help managing the customer relationship. So, it will cover pretty much everything. Here are some key features that a supply chain software can offer:

  1. Procurement Management Tools
    1. Digital Supplier Portals
    2. Supplier Assessment and Qualification Matrices
    3. Contracts and Agreements Creation Tools
    4. Supplier Communication Tools
    5. Supplier Performance and Rating Management
    6. Purchasing Tools

Procurement Management Tools

  1. Inventory Management Tools
    1. Integrated and Automated Inventory Management
    2. Retail and Bulk Inventory Management
    3. Raw Materials Management
    4. Products and Materials Identification Tools
    5. Integration and APIs (Production Tools, Accounts, etc.)
    6. Stock Updates, Reorder and Management Tools

Inventory Management Tools

  1. Warehouse and Storage Facility Management Tools
    1. Storage and Capacity Management
    2. Orders Management (Dedicated Dashboard)
    3. Shipment and Returns Management (Dedicated Dashboard)
    4. Multi-locations Management
    5. Real-time Data Synchronization and Remote Administration
    6. Logistics and Transportation Management
    7. Fleet Management

Warehouse and Storage Facility Management Tools

  1. Data Gathering, Analytical and Reporting Tools
    1. Automatically Collecting Business Intelligence Data
    2. System Usage Stats, History and Logs
    3. Activity Logs for each User and entire Work Flow
    4. Customizable Reporting and Trend Reports
    5. System and Employee KPIs
    6. In-built Statistical and Analytical Tools

Data Gathering, Analytical and Reporting Tools

Having all-in-one solution saves cost, time and it is also one of the best method to boost efficiency, rather asking your employees to maintain separate dashboards for separate tasks, provide them a single dashboard which allow them to perform all tasks could save time and hustle and will also improve user experience which is a key component for improving quality of work.

Select Technologies and Understand Limitations

Technology have evolved a lot. However, we are still far away from the perfection. The one and most common limitation a business always face is the usage of different technologies. As a business keep growing they keep updating their IT and technology arsenals. That is why a business could be using several different technological platforms and several different IT tools. When it comes to developing a supply chain software or any other software there are certain technologies that we used. These technologies are built on different platforms with certain frameworks. This means there are certain limitations and protocols that we have to consider while developing a customized software application. As we have already set our goals and accordingly the features are determined, the selection of technology is relatively very easy. Majorly there are three basic technologies that are used for that kind of software applications. The most common is a web-based application which have a server and a web-based user interface. The second type is a desktop application which also have a server and the dashboard comes as a desktop app that can be installed on the computers. The third and relatively modern type is the cloud-based software. The cloud-based software allows the user to access the dashboard via a web-based application and the software or server is managed by the service provider.

Select Technologies and Understand Limitations

For customized application the most cost-effective way is to go for a web-based application with a server which can be hosted online or in the local data center of the business. These days we can also host that server to cloud as well. The user dashboard is where the users interact with the system and the server or cloud is where all the logics are performed and algorithms are executed. Each technology has its own limitations. The most important thing to consider is the data integration and synchronization. It is better to engage the software development firm and ask them for their opinion and suggestion as well, then chose the best technology as per the cost and technical specifications.

Wireframe and Project Plan

The wireframe is a term of making the drafts or plan for the software application. At this stage the software development firm design simple drawings and flow charts to define the actual work flow of the entire supply chain software. All screens and functionalities will be defined at this stage and all steps and work flow is also defined. Pay special attentions to the wireframes and analyze them critically. At this stage the business should understand how each functionality will happen at the final supply chain software and how things will be working. At this stage the business should try to simplify their business processes and work flow to avoid unnecessary strain on the employees/users who will be using the system. If anything looks difficult or is not as the business wants it to be, it can be changed at this stage. Once the wireframes are finalized then the software development will move to the graphics and UI (user interface) designing phase.

Wireframe and Project Plan

Graphic Designing and Project Development

The graphic designing is basically the UI (user interface) designing. The businesses can have their own branding for the UI. The UI will be the actual layout or look and feel of the supply chain software. When the UI is prepared make sure it looks good, the readability and accessibility of the features, buttons, menus, tabs and links is easy. The fonts and the color scheme should help increasing the readability of the elements and texts. The UI designs will be the final look and feel of the software so it is important that it has good quality from both aesthetic and usability prospective. Once the designs are finalized the customized supply chain software project will enter into the development phase. Some software development companies only provide the complete software at the end of this stage. But it is better to ask them to divide the software development phase into smaller chunks and set milestones.

Graphic Designing and Project Development

In this way the business can have a chance to analyze the features on the early stages and when they are completed so if any improvement or change is required it can be communicated with the development team. Smaller changes can be done without effecting the overall deadline however, bigger changes are not suggested at this stage. The project development stage is basically the programming and building the software. In the development phase all the integration and APIs configurations is also done. All the features, specifications, functionalities, and work flow are programmed and developed. At the end of this phase the customized supply chain software is completed only testing and launch is left.

Quality Assurance, Security and UAT

For any software the quality assurance and UAT (user acceptance test) is a very important part. With the designing and development phase the actual software development is done already. The testing is the final stage before going live or launch of the software. Since it is a customized supply chain software so the quality assurance and testing is a must. Mostly the quality assurance test is done by the software development company but at this stage the IT team from the business can also take part in the testing. The UAT or user acceptance test is done in the live environment. The UAT server is identical to the actual or primary server however it is not live and can only be accessed by limited users. The business can form teams from both technical and non-technical sides to do the testing of each and everything. The UAT is done by a sample of people taken from the actual user pool. So, they will be the end-users of the customized supply chain software hence they can provide the best feedback and suggestion about the functionalities and features of the software.

Quality Assurance, Security and UAT

The security testing or penetration testing is also performed before going live. The security or penetration testing is usually done by the IT team at the business and a third-party security firm. This testing is very important as the customized supply chain software will going to hold the most critical and confidential data for the business so it is extremely important that the security of the data and the software itself is ensured. Once all these testing are done and the changes or iterations are made as per the results and feedbacks the customized supply chain software is ready to go live.

Training, Launch and Post-Launch Activities

Once the UAT and security testing is done and everything is complete. Now is the time for the soft-launch. In the soft-launch stage the software is made available for the users but is not operational yet. At this stage all the data has been uploaded and synchronized with the customized supply chain software. The software development company held training sessions for different users and departments. The user manuals, support and training material is handed over to the respective users. And the Service and Support mechanisms are developed. After that the launch is done and the software is made fully operational. All the users start operating the customized supply chain software at this point.

Training, Launch and Post-Launch Activities

Usually for most of the businesses the post-launched activities are the training and support, however another most important part of post-launch activities is the user feedback and suggestions. The business should conduct internal surveys and feedback programs to learn more about user’s perception of the customized supply chain software and its features. The user feedback can be utilized to further improve the software or to customize its features and work flows in the coming future to ensure maximum efficiency and user satisfaction which leads to better performance.

Conclusion

Supply chain management is an extremely critical process. Businesses always try to improve their supply chain management and operational efficiency. For that supply chain software are used. Businesses in Dubai and all around the UAE often don’t go for the customized supply chain software due to the difficulty of the development process. That is why we compiled this step by step guide to let businesses understand the custom supply chain software development process and help them in managing the project. The customized supply chain software development can significantly boost the operational efficiency of the business by automation and improvements in various business processes. It also cover several processes from concept and acquiring raw materials to production and then distribution of the products/services. The customized supply chain software can also aid customer relationship processes and help businesses drive future growth and sales. RSI Concepts is a leading name in customized software development in Dubai, if you want to learn more about our customized supply chain software or if you have an enquiry, please feel free to reach us through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below and we will get in touch with you soon.

 

Software vs Web Development – what is the difference?

Software vs Web Development - what is the difference?

From a developer perspective, Software Development and Web Development seem almost similar but there is a huge difference when it comes to the user of the application and the needs of the business. Technology has been changing businesses, markets, customers, and whatever comes its the way. Especially in Dubai, UAE the technology is more integrated into our professional and personal daily life. Generally, for a non-technical person, the technology is quite confusing and difficult to understand however with the development of new technologies and so many latest innovation a person who is operating in one sector of the technology might be completely naive about the other sector(s) of the industry. The same is the case with software development and web development, often people who work within the industry or closely with the industry are aware of the differences between the two, for the rest of us, both look the same! The main thing why for a casual person the software development and web development look the same is because in both there is a lot of programming and coding is involved, so people often think both would be the same. However, software development requires a completely different skill set, knowledge and requires completely different programming languages than that of a website. In this blog, we will discuss software development and web development in detail.

What is Software Development?

What is Software Development?

Software development is developing a computer program that is intended to run on a certain platform/machine and is expected to return certain results or perform certain tasks. There are tons of software we daily use either directly or indirectly. For example the Outlook we use to check email or Photoshop for editing family photos, or even a media player on our laptop is computer software. Smartphone applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Whatsapp are software. However, web apps such as Facebook, Google, etc are websites.

Who are Software Developers?

The software developer are IT professional who possess certain technical skills which enable them to write source code to build software. The software developers produce tools for desktop computers and laptops, they build smartphone applications and games for different platforms and consoles.

What Skills are required to develop Software?

There are certain skills that are required from a software developer. The educational background should be in IT and then the software developers can choose various subjects to direct their career to a particular field such as software development or web development. Here are a few important skills that a software developer should have:

  1. Data Structure
  2. Programming Languages
  3. Critical Thinking
  4. Problem Solving
  5. Relevant Technical Skills (Tools and Techniques)
  6. Security

These are just some general skills a software developer must-have.

How Software are Developed?

There is a basic software development method. This starts with identifying the need for the software, this is the very basic thing, why do we need software? Once the objective and expectations of the software are defined, then the next step is to select the appropriate technology for the software and define the platforms where the software can be used. Here is a short summary of the software development process:

  1. Identify the Problem and Need
  2. Define the Objectives and Expectations
  3. Choose Technology
  4. Software Development
  5. Testing (on all compatible platforms)
  6. Launch/Deployment

This is the basic process of software development. There could be more intermediary processes, but overall the process is the same. The software is developed for different platforms, different environments, and different applications. For example, some software is developed for only PCs and Laptops, some are developed for servers, some are developed for electronics devices, some for special purpose computers and servers and so many more. There are tons of software applications, ranging from our refrigerator to electric cars and everything in between. The software is covering almost and every aspect of our lives.

What is Web Development?

What is Web Development?

Web development is basically just developing websites. It may also involve small web apps or interactive tools, but majorly the focus in web development is to achieve certain objectives by providing interaction to the user. These days the websites are considered a necessity for any business or organization. ECommerce is also gaining popularity, the consumers are turning towards the internet. Large enterprises and businesses are providing digitalizing their services and mostly providing their services through websites. For example, there are a lot many government ministries that are offering services online through websites and mobile apps, the healthcare, the real estate, and hospitality industry are also taking advantage of the website revolution.

See More:  How to Turn Website into a Lead Generation Machine 

Who are Web Developers?

Web developers are a group of professionals having a variety of skills and experience in different fields that combined to form a website experience. The web developer develops websites for businesses and organizations with different needs and requirements, for example, online appointment booking, customer portal, online registration, etc.

See More: New website of Ajman Bank by RSI Concepts

What Skills are required to develop a Website?

Web developers are generally a team or a bunch of people who everyone possesses different skills, and everyone is responsible for a different aspect of the website. The graphics and user interface designs require different technical background and skills, the programing and source code requires an entirely different set of skills and expertise. Usually, a professional web developer is well-versed with both types of skills and can handle the entire website single-handedly. But for medium size or larger websites, only specialized personals should do the respective work. Here are a few skills that are a must for a web developer:

  1. Marketing and Analytical Skills
  2. UX/UI Designing
  3. Graphics Designing
  4. Programming Languages
  5. Relevant Technical Skills (Tools and Techniques)
  6. Security

These are just a few important skills that a web developer should have to be able to develop websites.

How Websites are developed?

Web development is a simple and very straightforward process. It starts like any other IT project with a brief requirement gathering. Once the project scope is defined and the website’s basic information is collected, then a wireframe is being provided to the customer. The wireframe is basically the blueprint of the website, and then the full-on development begins. The web development process consists of different steps here is a list of the steps generally followed in the web development industry in Dubai, UAE:

  1. Requirement Gathering
  2. Define Website Scope
    1. Compatible Devices (Laptops, Smartphones, Web Browsers, etc)
    2. Compatible Languages (English, Arabic, etc)
    3. Static or Dynamic
  3. Web Designing Phase
    1. Wireframe
    2. Mockups
    3. Design (Ux/Ui)
  4. Web Development Phase
  5. Testing
  6. Launch

These are the steps of a basic web development project execution. There are many other intermediary steps and phases which depend on the scope and magnitude of the website. The websites are developed for different objectives and purposes. Mainly the objective is the marketing and online presence. The websites are also made for other purposes such as for customers, or for students, or for information, etc. There are hundreds of different types and categories of websites are there. No matter what kind of website it is the basic process is the same as I have mentioned above.

See More: Why a Website is the First Impression of a Company?

The Difference between Software Development & Web Development!

The Difference between Software Development & Web Development!

The major difference between software development and web development is that both are entirely different technologies, with different objectives and completely different audiences or users. The websites are for the masses and are a good communication tool. Businesses and organizations can utilize websites to communicate with their audiences, however, the software is not for communication but they are to perform certain tasks. The websites are mostly a public domain while the software could be private, exclusive, and personalized and are used to improve the efficiency and productivity of business processes and routine tasks. For example, a queue management system is used to streamline the customer flow, and HRMS (human resource management system) is used to improve HR department, production management tools, accounting software, and many more have different applications and are used for different objectives.

See More : Website Design for Schools and Colleges

Why People Often Think Software and Web Development are same?

Why People Often Think Software and Web Development are same?

Well, most of the time a casual person thinks that software development and web development both are the same things. But that is not true, although there are some similarities, for example, both require programming and coding, both require interactive graphics and user interfaces, etc. But in terms of technology both are totally different. One can say there are certain occasions or scenarios when software development and web development intersect each other. For example, there are tons of corporate and business software that provide a web-based user interface, which means the user can interact and operate this software through a web interface via a web browser like they are browsing a normal website. Similarly, there is a certain website that provides online software and such apps that allow a user to perform a software function via a web browser through a web interface. The web interface is basically a website, but in the backend different software are operating and different processes are going on. That is why for a causal person the differentiation between software development and web development is not easy.

See More: Importance of Custom Software Development in Dubai

Software Development, Web Development, Cloud, and IoT!

Software Development, Web Development, Cloud, and IoT!

Cloud is what even further lightens the line dividing the software development and web development. As the cloud is capable of providing a lot many tools, software, and application through a web-based interface which further confuses ordinary people to think the websites and software development are the same. But the huge difference is that software development is not only limited to general applications and business tools, in fact, but those are also just a small part of the entire software development industry. For example, the software is everywhere, wherever a microchip is used, or a digital function is used there is software running behind. With the advancements and progress in the field of IoT (Internet of Things), we will further notice smart gadgets and home appliances that all would be running on some kind of software, even the wristwatch you might be wearing right now contains a tiny computer and a tiny software in it. That is how big the software development industry is and that is how it dominates the web development industry.

See More: What should I have on my website of an interior design company?

Conclusion

Software development and web development are completely different from each other. The software developers and the web developers are required to have different skills and different expertise. The software development and the web development processes are majorly different than each other. The application and objectives are different. For example, the websites are mainly for marketing purposes and to offer digital services and online services. However, the software is for entirely different audiences and for different applications. The software development industry is very huge compared to the web development industry. The software is being used everywhere, from our wristwatch to electric cars and satellites everything is running on software. Businesses and enterprises are heavily relying on customized software solutions these days.

Although both are entirely different but still most of the time a casual person might think that software development and web development are the same. It is due to the fact that mostly the corporate tools and the commercial solutions that we use on daily basis are interacting using a web-based user interface that is being accessed from a web browser which is why for most ordinary person a software might also look similar to a website. RSI Concepts is a professional custom software development agency in Dubai and we are also offering premium web design Dubai services for more than a decade now. If you need a quote or want to discuss or consult with us, please feel free to reach us out through our Contact Us page or leave a comment in the comment box below.

Check out this: What is the Difference in Website Design and Development?

Importance of Custom Software Development in Dubai

Importance of Custom Software Development in Dubai

Custom software development and personalized solutions are very important for SMEs and large corporations in Dubai, UAE. The custom software is cost-competitive, easy to integrate within the existing infrastructure, the operational cost is less, the modifications and upgrade cost is low. If an enterprise or business is seeking a very unique solution for its specific needs, then custom software is the only option. The off-the-shelf commercial software and solutions are very expensive, the operational cost, integration cost, upgrade and subscriptions are expensive. The biggest problem with all popular off-the-shelf commercial tools is that they are ready-made and you will have to adjust as per their features, it might require certain changes in the routine processes and tasks of the employees as well. Else you will have to pay a hefty amount to customize it and above all the integration with other tools is difficult. You might end up purchasing and using multiple tools. Whereas the custom software development enables you to have a unified information centre and above all, an all-in-one solution can be implemented. Which not only hugely impact the cost but also improves the usability of the system and the performance of the organization.

More often the business that is using the readymade or standard software face some unique problems that require customization and/or integration with other tools or inputs. It is very difficult with all standard enterprise and commercial tools to integrate them or modify them and it is also very costly. Sometimes the problem could be temporary, or for a short period of time, in such cases, the standard software and tools are very difficult to cater for the needs of the customer. However, custom software is software that is designed for a particular organization or business or set of users who are intended to perform certain functionalities. This is the biggest advantage of custom software development.

Why should Businesses in Dubai chose Custom Software Development?

Why should Businesses in Dubai chose Custom Software Development

First of all, we need to understand the market of Dubai. Dubai and even the entire country UAE is considered a hub of technological advancements and business activities. The country is home to the head offices of thousands of multinational enterprises and their operations are not only limited to the local market but all of Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East is being operated from these head offices. This makes the market very modern, advance, and extremely competitive. The competitiveness raised the standards and expectations of the customers as well, which force the business and organizations to divert their expenses and investments in customer satisfaction. This cause the organizations to be more cost-optimistic when it comes to internal solutions and tools, but even then the usability and overall efficiency of the system is required to be at the highest to support the organization to work on their maximum potential. This all scenario led to a big concern of the cost as well as some of the very unique needs which requires a completely customized solution. That is why custom software development is extremely important for businesses in Dubai, UAE to ensure cost-effectiveness, scalability, and maximum efficiency of the commercial and enterprise solutions.

Here are some key benefits of custom software development:

Greater Efficiency

Greater Efficiency

The problem with the standard software and systems is that they are built on a very bookish standard, their framework, user interfaces and business processes are being used for decades and haven’t been updated much. However for most organizations when they implement that software they have to make changes in their business processes to align with the software functionalities. This not only results in extra work for the employees but so many other processes got slower due to that, which in its entirety can slow down the pace of the organization which affects from the production to profits and everything in between. While with the custom software development the software is specifically designed for your organization to provide you with a personalized experience and to sort out your unique and unordinary problems. There is no need to change your business processes and as the entire software is built for your organization so it will significantly improve the processes and reduce the workload of the employees as well which will result in better employee performance.

Easy Scalability

Easy Scalability

All readymade or ready-to-deploy business software does support scalability but it is not as easy. First of all the modifications and changes cost is too high and the modifications are also allowed in a very small framework, where only certain types of modifications can be done. And usually these all these modifications and changes are provided on the basis of their market research and the requests made by their existing customers. But when it comes to a unique and never seen before kind of scenario these all tools are helpless. This is where custom software development is required. The customized software is very easy and convenient to modify, change and upgrade. The cost is low the process is quicker, and there are no a limitation or a predefined structure to follow while doing modifications like the standard and readymade software. The custom software is tailored made for the specific needs of the businesses and are very flexible towards after-deployment customizations. The customization is also cost-effective and quicker than the standard software tools.

Easy Integration

Easy Integration

All commercially available standard enterprise solutions and software claim to provide simpler integrations with other corporate tools, systems and software. But in reality, the integration process is very complex, time-consuming and expensive. Above all, there is always a limitation that bound the user to compromise on some of the features as well. In case a unique requirement comes, then only the integration cost could go from 5 or 10 per cent to more than 50 per cent of the actual software. Which is enormous. Even in some scenarios, you might end up purchasing an entirely new tool to address the problem or to meet your needs. However, custom software development makes it extremely easy to integrate the software with various other software for data synchronizations and a lot of many functionalities. The software can easily be customized to be linked with various corporate tools and system simultaneously. The integration process is quicker and very cost-effective. Here one thing is worth mentioning that without integration, the business will have to use multiple systems. New modules can be added to aid those integrations and all those new modules can be customized to ensure maximum performance and agility of the processes.

Support Innovation

Support Innovation

The readymade or ready-to-deploy software are very rigid and limited in their features and functionalities. This software is not a seasonal purchase but are meant to last for decades and are considered the backbone of the digital infrastructure of the organization. Everyone knows innovation is the soul of success. Without innovation, you cannot compete in the market. Similarly, the digital world is rapidly growing and changing, things could get old in months rather than decades. The business might have purchased ready-made software and after just a few months a new feature is launched, but your software manufacturer is not yet ready to provide these new innovative tools or functionalities. Either you might have to request customization, which will incur more cost and time. Or you might end up purchasing altogether a new software. Whereas custom software development has no such obstacle in the way of innovation and modernization. Businesses can easily incorporate new features, modifications and complete module with comparatively very low cost and very quickly. This is what makes custom software development superior to ready-made software.

Better User Experience

Better User Experience

The standard software comes in standard packages with a standard dashboard. Although you may customize so many things, this could increase the cost a lot and even then you will end up having so many unrequired or unnecessary features. You have to train your employees and in most cases, you will also have to modify your various business processes. Which results in a lot of confusion and chances of a lot many errors and problems. This also impacts the overall efficiency of the organization and the slower work pace and repeated work also add to the human resource cost. Custom software development enables businesses to have custom-designed user interfaces along with features and functionalities that your employees are already familiar with. This not only improves the system usability and performance but also improves the user experience of the software. Your employee can effectively utilize the custom-designed software to improve their work efficiency and various business processes. This not only helps improving employee performance but also helps organizations execute operations more quickly. The customization won’t cost you much and if you compare the cost to the readymade software’s customization it would be just a fraction of it.

Improved Security

Improved Security

As the standard software is mostly publically available, their internal structure and a lot of other information are accessible publically. The data privacy and data security is a major concern. Businesses have to pay a lot more to ensure security. However with the custom software development as each software is exclusively designed for the client, the software structure and other details are hidden from everyone else. And the software is not publicly available which makes it even more secure than the off-the-shelve or ready-to-deploy software solutions. The custom software development also allows the software developer to take innovative security measure which is hard to crack and difficult to understand, this reduces the possibilities of a data breach or data leak. On the other hand, custom software development is also very flexible towards updates and upgrades, the security patches and other protective measures are easier to take and cheaper to implement. Which makes the software more secure and ensures better data privacy and protection.

Cost

Cost

Cost is one of the major appeals for businesses located in Dubai, UAE. Especially for SMEs, they cannot afford costly enterprise tools and solutions. Also for large corporations and business entities, the cost cut is a major concern while purchasing any software or solution. Custom software development is generally very cost-effective comparing to any readymade corporate tool, software or solution. Furthermore, the businesses are not bound to purchase the full package, which usually includes a lot many unwanted tools or any subscription or fee or any kind of other subscriptions are involved. For example, some readymade corporate tools require the businesses to purchase the cloud along with the tools, but for the custom software development there is no such limit or in fact, there is literally no compulsion, you will pay for what you need and what you want. This makes custom software development a lot cheaper than readymade solutions. The upgrade, changes, integration, and maintenance cost is also very low. These things make the customer software more cost-effective than any available readymade or ready-to-deploy solution.

Conclusion

In Dubai, UAE the businesses are and corporate sector is always seeking ways to minimize their operational cost and to reduce the cost and billing of their digital assets. This is why the custom software development industry is flourishing here. Custom software development is far superior to the traditional ready-to-deploy software available in the market. There is two major difference between the standard software tools and custom software tools. One is the cost, and the second is the system efficiency. The standard software is very rigid and only comes in pre-defined infrastructure, the customization is extremely expensive and in some cases cannot be done at all, and the business will have to purchase new software. This not only increases the cost, but it also reduces employee efficiency, as now the employees will have to rely on two systems to perform a single task. However, in custom software development there is no such limitation or boundary. The software is built and designed exclusively for the customers, the business has full control over establishing the businesses process, user dashboard and the entire structure and functionality of the software.

This not only significantly boost the organization’s performance but also reduces the cost in terms of software deployment, maintenance, upgrades, modifications and regular fees or subscriptions. Custom software development enables organizations to invest less and achieve more. RSI Concepts is a leading custom software development company in Dubai, UAE. If you are tired of paying a hefty amount of fees and maintenance or upgrade expenses, feel free to reach us out through our Contact Us page.

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