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Steps Of Bespoke Software Development Process

Jon Black

bespoke software development

Attracting and retaining customers is a complex task that demands a vast array of tools for managing a business effectively. Off-the-shelf pre-made software can serve the purpose satisfactorily in terms of cost, speed, and convenience.

On the contrary, custom-made or bespoke software can be a game-changer that will develop a unique brand position and surpass competitors.

In this article, we will guide you through the six-step process of bespoke software development and the possible benefits and drawbacks of investing in it.

What Is Bespoke Software?

bespoke software development

Bespoke software is customized software created by a team of developers according to individual specifications. This tailor-made approach ensures that the software solution fulfills the exact requirements of the business, resulting in smoother and streamlined workflows, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Do You Really Need It?

If your company’s daily operations require a high degree of customization, it would be advantageous to invest in bespoke software development. The retail, healthcare, education, and construction sectors that focus on billing, creating customized projects, and communicating with patients and clients are the most common sectors that require customized solutions.

Although the initial investment might appear high, bespoke software can have long-term benefits and significantly enhance the operations of your business.

What Are the Main Models of Software Development?

waterfall, agile, spiral methods

There are three basic models of software development:

  • The Waterfall approach involves a step-by-step process where each phase is sequential, and one phase is completed before the next receives any attention.
  • The Spiral approach divides the project into parts that interact with each other, where developers split the development process into separate parts and plan the next phase while simultaneously working on the previous one.
  • The Agile approach is to combine the two previous models. It involves developers working on a specific part of the project within a given time frame, then proceeding to the next, making it the most practical strategy for large-scale projects.

What Are the Steps of Bespoke Software Development?

The bespoke software development process requires several steps:

  1. Gathering all possible requirements for your future project. This would involve explaining your vision to the team of outsourced IT specialists, including the goals for your short-term and long-term partnerships and budget restrictions.
  2. Creating a Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document. After agreeing upon all possible requirements and expectations, it’s time to plan the technical aspects of developing your system, where the outsourced IT specialists take the lead and propose an agreement document with all technical specifics.
  3. Agreeing upon the design and some technical parameters. This stage is where the developers already know what the product is, how much time they have, and its purpose. They create the architecture and external features of the software product.
  4. Developing the actual software product. This stage is the most important and challenging of all during the whole system development process. In general, it’s where the software project comes to life. This phase should run smoothly if the developers have resolved all possible conflicts in the previous stages.
  5. Quality assurance and testing. Teams should constantly check small pieces of code and perform functional and non-functional testing. Core application functions must be tested on different systems and machines.
  6. Release of the software product and further maintenance. In this phase, the software product is ready to be presented to the public. The software developers will provide maintenance, fix bugs, and release updates if needed.

What Should You Look Out for in This Process?

Custom software development carries some risks that business owners should take into account, such as elaborate design requirements driving up the cost or additional time required to develop the software. Collaborate with an outsourced group of workers that fit your requirements to avoid most of the risks.

To Sum Up

Off-the-shelf pre-made software can satisfy the most basic requirements of a company, but for tailor-made solutions, bespoke software development is necessary. It delivers unique and extensive features that out-of-the-box software products cannot offer. The bespoke software development process may seem overwhelming at first. But by working with the right outsourced team, it’s possible to achieve the best results.