Is Custom Web Application Development still worth it in 2023?
Custom Web Application Development - Top Question From Google
What is custom web application development?
Custom web application development is the process to create bespoke software for requirements of a business, industry or independent client.
Typically, businesses opt for custom web application development when a business process becomes outdated and needs to become digitized or to connect some other bespoke software together.
How do you plan a web application development project?
The most successful web application development projects had discovery and understanding at the forefront of planning.
Initially, web application development may be led by CEOs, CTOs, COOs or senior engineering managers who have noticed an opportunity to innovate.
Maybe this could be ‘something isn’t working’ or they believe a piece of software can make their organisation more productive or profitable.
Despite innovation being led by C-level execs and VPs, the world’s best innovators, like Apple and Tesla, understand that innovative ideas can come from any level within in the organisation.
We’re sure you’ve spent your time hiring the best, and if you feel as if some staff haven’t adapted with business or technological change. Ask them what they’d like to see change.
You could consider sending out surveys or make it a part of your 1:1s with your team and ask ‘what can be improved about your role?’
Sometimes, asking tough questions may evoke evasive emotions, so you can take it a step further by asking more direct questions. “What are the main opportunities we are missing?”, “Do you reckon a new app or switching software could aid in this?”
Before doing so, alleviate any fears they may have by explaining to them that you care about their opinion and use a pre-emptive; “we know things could be done a lot better here, such as us having to sign in and copy paste our data twice, and we’re going to fix that. While we’re here, what other issues do you reckon we can improve on, to make sure you can do your best work?”
Alleviating the fears that their moan could be taken wrongly helps the person to feel at ease, too.
How do I convince my team that custom web application development is necessary?
When you’re trying to innovate at your company, it’s best to give your colleagues a visual indication of what you plan on building to increase the amount of innovation champions at your firm.
Hiring UX designers to create clickable wireframes enables you to demo a working app prototype to your team to prove your ideas are being actualized at a fraction of the cost.
Plus, before you begin custom web application development, you have a firm idea of what the web app will look like and feel like.
Following after the discovery phases and budget signoffs, you’ll have to find the right developers and tools to ensure that you create something which is fit for purpose and technology doesn’t become a limiting factor.
Technical refers to future cost changing various modules within the code which can increase over time if things aren’t done right. It’s because of this, you’ll want to ensure that the software engineers you hire develop code with responsiveness to change or you could accrue more technical debt than expected.
Before beginning custom web application development, technical decision makers may meet with business analysts and/or UX designers, to learn more about the steps the business should take to execute their digital goals.
Afterwards, requirements are written and UX designers can begin their work in researching what the new app needs to do and you get a preview of your desired digital transformation.
Which languages do you use for web development?
For frontend web development the languages used are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Frontend web development refers to everything the user can see (user menus, animations etc).
The backend refers to everything underneath that, servers, API logic and databases.
On the backend, there’s a lot more choice. That includes Node.js, C# .NET, Python, Go, Java and Scala, to name a few.
Each have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on your business, your existing code and their availability of skilled labour, too.
Every web development project will require frontend web developers, who have a strong grasp on frontend languages, specifically JavaScript.
JavaScript is considered the backbone of the web frontend. It’s the glue that enables you to get the information from your backend API server.
When hiring a frontend web developer for custom web application development, ensure they are proficient JavaScript programmers as HTML and CSS are cheaper skills to find in comparison.
Given the vast amounts of technology available in custom web application development, each project should be assessed separately, with its own requirements, to ensure the best choices are made in your project. Navigate the development world with professionals who can help you pick the right tools for your custom web application project.
Changing programming languages can be a costly exercise, so tap into professionals with extensive industry experience who can help you evade the difficulties associated with choosing the wrong tech.
What are the benefits of building a custom web application for your company?
There are several benefits of building a custom web application for your business.
Firstly, is the vast number of devices you can target. Every computer and smartphone has a web browser, so your new custom web application can be accessed anywhere.
In comparison, native applications, e.g. Android apps, iOS apps or Windows apps, causes you to maintain three separate platforms. You’ll have to build an app for each platform (or use compound solutions like Xamarin). Though, web apps can be simpler, as you get the benefit of your app working on all your devices without worrying about mass installations or compatibility.
Another benefit of building a custom web application, is control over the product.
Being able to actualise a new feature for your business, which may not be available on a ‘on-the-shelf SaaS’ product at speed can give you a competitive edge against your industry rivals who are reliant on these tools.
Additionally, SaaS products limit your usage depending on your plan, and as a result, costs will rise with use, inflation and the number of features added over time.
Furthermore, having control over your own custom app enables you to tap into the insight of your data. Which can enable you to make better decisions over financing and customer engagement.
Data on your business’s processes e.g. ‘How many labels has this customer printed?’, ‘What difficulties does this customer commonly face when interacting with our customer service platform?’.
Businesses are driven by loyal customers and having access and control over your data, increases your business value.
Sometimes, SaaS products limit the analytics features, so you’re unable to know how well your users or employees are interacting with it, without handing out surveys.
With your own product, you can monitor it’s usage at a granular level, and tweak it to make it to make your colleagues time to completion quicker.
Finally, while innovating you may uncover a need for a new digital product that the rest of your industry or others need.
This can grow into becoming your opportunity, to becoming a SaaS business, too.
It’s how Mailchimp started. Mailchimp was started by a web design firm as a side project to help small businesses send out their emails.
After noticing success, Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius opted to spend more time in developing Mailchimp and was acquired by Intuit for over $12 billion.
This software forms part of your business intellectual property and will prove to not only be a business asset in the short term, but also one that makes your business more attractive for acquisition.
When to buy a SaaS on-the-shelf versus going for bespoke custom web application development
If your requirements are simple and the SaaS solution you’ve found can be trialled with minimal financial impact, you can consider it on a monthly subscription and see if it works within your organisation.
To minimise SaaS costs further, you could trial it with a pool your colleagues and ask them whether it would help in their role.
Though, we’ve noticed some organisations are quick to buy an on-the-shelf saas product that they believe can help their organisation, but due to the costs and large scale complexed contracts it can make it difficult to leave the provider at a later stage, which can be detrimental to the wider IT strategy as the budget may have already been used.
Plus, some of these purchasing decisions are made in a silo, without input of business analysts, developers or UX designers, the SaaS option may not be fit for purpose.
A lot of B2B SaaS companies, tend to work with your organisations similar to yours and they use this as their marketing ploy to make you buy.
But before you give the SaaS product the green light; seek independent advice from technical professionals that can assess whether it is fit for your purpose and is cost efficient in the long term.
Nowadays, the IT industry typically runs software projects in an agile manner, instead of a waterfall methodology.
This is great because it encourages continuous dialog with technical and non-technical stakeholders on project delivery. To approach your SaaS purchasing process in the same manner and involve more stakeholders to lessen the pain later.
Speak with independent Business analysts and UX designers to assess whether it may be beneficial to build something yourself or to buy it.
If you’re convinced an on-the-shelf SaaS is what you need, negotiate for no obligation, test run and measure it against a well-researched bespoke prototype (which’ll probably cost less than you think) and make an executive decision from a big-picture perspective.
Sure, maybe buying the SaaS solution may get you your transformation now, but will it work for your company in the next two to five years?
What are custom web application example use cases?
There are several use cases for custom web application development.
The focus is on efficiency.
Here’s a couple of examples -
One of our clients previously was unable to connect one of their internal apps to AmazonSeller Central and had commissioned us to deliver a platform that provided their clients with a single sign on solution to integrate AmazonSeller central features into their own courier platform.
Another client had noticed the bills for their SaaS CMS (content management system) has rocketed over time. After evaluating all the on-shelf solutions, they opted to develop their own content management system so they could add their own features on demand and migrated their data to their new platform.
Another client of ours wanted to innovate in the HR industry and they wanted a data-driven method to assess what permissions a user will need to complete a various task. This was to pre-empt and reduce the amount of support tickets incoming to the IT helpdesk.
If something has become inefficient or broken, custom web application helps you to navigate these issues without it costing a fortune.
Plus, great technical professionals will help you understand whether or not it’s better buy a SaaS product or make your own app.
How to hire the best custom web application developers?
In order to hire the best custom web application developers, look to their experience, values and expertise. It’s easy to get a developer who seems smart; but finds themselves over-engineering each feature unnecessarily and the project has several delays.
So, your best bet is to find a vetted developer who isn’t too hung up processes and is more interested in getting their best work done to best practice; instead of idealisms.
Personally, I’ve worked with several developers from different firms and typically come across developers who wish to spend more time outsmarting another, rather than delivering core business value.
Software engineering can be expensive to put right, if you bring in the wrong developers who wish to be a maverick on your project and make all the choices with no accountability.
With hiring software developers - I always like to use the analogy of finding a trusted contractor to build your house.
You need a contractor that you can trust to build great foundations, create a safe household, and can advise you on what can be improved, or to give you a hint of what you may have missed.
It’s best to behaviour test your developers first, as that is what will help you avoid the pains of tomorrow.
Summary
Custom web application development is helpful for building bespoke web apps for businesses. It can help you digitise your working processes, act as a competitive advantage, and improve business efficiency.
Usually, innovation is spearheaded by senior executives, but the best companies have an engineering and innovation culture that welcomes suggestions from all.
Great custom web application projects begin with great planning, business analysis, great UX design and developers.
We know there are several benefits to creating a custom web application as it can make processes more efficient and decrease paperwork.
Sometimes, the best ideas for custom web application development, are sometimes the simplest and Mailchimp, is a great example how internal innovation can lead to great success.
When evaluating SaaS versus custom web application development, consider seeking independent advice before buying under the pressure of SaaS sales executives.
This’ll prevent you from buying a product that may not fit with the wider digital strategy for your company. Spend more time to gather requirements, too.
There are several use cases for custom web application development, that may be to innovate in an industry you feel is successful you’ve noticed a gap in the market or you just wish to simplify a tedious process that is making your team unproductive.
Either way, Cypher Digital is best to help you navigate path of custom web application development at ease.
We’re impartial and we’ll never sell you something you don’t need.
Our role is to help you realise the genius within you, listen to your concerns and even if we believe you’re better off with a on-the-shelf solution SaaS product, we’ll tell you, too.
Honesty and integrity is at the forefront of how we do business.
Find out more about what we do, here. Or Book a free consultation with me, below.