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Guide

Custom or off-the-shelf software? How to choose

When a ready-made product is enough and when building your own pays off.

By Globalsoft TeamOctober 25, 20264 min read

Off-the-shelf software

Ready-made tools are quick to start and cheaper at the beginning. They suit standard needs such as accounting or email, but you adapt your work to the product.

Custom software

Custom software is built around how your company works, so it can remove manual steps, connect your systems and grow with you. It costs more at the start and needs a good partner.

  • Your process is a competitive advantage
  • Several tools must work together
  • Per-user fees keep growing
  • Your sector has specific rules, such as local invoicing or reporting

How to decide

List what you need, price both routes over three years including licences and time lost to workarounds, and start with a small first version of the custom option to limit risk.

Globalsoft TeamGlobalsoft · Erbil · Istanbul

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