Custom software or an off-the-shelf subscription?

SaaS or custom software: which pays off more?

A subscription program (SaaS) pays off when the process is standard, there are few users and the company wants to start within days. Custom software pays off when the system has to follow your own process, connect closely to your ERP, or when subscription costs grow with the number of users. Calculate the cost over several years, not over the first month.

When is an off-the-shelf solution enough?

• the process is standard and gives the company no advantage
• the integrations you need come out of the box
• a quick start matters more than a tailored fit

When is it worth ordering custom software?

• off-the-shelf tools force workarounds and manual work
• the system has to connect several programs that no ready-made product links
• the data and logic must stay under the company’s control
• the number of users or operations is growing fast

Freelance developer or IT agency: which to choose?

A freelancer is sometimes cheaper and works well for small, well-defined tasks. A team offers continuity when a project needs several skills at once (design, programming, integration, testing) and support after launch. For systems your sales depend on, ask who picks up the phone when something stops working.

How does the custom software development process work at a software house?

At KCD Studio a project goes through six stages:

• conversation: a free consultation about goals and constraints
• analysis and quote with scope, schedule and price, usually within 48 hours
• UX/UI design, ending in a clickable prototype you can test before any programming
• development in short sprints, with a progress demo every week
• rollout, including data migration and team training
• support: maintenance and further development under a separate order