What is a Custom App
A Custom App is a piece of software developed specifically for a user, a group of users or an organization. The software is designed to address their needs precisely as opposed to the less specialized off-the-shelf software. Custom software is typically created just by a third-party by contract or in-house group of developers and is not packaged for reselling (although Custom Software is sometimes designed specifically to solve a specific problem and then resell – such as Software as a Service/SaaS)
Custom App vs. Off The Shelf Software
We can help define Custom Software by defining what is is not. Off-the-shelf software is a packaged software “available to a large audience with similar needs, the software either has features that can be used by the entire audience, or it can be configured to work for more specific needs. An example of Of The Shelf software is Microsoft Word, which is designed for the mass public as a diverse solution to the many different needs of its users. It does not, however, cater to any specific entity like custom software would.
Process
Each Custom Apps that is developed, must address many different steps, from proposal and scope, design, development, release and support. For example, an application created for a bank would only be used by that company and the department for which it was designed. The software is designed keeping the company’s infrastructure, branding and implementation needs in mind, implying it can only work for that organization.
Pros and Cons
There are Pros and Cons to both Custom Software and Off The Shelf Software that one should consider when deciding how to proceed. Whereas you can immediately purchase an off-the-shelf software application, customized software requires time to design, develop and launch. The cost of off-the-shelf software can be distributed between many different users, the investment in custom software is done by a single company
Comparison
The following table is a very basic comparison of some of the different aspects of
| Custom Software | Off The Shelf Software | |
| Cost | More Expensive | Less Expensive |
| Timeline | Longer | Immediate |
| Flexibility | Unlimited | Limited |
| Ownership | Company | None |
| Compliance | Controlled internally | Unknown development/process |
| Data | Stored owned internally | May or may not be owned internally |
Examples
Some examples of the Custom Apps Matraex has created for customers recently
Bogus Basin Ski Resort – Schools / Groups Web App
An application to manage the hundreds of schools that send children to Ski Lessons.
Simple interfaces for securely inviting school coordinators to input students, heights, weights, experience / lesson level and rental information. Displays incremental costs and a final invoice as well as custom reports for the Ski School and Rental departments. Automatically allows for Chaperones and calculates school bus needs and provides a user login to the Bus Companies for coordination.
Better Business Bureau – Business Search Iphone / Android Mobile App
A custom mapping app on the Apple and Google App Stores which highlights BBB Accredited businesses in categorized and search results.
Matraex worked closely with the BBB designers to create the User Interface. Matraex also worked closely with the BBB data team and created a fast and robust server infrastructure to store and search the 16 million + business records.
