Strategies for Balancing Software Customization and Development Time

Developing custom software for your business is an excellent way to strip back unnecessary processes that make your company less efficient. When you build from the ground up, you get tools that are tailor-made for what you need—nothing more and nothing less. It’s an investment in your future but can be pricey if you don’t plan it well.

In software customization, development time is everything. The more hours the developers spend tweaking your app, the higher the cost. That’s where careful planning and resource management comes in.

How Long Does it Take to Build Custom Software?

Timelines for custom software development vary considerably across projects. Developers may estimate two months to a year, depending on the complexity of the work. Smaller projects like a simple business app or an employee portal would usually be on the shorter end. Custom CRMs and ERPs may take longer, with financial and healthcare systems among the most complex.

Here are a couple of factors that will influence your software customization development time:

    • Features required –complex systems with a wider scope take longer to plan and develop.
    • Number of users –optimizing software for high traffic and better performance takes time.
    • Integrations –the added challenge of third-party apps with different architectures.
    • Security requirements – setting up firewalls and compliance certificates add to the timeline.
    • Data migration –moving everything from your old systems to the new can take weeks.

Another aspect that will always influence software development time is how many revisions are necessary. This is largely within your control as a customer. If you plan optimally from the beginning, you can limit revision rounds and save on the expense of extra developer hours.

How to Make the Best Use of Your Development Time

So, how much does software development really cost? That depends on how much time you’re willing to invest to make the project run smoothly from the start. Taking an active role in the project can help your developers optimize their time and launch your new software sooner.

Start With a Clear Vision

Make sure you know precisely what you want before approaching a developer. This will speed up the planning process significantly, allowing for quick decisions on key questions. Define the scope of your project in detail, listing all the features you need and how you plan to use them. Providing examples of systems you like will give your development team a practical starting point.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Many successful business apps are built on open-source software. Talk to your developers about using existing architecture to free up more time for your specialized features. If you’re building on existing software or had custom software development in the past, supply as much technical information as you can up-front.

Be as Responsive as Possible

Assign a single point of contact to manage the project on your end so that developers know who to call and where to find feedback. Making yourself available for regular check-ins can save you hours of software customization development time. When communication weakens, it leaves room for misunderstandings and errors that can cost valuable coding hours.

Make the Software Scalable

Custom software is an investment you want to use for as long as possible before it requires updating. To avoid redesigning your system every two years, consider the capabilities you need today vs what you might need tomorrow. Talk to your developers about your future goals from the start so they can build features with flexibility in mind.

Understand the 40/20/40 Rule and Stick to It

Developers should spend the first 40% of their allocated time on planning and design, the second 20% on programming, and the final 40% on testing. Custom software application development can be a complex task with many moving parts. If your developers spend too much time coding, the testing and debugging stage will be less robust. This can leave gaps in your system that cause problems later. Ask your provider how they plan to spend their time, and make sure they send you regular updates to keep the project on track.

Find a Developer Who Respects Your Time

Finally, partner with the most appropriate custom software development company. If time management is your biggest concern, look for a provider who shares that sentiment. Client reviews can be a good indication of the level of service you receive.

At Zelifcam, we take a customer-centric approach. Our custom software development services include comprehensive project management and real-time progress tracking to give you an aerial view of your project from start to finish. For more information, please contact us.