The Benefits of Custom Application Development

Understanding the significance of having your own customized software can make a life or death difference in your business. Our world today demands everything to be better, faster, newer— and that includes whatever service or product you offer to your clients. So, knowing the benefits of custom application development will give you the bandwidth to make an informed decision on how to best approach innovations in your business.

Let’s start with the the most basic question:

What is Custom Application Development?

Custom application development refers to the process of creating a tailor-made application for certain end-users. This involves designing, coding, and releasing a software program created to make a process more convenient.

For example, if your doctor still uses phone calls to book appointments, a custom app could transform their system to make it easier for patients to not only book appointments virtually but to access their personal healthcare files, a history of visits, prescriptions, and automated reminders of upcoming consultations. This idea can be applied to almost any industry where there are processes between two parties— like a company and a customer, or a business and its employees.

Why Should I Want a Custom Application?

Whether you’re an entrepreneur of one or of five-thousand, the services you offer to your clients and employees can always be improved on. These days, people flock towards the businesses that use the latest technology for the sake of user convenience. Not only does it make their customer’s experience with that company better, it also builds a reputation for the name of the business.

To go back to the example of the doctor’s office, a medical practice that offers that level of convenience and transparency would be turning away clients, while the one that doesn’t may struggle to keep clients and earn good reviews.

To summarize, here are three benefits of custom application development:

1. Stand Out From the Competition

   A custom application can make a huge difference when customers or employees are comparing which company to go with. There’s a concept called the 2 millimetre shift that emphasizes how small degrees of improvement can create massive waves of success for a business. Those 2 millimetres can set you apart from the businesses that seem to be doing the bare minimum. Offer something just a little better (like a customized application) and all the eyeballs will be on you.

2. Get all the features you need

   The amazing part of custom application development is that you will end up with a product that is completely tailored-made for your business. From branding to functionality, the processes that used to take a lot of time and effort become seamless and intuitive, getting your business the results it needs faster than ever before— all while looking sleek.

3. Save your business UNNECESSARY expenses

   Velvetech outlines that using a ready-made app “might seem less expensive at first glance, [but] it often has recurring costs that make it less beneficial in the long run”. By getting all the functionalities you require from the get-go, you also avoid the headache of investing into a one-size-fits-all application only to find that it’s missing integral elements that are vital to making your business successful. Using custom application development from the beginning can save you the unforeseen expenses that other solutions don’t present right away. Create according to your needs, your timeline, and your budget from the start.

How Can I Create a Custom Application?

If you’re convinced that a custom application is the way to go, the next step would be to figure out how to actually make that happen. There are a few options if you have an idea for an app, with some better than others.

1. Create it yourself

   If you’re a coding and design genius with loads of spare time, you can take on a custom application as a DIY project. It’s completely possible for one person to create a custom app, and it’s pretty cheap since it’s just you labouring away. Whether you can or not depends on your level of skill and the degree of complexity your app idea entails. However, we don’t recommend that you make this a one-person show; custom apps that are beautiful, user-friendly, and functional usually take large teams of experienced engineers. That brings us to our next option;

2. Hire in-house

   If you own or are part of a business, you could always hire on people to be part of your company and create your app. If you have the time and money to hire the right talent, taking on a custom application may be viable given you have enough resources to spare. But beware: this can cause a detrimental drain on your business. If you don’t balance your work force right, you could find yourself thousands of dollars in the hole without ever seeing the final product. It’s a risk, but an option nonetheless. To avoid these setbacks, see our third option;

3. Outsource an IT team

   Outsourcing is when you hire a company specializing in software development that comes with their own teams of highly trained coders ready to build anything you’d like. This is great option since you don’t have to take on any risks when it comes to turnover (like when hiring in-house), and you are always going to have enough people working on your app as it’s up to the company you hire to staff appropriately to your project. It can be expensive, but it mitigates your risks and guarantees a ready product at the end of the estimated timeline. If you want to learn more about this option, read about the five benefits of outsourcing.

The Takeaway

Custom application development offers an extensive list of benefits to any given company, including:

• Attracting more customers and employees

• Boosting your business processes

• Saving time and money

The cost is worth the customization, and increases the capability for your business to scale. You can also own the code, and make changes to your app whenever there’s a need. It’s time to be at the cutting-edge of technology and stand out from the crowd. You and your customers will be glad you did.

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ISU Corp is an award winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

How to Build Software With an End-User Mindset

Software development is a solution or an answer to the needs of a technical environment. This can be something as large and complicated as an app with millions of users or as simple as a small-scale e-commerce store. What’s important to note is that these solutions are not for the development team's satisfaction, but rather for the parties who’ve brought their issues to be solved by the development team. Sounds like common sense right? Yes, we understand this concept to be true but it is not always at the forefront of a development team's project roadmap. 

Any software developer can piece together an idea and materialize it in an application. However, for that application to succeed, there needs to be sufficient research, communication with the customer, and testing. In this section, we will be going over how development teams can enforce what’s known as an “end-user mindset” through their development process. 

What is an “end-user” mindset?

The concept is quite simple, but that doesn’t make the execution aspect easy. An end-user mindset is implemented by aligning the development process with the needs of your target audience in mind. This means that consistent improvement, data-driven development, and customer satisfaction remain at the front of all team members' concerns. 

Why is it important?

The reason there is any need to emphasize this approach is that developers commonly release the minimum standard features that check the boxes of the job description but don’t take into account the long-term success of their customers. This isn’t necessarily intentional as there can be issues in communication between developers and the sales team arranging the deadline or the team might simply be unable to identify bugs in their code.

The possible issues are a long list; some can be mitigated with scrum/agile methodologies, but it doesn’t make the product bulletproof or replace the value of tending to the end-user's needs. Even during testing phases, every possible contingency cannot be recognized and tested, which always leaves that risk on the table.

Consider that technology and data are fairly new factors in decision making but they’ve established themselves as pillars of the process. Most businesses today know that technology is a make-or-break factor for the team's success. This makes business in the tech sector extremely volatile. The United States alone is home to nearly 50,000 tech startups, most of which will not survive their first 5-10 years in business. This is the most competitive market in the world, and differentiating your business from the competition with an end-user mindset might be a contributor to your success. 

Here are some tactics to set your organization off on the right foot:

User-centred design (UCD)

User-centred design is a byproduct of user-focused development methodology. This approach follows guidelines that are formed based on analysis from interactions with the end-user. For example, this includes prioritizing touch bases, identifying requirements, and overall observance of the behaviours of the audience throughout the software development process.

Essentially, UCD is meant to throw out the client's old playbook and implement new software solutions as opposed to adding optimization features to the original system. The best software developers will take feedback into account and use it as inspiration for the changes they make to development features. The idea is that consistent communication with your end-user means you’ll know what they want and how they want it. Once that is established, you can build a product that addresses all concerns and will support the application's long-term functionality.

Test the product’s viability

Before full-blown software development is implemented, it will be wise to undergo tests that ensure what you’re building is something people want. A concept can seem like a great idea when you map it out, but nothing will tell the truth like the reaction of the market.

Cost-effective testing: Testing software doesn’t need to be done on a large scale audience. An effective method could be to gather several people and observe how they react and interact with various features of an application. Additionally, simply asking consumers their areas of concern with the system (previous or prototype) and what aspects they like are great for constructing a product that the market wants.

Identify requirements

Basing a product around the desires of your market requires you to compile a report of your product's goals, the overall vision, scope, cost, and timeline. The purpose of this is again, to make sure all necessary features are built into the product without having to go back and change too much. 

When this aspect is neglected, it leads to communication issues, an unorganized workflow, and an overall lack of cohesion which will result in a poor final result. 

Strategically improving the product

New factors (both external and internal) are going to present themselves in the market as well as in your organization. Most companies have a clear vision of how they want their product to look and operate overall but still fall short by neglecting a plan for consistent innovation. Consider some of the social media platforms you or people you know use daily. Notice that there are constant updates to the look and feel of the platform, some of which stay, and others improved on. Who inspires these changes? 

Well, notice the recent trend of platforms adopting TikTok's approach to content delivery (Instagram reels, Snapchat Spotlight, or YouTube shorts). These changes are made from observations in the market. Likely two questions need to be answered when a platform makes strategic changes; What does our audience like? How can we make it our own?

TikTok’s delivery of content is a good example because it demonstrates how platforms notice what keeps users engaged. When platforms saw TikTok’s usage rate blow past theirs, they implemented their approach to even the playing field. 

This concept is the same with any business and it is why software development is so relevant to keep up with ever-changing markets. 

Build scalable software

Branching off the last point, to keep up with changes not only in the market but with your company's digital Infrastructure requires software that can manage the load. Without scalability, companies will run into issues facing downtime, maintenance, and even possible security breaches.

When you start the development process with scalability as a priority, you’re giving your brand the upper hand with benefits such as reduced cost of maintenance, unique user experience, and faster functioning. Every enterprise software will require scalability to meet the demands of the organization.

The Takeaway

Every product is created based on a concept meant to either help a specific niche or change something for everyone. Companies like Apple or Tesla have a vision of everyone using their products, whereas a gaming company or a women's clothing e-commerce store would cater to a specific audience. Whichever side you’re on, an end-user mindset is where the most powerful inspiration comes from. 

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

Top 7 Custom Software Development Companies in Canada

Choosing a software development company to work with can seem like a daunting task. There’s an array of great choices out there, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top seven companies that could be the best choice for you. These are all Canadian companies that offer the best of the best, and we’ve amalgamated the highlights of each for you to choose whoever best suits your company’s needs.

 If you’re wondering why we chose specifically Canadian software companies, here’s a list of good reasons as to why it’s in your best interest to hire in Canada. 

This list is in no particular order. Each company offers something unique to the game, and they all offer pros to consider. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. Lunarstorm Technologies 

In business for over two decades, Lunarstorm is your go-to team of hard working professionals that will bring your project to life. Working with individual-sized businesses to companies with over 350 stores nationwide, Lunarstorm has the experience you need.

With clients ranging from the University of Guelph to OK Tire, Lunarstorm specializes in IT support, software development, web design and SEO. If you’re looking to create a beautiful website that ranks on Google’s search engine results page, Lunarstorm has the talent to back you up.

2. Quantum Mob 

Quantum Mob is a custom software development firm that helps businesses ship more often, add resourcing to your product team, and build or refresh apps your business needs to scale. Based in Toronto, QM specializes in creating beautiful and functional products that deliver results, especially for loyalty programs and user-end applications. Their clients include Aeroplan, Air Miles, and AMD. If you’ve got similar projects, Quantum Mob is sure to help you kickstart your plans by helping you identify the problems in your business.

3. ISU Corp

Located in the technology triangle, ISU Corp has over 17 years of experience in providing high-end custom software development for companies like General Electric, Labstat, the University of Waterloo, and the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan. From crafting specifications to providing top developers in your time zone, ISU Corp has completed thousands of projects making technology as it should be: simple. 

Trusted by start-ups, midsize and Fortune 500 companies, ISU Corp is the industry leader for innovation. Their new product, the ISU Core, is a time and money-saving platform that already comes with common features pre-built and ready to customize to your company’s branding. This can help save you up to 70% of implementation costs, all while giving you the software to scale your business in record time. 

ISU Corp is an excellent choice if you’re look fore a Custom Software Development Company in Canada

4. Duck Labs

Duck Labs delivers practical solutions to difficult business problems, leveraging technology in ways your customers will love. They focus on “design-led development”, which means that throughout the development process, they are keeping your customers’ experience in mind. Their commitment to user-centred innovation means the users point of view is represented throughout the project: their goals, tasks, pain points, and needs; business strategies and requirements; and the technological suitability and benefits. If you are customer-oriented, then Duck Labs is the way to go.

5. Spaceo 

Looking for a custom Android app development solution? Spaceo has been recognized as one of the most trusted Android app development companies amongst MBs and enterprises to grow the business. Whether you need a customized app for Android smartphones, wearable, or TV, their Android developers provide a reliable solution using Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA tools. Spaceo develops cloud-based Uber-like mobile app solutions for iOS, Android, and Web platforms for a number of industries across the globe. They have designed 50+ apps like Uber successfully, whether it is for food, taxi-booking, marijuana, beauty, or any other service provider. Does your business keep things on-the-go? Consider this company to help you with your software needs.

7. Whitecap Canada

Whitecap is a leading custom software solutions provider in the GTA, helping organizations of all sizes to reimagine and transform their businesses for the digital future. 

Their mission is to enable companies to better serve their customers, increase productivity and improve operating efficiencies by delivering quality custom software solutions, giving them a competitive advantage within the markets they target and with the customers they serve. They strive for excellence in their work by employing proven industry leading technologies and best practices for software development with a keen focus on security and user experience (UX) design. 

8. Rootquotient 

RootQuotient is a group of highly talented individuals in the field of technology who came together with the dream of building a great technology entity which would impact lives of millions positively. They design & develop applications that are innovative on the tech-front.

Rootquotient keeps exceptionally high standards. They strive to create results that not just meet the client’s needs but that ensure their success and make them stand out. Their core focus is on creating a holistic digital solution for clients’ specific needs with their tech expertise in Web, Mobile, Data and Cloud.

The Takeaway

In the end, each company brings a specialization to the table that may suit your business needs best. From android development to streamlined app creation through the ISU Core, you can find a solution that will help your business scale faster than ever before. Outsourcing through a custom software development company in Canada is a great way to cut back on costs, speed up your project timelines and get results that only a team of highly trained experts can deliver.

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ISU Corp is an award winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects.  Contact us here.