Software in Houston

You’re looking for software in Houston, but you’re not sure where to turn. First you must determine which type of software solution is right for your specific needs. There are three types of software solutions:

Canned Software- This is pre-made “out of the box” software which can be immediately deployed i.e., QuickBooks. This term also refers to membership portals and applications which can be utilized to accommodate existing needs, without the purchase or license of an actual application. As a generalization, if a canned solution for a business need is available, it is typically the most cost effective solution.

Semi-Custom- The term refers to canned software which has been modified through custom modules. This approach is useful when a canned solution is available to address the vast majority of your business requirements but fails to adequately address key functional objectives.

Custom Software- As its name implies, this is the development and integration of a completely new software solution. However, even with custom software, it is often common to integrate existing modules or third party software packages to decrease the time and cost associated with a given application.

Finding the Right Solution

As previously mentioned, if a canned software solution can address your functional objectives, it is almost always the best choice. In most cases, you will not be able to find a software package that fits everyone of your business requirements, however, the cost associated with a semi-custom or custom software solution can be significant. If you are weighing the deployment of a limited function canned solution with a custom approach, we recommend getting an initial estimate for a semi-custom or custom solution and then performing a cost benefit analysis.

Even if a canned solution can adequately address your objectives, there are instances when it makes sense to develop a custom solution. For example, licensing fees may be cost prohibitive. You might want to mitigate your long-term cost by investing in your own application. Also, if you are relying on a third party solution, such as a portal, what if they go out of business? Do your business functions cease at that time?

Semi-Custom Software

Semi-custom software solutions are often touted as a "quick-fix" to inadequacies offered by existing software packages. However, be very careful. Beyond potential limitations with licensing agreements, modifying an existing software package, with a team who did not develop the initial package, can be quite difficult.

Without getting too technical, software is a series of interrelated modules. So, (if not built very well) modification of one module may affect the performance of a seemingly unrelated module in another area of the application. If the programming team did not actually build the initial application, it can become a cumbersome and time consuming process i.e., expensive.

This is not to say it’s not a viable option in many situations, you just need to be very clear at defining your objectives and make sure the programming team has an in-depth understanding of the original application.

If you are planning on modifying an existing software application, the best advice is to hire a company for an application assessment. This typically doesn’t take too long and therefore requires a limited monetary investment. Subsequent to their review, you should have good idea of what would be involved in the modification of your application.

Custom Software Development

The key to the development of a custom software application is planning. No matter the size of the project, clearly defining the objectives at the begging of the project is the number one factor affecting the success of the application.

Our approach to custom software development is a little unique within the industry. We develop a mock-application (a visual representation of the application) in conjunction with a specifications document prior to initiating the programming phase. This allows our clients to review every aspect of the application, prior to programming. This approach ensures the client will get what they want, but also mitigates the possibility of a change order.

Our focus is on the development of completely custom software and web applications; however, contingent upon the results of an application assessment, we do provide semi-custom solutions.

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