Why are more and more companies investing in individually developed software solutions instead of standard applications? We investigated this question in a comprehensive market analysis and examined how custom software can sustainably transform business processes. The results show: The trend toward individual software development is far more than just a temporary phenomenon – it reflects a fundamental realignment in how companies use technology as a strategic competitive advantage.
The fact is: standard software reaches its limits in many companies. Current surveys among decision-makers from medium-sized businesses show that a large portion of respondents are only partially satisfied with their current software solution. Many report adaptation problems, inefficient workarounds, and lack of integration with existing systems. At the same time, competitive pressure is increasing in almost all industries, forcing companies to continuously optimize and digitize their business processes. Software automation plays a central role in this.
In this environment, individual software solutions are increasingly proving to be the more promising approach. Instead of adapting business processes to the specifications of standard software, forward-thinking companies develop custom applications that exactly meet their specific requirements. Our software development experts accompany companies in this transformation process with a holistic approach that goes far beyond pure programming. Collaboration with UX design experts is an essential success factor.
1. Precision Instead of Compromise: The Key to Optimized Business Processes
The decisive advantage of individual software solutions lies in their ability to precisely map and support business processes without having to make compromises. Unlike standardized products designed for a broad market, custom solutions are developed from the ground up for a company's specific requirements. This approach corresponds to the principle of modern web development and can be applied to all types of business applications.
An impressive example from our project practice at ACCELARI Development Ltd. & Co. KG: For a medium-sized logistics company, we developed an integrated dispatching solution that is completely tailored to the customer's highly specialized processes. While standard solutions only covered part of the requirements, our individual development could seamlessly integrate all core processes – from order intake through route planning to vehicle management and billing. The result: a significant efficiency increase and a substantial reduction in processing time per order.
2. Seamless Integration: The End of Data Silos
Another critical advantage of custom software solutions is their ability for seamless integration into existing system landscapes. In grown IT environments, isolated standard solutions often lead to problematic data silos, redundant entries, and inconsistent information. Individual developments, on the other hand, can be precisely aligned to existing interfaces and thus ensure consistent, company-wide data flow.
This advantage becomes particularly clear in practice when it comes to integrating different business areas. An example from our portfolio: For a manufacturing company, we developed an integrative platform that brings together all business processes – from customer inquiry through production to delivery and aftercare – in a unified solution. By eliminating media breaks and automating handover processes, throughput times could be significantly reduced and data quality markedly improved. This corresponds to the requirements of modern digital business processes, as they are also standard in the e-commerce sector.
3. Agile Development: Flexibility as a Decisive Competitive Advantage
In a business environment characterized by increasingly faster innovation cycles and changing requirements, flexibility becomes the decisive success factor. This shows another advantage of individual software development: Through agile methods, custom solutions can be continuously adapted and further developed. Similar principles can also be found in modern app development, where rapid adaptation to market changes is crucial.
At ACCELARI Development Ltd. & Co. KG, we rely on an iterative development process that enables our customers to react quickly to market changes. Applications grow and develop parallel to company requirements. In long-term studies with our customers, we were able to prove that individually developed solutions could be adapted to new market requirements significantly faster than standard software – a considerable competitive advantage in dynamic markets.
4. Technological Future Security: Long-term Investment Protection
An often underestimated aspect of custom software solutions is their technological future security. While standard software is often tied to proprietary technologies and manufacturer-specific development cycles, individual developments can be based on open standards and future-proof technologies. Consideration of data security standards is an essential factor for long-term success.
In our development practice, we consistently rely on modular architectures that enable gradual modernization without endangering the overall system. This advantage is particularly impressive with long-running systems: For a customer from the financial sector, we were able to keep an originally developed solution from several years ago at the current technological standard through continuous modernization – without system changes, data losses, or operational interruptions.
The long-term perspective shows: Although the initial investment in individual software solutions is often higher than purchasing standard products, costs are usually amortized through increased efficiency, avoided adaptation efforts, and longer usage duration within a few years. In total cost of ownership (TCO) considerations over a longer period, custom solutions prove to be the economically more advantageous option in most cases we examined.
An article by Volodymyr Krasnykh
CEO and President of the Strategy and Leadership Committee of the ACCELARI Group
