Enterprise software development follows a predictable lifecycle that can be summed up in three steps:

1. Planning and preparation – Organizations need to define their goals, expectations, and use cases for the software before they can begin to determine which solutions are best suited for the job. A clear understanding of the task at hand is essential for selecting the right applications.

2. Implementation and integration – Once an organization has selected the right enterprise software, they must then ensure that it is properly installed and configured. This includes connecting any necessary hardware components and setting up network connectivity.

3. Maintenance and optimization – To keep their software functioning at optimal levels, organizations need to regularly update the system with new features, bug fixes, and security patches. They should also monitor its performance to identify areas of improvement and address any problems. Finally, they need to back up their data regularly to prevent the loss of critical information.

However, for most vendors, this is easier said than done. They roll out new features amidst much fanfare and then quietly discard them as if nobody will notice. It could be due to user feedback and lack of adoption. At the end of the day, our costly investments in their software futures don’t pay off. For enterprise, it results in a waste of resources and lost potential. To prevent this, enterprises can take holistic approach when it comes to enterprise software. Despite this, features being rolled out and then discarded is a sad reality of today’s enterprise software landscape.

Why do vendors discard features in the first place?

Vendors should evaluate the entire enterprise environment before investing in any new feature or product. It can’t be called a collaborative process if the vendors are putting market sentiments above the technology, people and processes they have access to. In the blind rush to bring in new customers, enterprise software development vendors are becoming inconsiderate to how these new features would integrate into existing systems and processes. Features that were supposed to leverage synergies between different components of their IT infrastructure are now minor webservices hanging by the thread, preparing for the fallout.

Software vendors should provide comprehensive post-sales support to help enterprises ensure their investments are paying off and being used to the fullest extent possible even when the feature is deprecated. Your SLA may indicate otherwise.

What can enterprise software development vendors do about it?

By taking a more comprehensive approach to enterprise software, enterprises will be able to avoid costly mistakes and ensure they get the most out of their investments. This can help them improve productivity, reduce costs and ultimately increase profitability. With a more strategic approach, enterprises can create a competitive advantage and remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

Once the right mix of technology, people and processes is in place, enterprises should focus on ensuring that their investments are being used to their fullest potential by regularly monitoring usage and adoption. They should also analyze user feedback to identify areas for improvement or further optimization.

But what can we do about it as enterprise software customers?

The short answer: Custom enterprise software development.

The long answer: Why is custom enterprise software development better?

Custom enterprise software development can provide a range of benefits to your business. It can help you increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. By developing custom software tailored to your organization’s specific needs, it can save you money by eliminating the need for expensive off-the-shelf packages or services. Custom software can also be tailored to your company’s individual processes and requirements, allowing you to get the most out of existing investments.

In addition, custom software is designed to be flexible and scalable, so it can grow with your business. As technology advances, custom software can easily be updated to take advantage of new features or capabilities. It can also be integrated with other applications or databases, allowing for faster and easier data access.

Custom software can help you to increase productivity by streamlining processes and reducing manual labor. It can also provide real-time feedback on performance and user behavior, so your organization can make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently. Finally, custom software allows you to customize the user interface and experience to best suit the needs of your customers. This can make it easier for them to interact with your organization, leading to increased customer satisfaction.

Overall, custom enterprise software development is a great way to optimize your business’s operations and improve its efficiency. By investing in tailored software solutions, you can save money, improve customer satisfaction, and streamline processes. With the right development team in place, you can make sure that your custom software meets all of your company’s needs and provides a unique user experience for customers.

By investing in custom enterprise software development today, you can ensure that your organization is prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Furthermore, custom enterprise software development can also help to increase security, as it is designed with your organization's specific needs in mind. By focusing on the specific goals and objectives of your company, custom software can be tailored to fit its individual security.

Read on: What Is Enterprise Software And How Is It Useful?

Is custom enterprise software development for you?

It is common to get stuck in the delusional lifecycle of enterprise software development. It could be the feature that made you pick the vendor over its competitors that got axed a few months after your business decision. Most of us can live without that one feature with some workarounds and third-party tools. However, those businesses that want a more predictable lifecycle of their enterprise applications must do away with the uncertainty that modern software vendors bring.

Read on: How Custom Software Development Can Help Your Business.

Custom software development may come as an expensive alternative at first glance. But the benefits outweigh the cost in the long run. You decide which features it will have and for how long. Once you’re on an enterprise software developed to satisfy only your business needs, it's hard to go back to one where the vendor dictates the fate of your business applications.

Is your organization considering custom software development? Rare Crew can help. Schedule a free consultation with us to find out the best path forwards for your business.