Whenever a company goes from being a small business to an enterprise, the software requirements become vastly diverse. That’s when companies need to engage in a custom enterprise software solution that can handle all their software requirements.
You might have come across several enterprise software blogs talking about enterprise software solutions. But are you still confused regarding the concept? Not to worry! In this blog, we’ll cover everything you’ll need to know regarding a custom enterprise software solution, enterprise software development and how you can get it tailor-made so that it suits your organization's needs. So, let's dive in!
The definition of enterprise software
Enterprise software is exactly as the name suggests. It’s a software application that’s developed for enterprises. In other words, enterprise software is a solution that helps large-scale organizations achieve their goals and assist its users in various ways. It’s not meant for individual users and is instead meant for enterprises such as businesses, clubs, governments, charities, schools, etc.
Enterprise software can come in various forms, depending on the needs of the organization and the specific business processes it aims to support. Whether on-premises or cloud-based, from CRM to ERP and more, the shape your enterprise software will take will depend on your needs.
However, most ready-made enterprise software solutions available on the market aren’t the right fit for your needs. Undoubtedly, the needs of a real estate company will be different from those of an insurance provider. This is where custom enterprise software, that’s tailor made for your business, comes into the picture.
Read on: Technologies That Will Shape Enterprise Software Development in 2022
Enterprise software companies
Pretty much any large-scale organization would count as an enterprise software company. Let's look at some of the most famous software companies that use the enterprise software business model so that we can have a better understanding of this concept.
Here are a few companies that employ enterprise software business models:
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Adobe
- Workday
- Amdocs
- Citrix Systems
- ServiceNow
- Endeavor
- And many more
All about custom enterprise software
Custom enterprise software is a tailored solution developed to meet the unique needs of a specific company, addressing its particular workflows and business processes. Companies can obtain it by either developing it in-house, if they have the expertise, or by partnering with software development firms that specialize in creating bespoke software solutions.
If you don’t wish to purchase enterprise software, it’s also possible to undertake an enterprise software development project.
Creating a custom enterprise software solution follows the following life cycle:
- Requirement gathering and analysis
- Software design
- Testing of the software
- Deployment of the software
- Care and maintenance
The benefits of custom enterprise software
Custom enterprise software applications can be highly beneficial for a large-scale organization in several ways.
Track your business goals
It can be pretty easy for an organization to go off-track when it takes on more business. However, custom enterprise software is brilliant at helping you create a business plan and ensuring you stick to it. With these solutions, you’ll be able to do pretty much everything - starting from production to sales and feedback quickly and efficiently.
Enhance productivity
One of the most significant aspects of enterprise software is that it allows you to automate several business processes that might otherwise make your employees' job quite difficult. With increased automation, employees are free to focus their attention on more crucial business operations rather than just taking care of sales emails or inventory orders.
Improve compliance
Since custom enterprise solutions are made based on your requirements, you can focus on the security right from square one. This way it’s much easier for you to keep everything compliant. You can also be assured that whatever data is stored in the system is not vulnerable to cyber-attacks and cyber threats.
Examples of enterprise software
You might be wondering what kind of enterprise software you can use in your own organization. Truth be told, this depends on what kind of enterprise you are. Are you working in the financial sector or the IT sector? Or perhaps you’re in the public relations department or the sales department of a company? Depending upon the kind of enterprise you are, the enterprise solution that you choose will differ.
Here are some common examples of enterprise software types:
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Manages core business processes like accounting, procurement, and HR (e.g., SAP, Oracle ERP, Vault ERP).
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Manages customer data and interactions (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM).
Supply Chain Management (SCM): Optimizes supply chain activities (e.g., JDA, SAP SCM).
Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS): Manages employee data and HR functions (e.g., Workday, BambooHR).
Business Intelligence (BI): Analyzes business data to inform decision-making (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
Project Management Software: Manages tasks, timelines, and resources (e.g., Jira, Asana).
All these systems help streamline operations and improve efficiency across various business functions.
Enterprise software development best practices
There are several best practices that you can incorporate in the development of enterprise software to ensure that you get the best possible solution.
Establish your goals properly
Clearly define the purpose of the software. What business challenges will it solve? This ensures alignment between stakeholders, development teams, and end-users. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This helps in tracking progress and assessing success.
Decide on a reasonable timeline for your project
A well-defined timeline ensures the project remains on track. Avoid overly aggressive deadlines that can lead to rushed development and errors. Break the project into smaller milestones, with achievable deadlines, to allow flexibility for iterative improvements and adjustments.
Set a budget
Allocate funds not only for development but also for testing, maintenance, future upgrades, and unforeseen issues. Consider long-term savings by investing in scalable, secure, and reliable technology rather than cutting costs that might result in higher future expenses.
Outline the features and functionalities of your solution
Focus on key features that align with business goals, avoiding unnecessary complexity in the early stages. Engage end-users early in the process to ensure that the software addresses their needs and has intuitive functionality.
Figure out what platform to use to build your software
Evaluate whether the solution should be web-based, mobile, or desktop, and select the appropriate technology stack (e.g., cloud-based, on-premise, hybrid). Ensure the platform is scalable and can easily integrate with existing systems, providing future-proofing for business growth.
Determine the suitable development methodology
Choose between Agile for iterative development with regular feedback or Waterfall for a more linear, structured approach. Select the methodology that best suits your team’s expertise, the project’s complexity, and the level of flexibility needed for modifications.
Read on: Agile Software Development: Definition, Manifesto, Framework, And Benefits
Our experience in custom enterprise software
You can have your enterprise software application designed for pretty much any purpose. Here are a few areas where Rare Crew can help you with our specialized services:
- ERP
- CMS
- Event Management
- Brand Licensing
- Sales Management
- Product Management
- Hospitality Management
- Facility Management
- CRM
Get started with Rare Crew
As you can see, custom-made enterprise software often out-performs ready-made solutions. Not only can you decide what features you want to have, but you can also have the workflow designed to suit your needs. Are you ready to launch an enterprise software solution that’s the right fit for your business? Get in touch with Rare Crew today.
