Common Problems In Custom Software Development Projects and How To Avoid Them

According to Murphy’s Law, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”. And, it’s no different in custom software development.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a software project to go awry, especially when there are inexperienced developers working on it, and a lack of both communication and vision.

Although there is the potential for software development problems, the benefits of having a custom software solution far outweigh those of an out-of-the-box solution.

Below are a few of the most common causes of software development problems we’ve run into and ways to avoid them. 

Inexperienced Developers

Often, your in-house team will get to work on a custom software development solution only to realize during the process that they lack the know-how to complete the project. Unfortunately, custom software projects are often beyond the abilities of many businesses, and even in-house teams that deliver a final product may deliver one full of bugs and other issues.

If you don’t have an internal development team, or think yours may lack the skills necessary to get you the custom software solution you’re looking for, one solution is to turn to a local software firm that has experience creating custom software solutions.

Blurry Software Vision

Custom software development is a long process and requires solid planning and a clear vision to keep it moving forward. Custom software should provide value to a business, help generate revenue, and make life easier for employees and management. It’s not uncommon to be unsure about what you’re looking to get from custom software – there are a LOT of choices, after all. But, approaching your project with clarity and as much information as you can get down on paper, will be tantamount to keeping the path clear of obstacles along the way.

Work with trusted colleagues and other folks who will utilize the new software, and ask them what they need from the solution. Write down, with as much detail as possible, each feature you’d like the software to have. The more detail you can provide up front, the more likely the development team will be to get a clear vision of what you like and run with it.

Poor Communication

One major pillar of having a successful software project is having clear communication at all times. It’s very important that you’re involved at each step in the process. This helps you determine whether progress is going in the right direction, whether the required features are being implemented on time, and whether you need to drop or add features as the software takes shape.

Working with a local software firm will encourage face-to-face meetings and make it easier to conference call with your development team.

Budget Woes

Estimating the cost of custom software is difficult. But, it’s important that you get a detailed estimate from your software development team. Keep in mind, there should also be room for additional costs in case you decide on adding extra features or want to speed up the software development timeline by adding more developers to your team. Having to stall a project or stop one altogether because of unforeseen budgetary issues, can be avoided by getting a good estimate from a reputable software firm.

If you’re interested in creating a custom software development solution for your company, we want to talk to you! SOLTECH recognizes the challenges of custom software development problems and we’re here to help you prevail over each one.

We want to help every software project begin on solid ground. In The 5 Pillars Of A Successful Software Project, we share the five essential ingredients of every software project.

You can grab a copy of the guide below and share it with your team!