Is Custom Software Right for Your Business? Find Out in Ten Minutes! >

Schedule a Call
hamburger icon

Software

Software Quality: Is Your Existing Software Solution Always Breaking?

by

Businesses rely on their technology stacks now more than ever, with software controlling or monitoring nearly every aspect of a company’s operations. That’s a lot of moving parts, and a lot of things can go wrong. Apex Global has highlighted the problems of poor software quality. Increased work interruptions, loss of revenue, increased support costs, and decreased reputation are all downsides to having software that isn’t quite up to the task. 

Challenges of Poor Quality Software

In the case of your business operations, there are two ways software can be of low quality.

    1. The code itself is subpar. This will result in crashes and unexpected behavior, causing the time you spend fighting with the software to outweigh the benefit you’re getting out of it. If you’re experiencing software with poor quality code, you already know because you’re experiencing it on a regular basis. 
    2. The software isn’t integrated well. Even seemingly well-written code can cause problems, but the problems may seem less obvious since most people have just accepted them as the way things are. When software doesn’t work well together, it can cause many frustrating problems, including missing information, slowdowns, and crashes. 

No matter the reason your software isn’t working, there are a few big issues that can arise as a result of poor quality software (especially when you’re using multiple software programs to manage your business). 

Data Lock-in

Software companies aren’t always big on letting people move to the competition. When this happens, businesses find themselves stuck using a proprietary data format. The information can usually be transferred, but not without hassle and headache. You may like your vendor now, but will they continue to suit all your needs as your company grows? Many software giants have come and gone over the years. Can you ensure the developer of yours will still be around long into the future? If not, the data lock-in could become a problem for you.

Code Bloat

As software ages, it rarely ages well. New technologies come along that need to be integrated, but backward compatibility with the old software must be retained, or else everything breaks. The result is bloated, unwieldy code that leads to even more slowdowns, bugs, longer time between bug fixes, and a host of other headaches. 

Lack of Flexibility

Even the best software has interoperability limits. With all of the software solutions in place at businesses, many of which are custom-designed, it isn’t possible for all of the programs to work well together. But in order for a business to be successful, the tools you rely on need to function like a well-oiled machine. To get things working, you need to hire an outside development firm to perform the integrations — but then, you’ll be right back to the typical problems of poorly written software.

The Cost of Poor Software Implementations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing businesses to hastily upgrade their tech stacks, 2020 was not a good year for IT departments. According to a report by the Consortium for Information and Software Security (CISQ), businesses lost over $2 trillion to poor quality software.

While the pandemic certainly inflated the numbers, $520 billion of that was from problems with legacy software, the types of problems that will crop up eventually anyway. Another $260 billion was lost to failed software projects. Inflated though they may be, these numbers show just how bad outdated software and poor development can hurt businesses. While the investment in software may seem like a lot of money upfront, it will certainly save you even more money over time. 

Does Your Business Struggle with Poor Quality Software?

If your existing software stack isn’t working, then a custom software solution may be the answer to your problems. If you’re looking for a better software solution, our expert team of developers can analyze how your business operates and design a system that will take advantage of modern advances so you can replace legacy software before it gives you even more problems. 

Contact us today to speak with our team and see how we can help you.

3 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Custom Software Developer

by

Because technology is evolving and consumer demand is increasing, the need for software development services is growing. Not only does custom software streamline operations since it’s tailored to a particular business’s needs, but it also offers better security and an easy way to add updates and additional features as business grows. 

Software development can be an intimidating subject for those who don’t know much about it. However, it’s really a wise investment for businesses of all sizes and industries. That’s because custom software is designed for a single user or group of users within an organization.

Unlike more conventional and widely available off-the-shelf software, it’s meant to directly meet these users’ needs. It comes with everything you need, and nothing you don’t, which means it’s not just faster, but also more efficient and convenient. 

When a business has a unique technical requirement that can’t be met by off-the-shelf software, they often choose to hire a team of software developers to build custom software. Since the software is developed specifically for these users, it’s not packaged for resale, which means once you have custom software developed for your business, it’s yours. 

What Does Custom Software Look Like?

The custom software development process looks different for every business, because every business has different requirements. However, here’s what it typically includes:

Customization

Software customization is the process of tailoring and personalizing software to suit the needs of a particular business. This means making sure you have all the critical components to help you successfully run your business. 

Modernization

Software that was built 20, 10, or even 5 years ago will look much different than software built today. Your software should be modern, fast, and effective, and modernization means your software will be up-to-date and relevant in the face of constantly shifting market and business demands. 

Management 

Different management practices ensure effectiveness by providing assistance with installations, upgrades, versioning, efficiency, and availability optimization, as well as service desk functions.  Once you’ve invested in custom software, you need it to be managed properly so you don’t wind up with a defunct, broken, or malfunctioning piece of software. 

Before You Hire a Software Developer…

To construct something, including software, you must first identify your current methods, goals, and success criteria.

1.Think ahead.

For effective custom software developments, make sure you understand the following about your business:

  • What is the actual state of affairs? Unless you’re the one doing the work day in and day out, you have to find out what’s really going on in every department. That you need to talk to your team! See what they need, what they could do without, and figure out what your non-negotiables are when it comes to software development. 
  • What motivates you to make changes? Don’t make the mistake of assuming anything would be better. Test the idea, or at the very least, get input from stakeholders at all levels. Simple changes can make a big difference in the way your business operates, and could potentially increase your profitability over time. 
  • What is the perfect state of affairs? Create a diagram of the desired workflows and other processes that the program can support. When it comes to software development, your budget does matter, but when you work with a custom software developer, they can help you figure out how to achieve your most important goals without breaking your budget. 

2.Communicate effectively. 

If you’re paying for something as costly as custom software, then you deserve to get your money’s worth. So make sure you communicate with your team to figure out the most important aspects of your custom software; then, be sure to communicate that to your developer of choice.

Since the development phase necessitates a great deal of information about your business and all of its requirements, it’s best to hire a developer who’s committed to communicating with you regularly and clearly. At the same time, you should be sure to do the same for the best results and the most for your money.

3.Choose carefully.

There are many ways to get started with custom software for your business, and plenty of places where you can find someone to build what you need.

For example, you can choose:

  • Your own IT department
  • An individual you directly employ or contract for the job
  • Developers who specialize in custom software development

Custom software development is a big project, and while it’s tempting to use your own internal team or outsource it to an individual, that’s not always the best option. By using your own team, you take them away from their usual responsibilities, which can slow down other areas of the business. You also run the risk of wasting time and money if it turns out your team doesn’t have all the skills needed to complete the project (which you sometimes don’t find out until halfway through!). 

When you hand over the project to an individual, they may have the know-how, but unlike a professional software development company, they may not have the processes in place to help your project run smoothly from beginning to end. This often leads to frustration, and sometimes disrupts your business so much that you have to halt the project completely. There’s also the possibility that they’re not as qualified to do the job as they originally appeared, and you could wind up with low-quality software you can’t even use. In either case, it’ll cost your business time and money that could’ve been better spent elsewhere. 

If you’re looking into custom software development options for your business, we highly recommend choosing an experienced developer who will ensure your project turns out the way you want.

Get Reliable Custom Software for Your Business  

At Dymeng Services, our custom software can streamline your business process so you can focus on your work. From the start, we’ll take the time to learn about your company and build something that helps your business run better. 

To find out how we can help your business run more smoothly through quality software, contact us today.

Are Enterprise Systems Only for Large Companies?

by

You want efficiency and profitability for your business. Oftentimes, that means you need software in place that streamlines your day-to-day business processes. For some businesses, this means enterprise systems. While the term “enterprise” may lead you to believe it’s only for large corporations, it actually can be used for businesses of all sizes. It’s all a matter of what your business goals are and how you can achieve them. 

What Are Enterprise Systems?

It’s important to distinguish enterprise systems from enterprise software. While it sounds intimidating, enterprise software really just refers to software that’s designed to serve the needs of a business as a whole rather than the individuals within it. 

Enterprise systems are a little more complex, as they integrate multiple applications, protocols, and formats to support your business operations. An enterprise system includes everything your business needs, all in one place, so you don’t have to mix and match software.

For example, rather than multiple software solutions for your accounting, inventory software, and customer service needs, you can use one overarching system that includes all of these. Examples include ERP (enterprise resource planning) and a CRM system (customer relationship management). It’s simply an easier, better way to work, especially for businesses that have many moving parts. 

What Are the Advantages of Enterprise Systems?

By integrating all of your data into one system, you only have to enter data and details once and let it propagate through the system, saving time and reducing errors.

Additionally, enterprise systems give you greater ability to analyze data. They can help you coordinate with suppliers, produce high-quality sales forecasts, and manage employee time effectively. You can cross reference data from different departments and areas of the business, allowing you to easily manage the events of your business. 

Enterprise systems also tend to be more reliable than typical IT solutions and easier to secure, which is becoming increasingly important. It’s no wonder large companies use these systems to improve supply chain management, automate routine customer service tasks, and save considerable amounts of money. The benefits are numerous, and particularly helpful for those businesses looking to grow. 

Can Small Businesses Use Enterprise Systems?

Small businesses are often worried about the cost of enterprise systems. As a result, they may either avoid these systems altogether or deploy them piecemeal. Neither is ideal, and the latter typically leads to an extended learning curve as segments are added, reducing the overall productivity of the business. 

Small businesses can certainly use enterprise systems; in fact, there are some developed specifically for small businesses. It is a myth that small businesses can’t afford to deploy enterprise systems, but it is very important to do it right. One solution to this is custom enterprise software, which can be surprisingly affordable.

Custom enterprise systems contain everything you need for your business and can be scaled up as you grow. For example, a startup that is producing one product and sourcing everything from one or two vendors may not need supply chain management software. As a business adds more products, however, it may be needed, and then you can go back to your software developer and have them code an update. 

Because of this, the best way to obtain the exact solutions you need for your business, no matter its size, is to hire a custom software development company. Not only can they help you figure out what you need, but also help you stay within budget while achieving your most important software goals. 

Can Your Business Benefit from an Enterprise System?

Enterprise systems are not just for large companies with high levels of revenue. They’re also a key investment for smaller businesses that can use them, scale them as they grow, and enjoy the significant time and money savings that come with them.

If you’re interested in an enterprise system for your small business, schedule a call with our custom software company. We’ll talk through your needs and help you find the best solution for your business. 

The Hidden Costs of Poor Software Quality

by

The total cost of poor software quality in the U.S. is estimated at $2.08 trillion. When your software isn’t what it should be, you can expect it to have an impact on your business, but not in a good way. If you find yourself using software that isn’t quite up to par, it’s not a matter of it it will cost you, but when and how. 

8 Hidden Costs You May Not Have Thought About

Your business has to run efficiently if it’s going to make money. So when your software isn’t helping you streamline your day-to-day operations, it’s going to affect the way your business runs, and how much money you’re making (or losing).

For instance, have you ever done the math on how much you lose when a loyal customer or productive team member leaves? Have you considered how much it costs to regularly replace your mix-and-match software programs with other software programs in hopes that they’ll be better? Do you know the true cost of the time you and your team spend trying to implement the different types of software? The answer is much more than you’d think. 

1. Time

This is quite possibly the largest cost that many people don’t stop to think about. In reality, though, it should be the first cost you think about because it’s going to take the most from you. 

To start, when you know your software isn’t working well for you and your team, there’s usually a conversation about the problem and how to fix it. That conversation is just the beginning, though, and is typically followed by research into potential solutions. 

Once you’ve settled on your new software, you have to purchase it, and then implement it. The process of setting up new software takes time, and during setup, you’re likely to face a host of challenges that could take longer than you planned. When your software is finally installed, you have to train yourself — and your team — to use it. All of those steps are important, but they take time and cost you majorly as a result. 

2. Efficiency 

Not all software is built the same. As such, not all software runs the same, and you may find yourself dealing with disruptive software issues more often than you’d like. This is especially true if you’re using multiple, out-of-the-box software programs instead of software integrations or custom software development. 

It’s hard to find one software program that can do everything you need, but having so many programs means you’ll more often notice slowness, crashes, and functionality difficulties. Some software programs have vulnerable security, too, which means your business is at risk of being compromised. According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute. Most businesses can’t afford this, and they shouldn’t have to; but many do, without even realizing it.  

3. ROI 

When you get new software, you expect a relatively quick and noticeable change in your ROI. After all, software is designed to ultimately help your business be more efficient and profitable. However, installing and learning new software takes time and often begets disruption of business operations that reduce the overall value of the software.

When your software malfunctions, it reduces your team’s productivity, which in turn reduces your ROI. If it continues long enough, you won’t just notice how ineffective the software is, but how much it’s affecting your team and your business as a result. The initial hopes for positive, fast ROI quickly turn to disappointment and frustration when you realize you’re getting delayed ROI — or worse, no ROI at all. 

4. Outcome

Unless your software is custom-made for you, then it’s not going to do everything you want it to do. More often than not, the functionality of poor software cannot meet your needs and expectations, so you don’t get the outcome you were looking for when you decided to buy it. 

Software can’t fix everything. In fact, it can’t even do everything, especially if you opted for out-of-the-box software programs that aren’t designed for your business needs. When you choose pre-packaged software, you’re also choosing undesirable outcomes, like unhappy team members, reduced productivity, mix ups, disruptions, and — in extreme cases — the downfall of your business. 

5. Goals

Successful businesses have both short-term and long-term goals they plan to achieve. Without the right tools and processes in place, like software that streamlines your workflow, you’re going to have a hard time meeting those goals.

Every business needs resources in place to help them achieve their goals, such as expansion and increased market share; good software is just one of those resources. Without the right software programs, you won’t just have trouble meeting your current goals and business needs, but also setting your business up for future growth and success. 

6. Productivity

Software solutions are supposed to help businesses enhance efficiency, improve speed, and increase revenue. However, software that’s frustrating and difficult to use does the exact opposite, greatly reducing productivity and profits as a result. 

Unless you switch your software, upgrade it, or invest in custom business software, your team will continuously struggle to complete typical daily tasks, and your business will bear the brunt of it. 

7. Opportunity 

When you’re looking for business software, you’re really looking for a better way to work. When you select poor software, not only will you miss out on a better way to work, but you’ll also find yourself facing other consequences that affect your business on a daily basis. For example, your team will likely spend a significant amount of time trying to work around the associated deficiencies, wasting time, losing money. 

The right software will produce opportunities for immense success; poor software will take that opportunity away from you while adding other stressors your team and business shouldn’t have to worry about. 

8. Peace of Mind

In every role, at every business, there are daily concerns and to-dos. When you’re trying to get your business to run more efficiently and effectively, you can’t waste time or money on tools or processes that keep you from doing so. 

Poor software means you have to worry about whether your software is working, your team is able to do their jobs, and if your business can run the way it needs to in order for you to be successful. Good software gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is running smoothly, like it should, so you can focus on what matters most: a profitable and successful business. 

Upgrade Your Business with Custom Software Solutions

At Dymeng Services, we understand how frustrating software can be for businesses, which is why we provide durable business software solutions that empower you to work smarter and increase efficiency. To avoid the hidden costs associated with poor software choices, we recommend investing in your business with software that will work for you. 

To learn more about custom software, or to find out how our team can help your business run more smoothly, schedule a call with our team today. We’ll help you find the software solution you need so you can get back to business. 

Pros and Cons of Software Integrations

by

Having efficient and working software is vital in ensuring you achieve your business goals. Custom software development can solve your businesses’ software needs impeccably. But you might want to know some other options you have, like software integrations.

Many small-medium businesses have insufficient IT budgets for a complete, comprehensive customized solution. Therefore, they turn to stand-alone programs sold off-the-shelf to run the company’s daily activities. However, these programs tend to progressively increase in number. Becoming overwhelming to manage while encouraging redundancy in data input and processing. This is where now, as a manager or executive, you need to start thinking about software integrations.

What Is Software Integration?

Software or system integration refers to the process of unifying the functions of various programs so they can work together. Ideally, separate systems can be integrated to share data, prevent duplicate entries and other common problematic issues. System integration comes in hardy. Especially for small businesses that are not yet ready for custom software, but their app base is growing fast. Generally, it involves data management processes enabling information to flow between different individual programs automatically.

It may seem like an excellent and straightforward solution for your business on paper. However, you’ll want to first consider its pros and cons before deciding if it’s suitable for you. Let’s start with the upsides.

The Pros of Software Integrations

1. Amplified Productivity

The most noticeable advantage a company can expect from software integrations is how quickly it can increase productivity. This is mainly because it eliminates the excess time employees would use to perform repetitive tasks when working with scattered systems or programs. In addition, software integrations minimize the number of problems caused by errors and mistakes when inputting the same data into various programs. With spare time for staff to work on other things and minimal errors, the company’s productivity goes up.

2. Improved Data Management and Analysis

The secret of business continuity and competitiveness is the ability to provide relevant information to the people who need it, when and where they need it. Analyzing a single program at a time introduces major problems. It’s time-consuming. Making comparison and contrasting inefficient, hence poor analysis results. Accordingly, system integration enables better management as all data and analytics tools can be conducted from a central database.

3. Cost-Effective

It’s rather forthright to think this way. Having many programs will require regular maintenance for each, which is costly. Additionally, as maintenance and upgrades are done at different times, it consumes much time and can render system services unavailable for an extended period. Software integration can help you significantly scale-down maintenance costs and downtime. Integration also eradicates the need for more labor because some of the previously manual processes can be automated.

4. Enhanced Customer Experience and Satisfaction

Better services and products will always attract customers. While working with multiple programs causes delay (especially when fixing an error), integrated software improves customer service by eliminating unnecessary processes.

The Cons of Software Integrations

1. Security Vulnerability

Individual programs to be integrated have their security measures in place. By making it all work together, we’re exposing a higher surface area to attacks (e.g., the more moving pieces, the more chances something can go wrong). If a hacker or attacker maximizes this possible security gap in the system, they can access all your company data. When performing software integration, extra protection measures should be employed. Especially on the introduced data channel from where information flows between the programs. 

2. It Makes Upgrading Complicated

Indeed, integration doesn’t make several programs one; instead, it ties them together so that they can share data. This means it might still require you to separately upgrade each, making the whole process complicated and slow. If you’re considering an integration-heavy scenario, we usually advise trying to stay with the core functionality of each system you use. Making use of all the bells and whistles of a third party vendor could complicate upgrades considerably. Core functionality rarely changes, so this strategy can make a big difference in your ability to adapt in a hurry later.

3. High Upfront Costs

Although we said that integrations cut costs, remember you still have to purchase each of the programs separately. Coupled with integration expenses, it’s generally pricey to develop an integrated system. Many people are also surprised at the amount of work it takes to do so. We often hear, “But can’t you just hook it up to QuickBooks and be done?” And the answer is… Yes, sometimes. But more often, there are specific details (especially for integrations where the third party doesn’t follow industry standards) for each. So there’s not much in cost reduction by integrating five vendors vs. two.

Could Your Business Benefit from Software Integrations?

Software integrations stand out as an all-in-one solution, especially for SMBs currently on the hill-up when it comes to working with scattered programs and time management. However, if the process doesn’t make sense in terms of costs or efficiency for your business (or partly because you’ve outgrown the usefulness of integrations), custom software development might be the answer you’re looking for.

At Dymeng Services, we understand how frustrating it can be when your software generates more headaches than it does help. Take the first step toward streamlining your business process, whether it’s with software integrations or custom business software. Schedule a call with our team today and see how our custom software development company can help your business. To learn more, feel free to contact us.

What to Expect: Hourly Rates for Custom Software Development

by

For those whose software needs upgrading, consolidation, and new product development, their most significant concern is balancing price and quality, not just the best price. They also want to know where they can find software companies they can trust. They want their developers to verbalize what their business can expect from these companies.

Read on to find out what you should expect for hourly rates for custom software development.

As to the first question that comes to a business owner’s attention, it’s typically, “How much is my software improvement going to cost?” At Dymeng Services, we like to categorize and research projects because the final cost will depend on:

  • The size of the project
  • Discovering the source/reason for the problem
  • Determining the ideal solution to the problem
  • Tailoring the solution to your company’s needs
  • The complexity of the solution
  • The number of people involved on various levels to work through the solution

A General Timeline

We like to use building a house as an analogy when we’re developing custom software. We can build a hut or a mansion, as well as patch a wall or replace a roof. Software is much the same. Predicting the amount of time the project will take to complete is connected to the type of work at hand:

Emergency Work and Quick Fixes

This kind of fix is typically done in a few days or up to a week. If the problem is relatively simple to correct and the urgency is at a high level, reparation will occur quickly.

Minimally Complex Projects

This type of repair can take up to 4 to 8 weeks to complete.

Slightly Complex Project

The more complexity, the more hours the service will need to complete the work; usually, this would be 3 to 6 months.

Large Overhauls and Builds

Every project is different, and timelines can also change as much and as often as cost.

The Steps Taken to Begin the Process

There are many steps in the software development method. Here’s what they look like. 

 1. Discovery

  • Our team will review your current process, technical environment, your company’s general business operations, your current problem areas, as well as your plans.
  • Our team will study the information you conveyed and will create a scope estimate once we determine the range of the project as well as its complexity.
  • We will meet with you and all involved in the project to share our thoughts on the progress as well as any remaining issues.
  • Our team will provide consulting advice, explain the project’s range, work up a basic estimate, dive deep into the entire project’s details, create a business analysis, as well as discuss any other planning necessary. We will also suggest plans of action, exchange detailed information, provide workflow information, app screen pages, architectural diagrams, and any other significant project-related information.
  • Next, we’ll share the project plan as well as the scope estimate. At this point, you should share this information with any of your team members to get their opinions. We can even share a list of questions to get the conversation going. You deserve to make a well-informed decision.

2. Build

  • Now comes the nitty-gritty: We’ll re-evaluate your project, enter a review of all items, as well as prioritize the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. Now, we’re close to getting your approval on the development.
  • We’ll begin work on the infrastructure, set up environments, and check on security.
  • Perhaps one of the most important parts of the software build is how we approach it. Our team believes in an iterative build process, which means we build in cycles with regular feedback, budget checks. We want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need (and can afford) so your business can thrive once the software is implemented. We’ve found that this type of teamwork and communication keeps the project in scope and prevents surprises and problems.
  • After the project, your company will have a custom piece of software that does everything you need. Now is the time to move away from frustrating software and welcome your new, streamlined business process.

3. Migration/Go Live

  • When your custom software is ready to go, it’s time for migration, and then finally, the chance to go live. 
  • This is one of the most important parts of the process because it’s what helps you get from where you’ve been as a business to where you’re going. This usually means a happier, more productive team and impressive results for the business.
  • During the migration and go live period, you can expect data migrations, training, final security, and external service configurations.

Pricing

Software development projects can be difficult to estimate due to the complexities involved.  Only after we’ve reigned in on those requirements can we really know how long they will take. Scope creep and new requirements during the process can also drive the overall pricing, but if you have a budget in mind, then it’s important to stick to the initial scope of the project, or be willing to negotiate your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.”

A good development company will charge on an hourly rate rather than a fixed-bid rate, as fixed-bid pricing automatically puts everyone at a disadvantage. This is because the company offering the services has to put some “insurance buffer” in there, and then has an incentive to get it done faster (which often results in a lower quality product). 

At the same time, the business receiving the services has a tendency to want as much as possible stuffed into that fixed budget. Fair and transparent hourly pricing with regular reviews of budget utilization and forward progress help keep everything on track. Hourly pricing is truly best for both sides of the project and will provide the best results.

It’s important to note, however, that hourly prices can vary, depending on:

  • Requirements, specifications, documentation, and testing (which is typically lower in hourly cost than development).
  • Certain types of highly specialized development that could cost more than general development
  • Hosting and recurring environment costs.
  • Ongoing support, as well as maintenance if the scenario finds it necessary.

According to Thumbtack.com, software developers’ national average price is more or less $75-$400 an hour. For more information on our prices as a software development company, we encourage you to take a look at our informative video.

Get Started with Custom Software Development

Once you connect with our team at Dymeng Services and walk through our entire one-on-one system, we know you’ll see that the cost of getting the best —and most personalized — software system available to you is worth the investment.

Ready to learn more about how custom software development services can help your business? Schedule a call with our team today. We look forward to helping you streamline your business process!  

Schedule a Call

Dymeng Services, Inc.
266 Paseo Reyes Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32095

(917) 336-9006

© 2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Schedule a Call