Deciding on the right software for your business can be rather tasking. If you are familiar with how software development works, you may contemplate on whether to buy off-the-shelf software like Dynamics 365 or to build a custom solution to cater to your business needs.
What is Dynamics 365?
Dynamics 365 is a product from Microsoft that combines ERP and CRM capabilities providing access to intelligent applications. With its flexible architecture, deployment options and pricing, there are huge advantages your business can gain from using it.
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From coordinating across departments to scheduling the appropriate resources based on skill, location, and availability, and to tracking inventory across sites in real time, Dynamics 365 does it all. Also, it allows employees to be more productive and knowledgeable and provides a deeper insight into performance, opportunities, and customer relationships. There’s a lot you can accomplish with Dynamics 365.
What is Custom Software?
You may opt for building custom software for your organization instead. Custom software is a solution designed to address an organization’s specific needs or problems.
You gain access to the functionality you need, with a limit to business process changes (which is needed with an out of the box software like D365), allowing for swift adaptation to fit your business requirements.
Although going the custom software route seems tempting as you precisely address company needs opposed to Dynamics 365 that requires some customization to achieve specific functionality for your organization, you may want to abstain. It all sounds great but what about the cons?
Why Custom Software is not advisable
- Custom software takes a longer time to develop and become operational
If you desire a solution that you can quickly implement for your organization, then this is not the best option. You will spend a considerable amount of time planning, prototyping functional areas of your business, installing the software, testing it and implementing process changes.
It can take several months or even up to one to two years before the software becomes fully operational.
- It requires more training
It is normal to have training for any new software to allow knowledge acquisition; a custom solution requires more training for users. It is unlike Dynamics 365 where you already have the right information and documentation available for utilization.
There are costs associated with training your employees on how to use the system as well as regular training on software changes. Ask your development team whether in-house or external staff is responsible for training, the cost of all these should factor into your budget.
- Sustainability of the Software
When building custom software, we have concerns about how it can address the pressing issue. What will happen in the next one to two years? Is it still going to be economical and functional to use the software?
All applications need continuous updates and support. It is necessary to ensure that it doesn’t become outdated and useless to the company. For off-the-shelf software like Dynamics 365, product updates release frequently. However, when you build a custom solution, it needs to upgrade for compatibility every two to four years. Given the cost of customization, such upgrades will be expensive.
- Implementation Cost
Building a solution from scratch is not easy because it is expensive to develop and maintain. If internal people create it, you have to ensure they have the required skills, which means more money spent on acquiring technical knowledge. Since they will need to dedicate some of their time to the building the software, there will great impact on company productivity which should be in the budget from the start.
So when you think of the cost of training coupled with the need for consistent software maintenance, it is cost-effective to buy rather than build.
Learn more on how to manage your business with Dynamics 365
Why you should choose Dynamics 365 in place of Custom Software
- Easy customization and integration with other Microsoft products
It’s often a shorter time to develop a solution on top of Dynamics because these systems are frameworks that allow you to focus on business problems. As each Dynamics 365 app builds on the same standard platform, you can quickly adapt and customize the solution to suit your business specific needs.
Using Dynamic 365’s flexible architecture, you can integrate seamlessly with Office 365, Windows Server, Exchange Server, Skype for Business, SharePoint, Power BI, and PowerApps. With the help of a Dynamics 365 consultant, you can build a solution that best fits your requirements.
- Less post-deployment issues
Because Dynamics 365 is a product that has been installed many times before, most product issues will have already been worked out. There is absolutely no need for organization investment in research and development. Also, there is immediate support either from Microsoft or its partners which guarantee consistency in support and quality of the software.
- Price affordability
With Dynamics 365, you get more functionality at a lower price point than competitive ERP systems. With flexibility being a major point of consideration, Microsoft offers excellent licensing options, providing three tiers of users with different levels of access and pricing for each. You make the most out of your investment by paying for full access only for those users who truly need it.
- Work and do business anywhere
Now you can work using the devices you love. Simply put, Dynamics 365 gives you a choice to select the best model for your business as you can access Outlook, a web browser, or any internet-enabled mobile device. Free mobile apps are available with every D365 license (Android, iOS and Windows).
You can use D365 to empower your employees and increase productivity since they can work whenever and wherever they desire.
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Which is Right for Your Business?
Deciding between the two is not easy as it all comes down to the needs of your business. You need to remind yourself how your company operates. Before choosing a custom solution, be aware of the risks and ask yourself these questions.
- Is the solution precisely what you need for your business?
- Will the custom software provide your business with a competitive advantage?
- Do you have the budget for the software?
Why go through the stress of developing custom software when you can merely personalize Dynamics 365 to your desired taste and needs?
Dynamics 365 considers all the pitfalls with a custom solution and it’s quite capable of managing any business process, from sales and operations to accounting and HR. It focuses on actual things that matter to your business by empowering your employees, engaging customers and transforming your business processes.
