Custom software is indeed a strategic choice over off-the-shelf software. Every business has its definite needs. Hence, an already built off-the-shelf solution is not recommended. It is similar to the scenario that ‘the software meant for the retail sector will not fit for the inventory management’. Isn’t it? 

Thus, you need to get your custom inventory management software. 

To get a prompt justification for whether you should go for custom-made inventory management software or off-the-shelf software, let’s get some points of difference between these two software. 

What is the Difference between Custom Inventory Software and Off-the-Shelf Software?

  • Build and Purchase

Yes, this is the most critical context of the difference between off-the-shelf software and custom-made software. 

Custom software is built from scratch, whereas off-the-shelf is readily available. Think of these two software similar to 'a ready-made building' signifying the off-the-shelf software. On the other hand, let's take an example of ‘a building that you build from scratch’ specifying the traits of custom software. 

Thus, would a readily available off-the-shelf inventory management system work if you are up for an inventory management-based business and want to target a specific audience? It probably would not. 

  • Difference in Cost

To understand this point of difference, let's look at the purpose for which each software is made. 

Custom software is meant to fit unique business needs, while off-the-shelf is made for general purposes. So, it is quite clear that building custom software would take a long time and considerable effort. Hence, charging an extra cost for custom software sounds relevant. On the other hand, an off-the-shelf system is made with no definite objective. Therefore it takes a comparatively shorter time. 

Since you want to build a management system or software for your inventory business, spending an extra fortune is worthwhile. 

  • Scalability

This criterion decides which of these two software is more scalable. As per the definition mentioned in Gartner.com, "Scalability is the measure of a system's ability to increase or decrease in performance and cost in response to changes in application and system processing demands."

A custom software development company builds software keeping in mind the scope of the system's improvement in the future. They strategize the software so that the system can scale as the business expands. However, off-the-shelf software is created randomly with some basic functionalities. It possesses hardly any scope to scale further. 

The structure of an inventory business is quite broad. An off-the-shelf inventory management system would not fulfill its requirements in terms of scalability. 

  • System Implementation or Installation

Implementing or installing software that is custom-made needs time and minute consideration. This is not the scenario for the off-the-shelf software. So, if you want to prioritize the installation time over the functionality, an off-the-shelf solution is the perfect choice. 

On the contrary, a custom-made solution for your inventory management business needs some time to install, maybe a week or two. The software that the custom software development company builds as per client requirements takes time to build and install as well. 

You may have heard a long-age adage, "Good things take time." It applies to the custom inventory management system. 

  • Experience for Users

With this point, you can differentiate both the software based on the user experience it can offer. Custom-made software, built to meet specific needs, provides a high customer experience. Considering this to be true won't make an off-the-shelf software less in providing considerable user experience. 

However, the critical difference is that you cannot use the off-the-shelf for any specific audience. It is made in a general context and thus can suit well for available scenarios. It is not tailor-made. Hence, this type of software or management is invaluable in terms of generating a focused user experience. 

The Scenario: When to Choose What?

The suitability of a specific inventory management solution is based on its capabilities to align with the organization’s requirements. 

Scenario to Choose Off-the-Shelf Inventory Management Solution

  • Off-the-shelf inventory management solutions are designed to cater to the needs of Small to Medium-sized businesses.
  • An off-the-shelf solution can be a good fit if your organization follows standardized inventory processes that align with industry best practices.
  • The cost-effective feature of off-the-shelf solutions makes them a valid option for organizations with limited budgets. Software development companies can build such a solution at a much lower cost. 
  • An off-the-shelf solution is an obvious choice if your organization has limited IT resources.

Scenario to Choose Custom Inventory Management Solution

  • A custom solution is a perfect fit if your organization has unique or complex inventory processes that off-the-shelf solutions cannot easily handle.
  • A custom solution is advantageous if your corporation relies on special software applications or has an existing technology stack.
  • In case you are looking for rapid growth or have expansion plans, a custom inventory management solution is more suitable— an experienced custom software development company designs such a system with scalability in mind.
  • For advanced analytics or detailed reporting features, a custom solution is suitable.
  • Custom systems allow you to implement stringent security measures and control access to essential inventory information.
  • Working with readily available or off-the-shelf software may cause integration-related issues. So, if you want to prioritize application integration, go for custom-made solutions. Such custom inventory management increases operational efficiency. 

The Ultimate Decision: Is it the Custom or Off-the-Shelf System? 

Ensure that the final decision is taken solely by you. The experts can guide you through the journey, but what fits your business best needs your thorough research. You can easily select what suits your favor based on the points highlighted in this article. 

In the majority of cases, a custom inventory management solution is appropriate. You can also consult with a custom software development company that can help create custom-made software from scratch. They also extended maintenance and support, optimizing its performance. 

Before choosing the custom software development partner, don’t forget to check its review and its team strength. In this regard, outsourcing the tasks can save you a huge penny. Make an informed choice, as it will impact your business growth.