Disadvantages of Customized Software

The person that requested and paid for the customization usually had a need and a purpose for it.

For any person not part of the deal the use is a privilege.

The reason why programs get customized is that frequently used function can be accessed faster or interfacing with another program can be streamlined.

Example: the output of a manufacturing program can be entered directly into a existing financial package for invoicing.

What do you mean with customised?

What I understand as customised in this domain is that you take a standard program, which requires trained engineers, and build up some parametric models that can be used by, still trained, less educated technicians. (eg Graduates in stead of Masters)

The benefit is that you will find them much easier and you can require other skills like additional languages.

Now the buisiness model you are running is very important: do you only sell wath the system can calculate, than this is a good way to approach.

When your products can be used in free engineering environments you find out that the first customer who call for a calulation pops up something that you did not think about. Then your master needs to jump in again and do the work as he is the only one who can work with the full version.

You need to approach this from your business model.

Drawing automations like adapted title blocks and blocks for your own parts with database connections are not seen as customisation but normal integration.

cost effects on upgrades and maintenance

We use an in-house designed Cogo program in our Civil Eng. company. Its very similar to off the shelf software. He borrowed features that he liked from all the different programs that were available and wrote his own program. This GEEK has 3 different Dr. Degrees. He's a Hydraulics Engineer. And he writes software as a hobby.

Advantage: It can be customized to do just about anything. Our programmer can make the software do whatever he wants with it.

It's compatible with just about every major civil engineering software package available. If it isn't compatible then he will tweak it till it is.

Disadvantages: If he leaves the company the software will no longer be update-able.
No a really big worry he is part owner of the company. He leaves chances are we are closing shop anyway.

Every time we update ACAD it takes a few weeks to get all the bugs worked out. Again not a big deal. Same thing happens when you update using off the shelf products. Same thing goes with updating our survey hardware.

When there is a problem with the software better hope he's around to fix it and not in another state working on a project. His 2nd in charge when he is away can fix most problems but not all. So you either find a way work around the issue or wait till he gets back in town.

When someone gets hired that has experience using off the shelf software. They seem to have issues with the way the Cogo program works. Some consider it cumbersome. But I think its more of an issue of being used to doing things one way instead of our way. Kind of like going from Windows 98 to XP. Look and function the same but things are moved around a bit.

Customization as I understand is to reduce the number of modules of software to suit the needs of the customer, so customization in this case have no disadvantage.

I'm not sure if you mean custom-written software or customized off the shelf (OTS)software.

For customized OTS software: Advantage - It has all the features of the original, plus the ones added by the customizer. It usually has the standard interface, or at least a similar one to the original software. This makes it easier for new users to learn to use it. Disadvantage - It may not do much more than the original OTS version, and you may need more than one program to meet your entire needs.

For custom-written software: Advantage - it will do everything you need with one package, while OTS might require two or more programs. Disadvantage - it will do nothing that you didn't contract for, while OTS often has additional features that you discover later.

This is pretty general, and may not apply to all programs, but you didn't give much detail to work with.

Disadvantages of Customized Software:
1. It takes time to develop.
2. Time is money so, it will be more costly than off the shelf software.
3. If you are not the programmer then there is the possibility that the programmer will not be available to you if the software needs tweaking or fixing.
4. If you are not the programmer then you are at the mercy of the programmers price structure once the software becomes an integral part of your business.
5. If you are the programmer it will demand a significant portion of your time to keep up to date and working properly in most cases.

Extent customization is really useful:
1. Allows you to do something you can not do with off the shelf software.
2. Allows you to further customize the software as your business needs change or you want additional functionality.
3. Allows you to make the software more user friendly to your specific users.
4. Customized software makes sense if it makes your business more competitive.

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so r u who ever this is

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twat

your the twat :)

...

y is this guy on here giving ppl shit when people might need this information.......... grow up you idiot

Grow up, I found this info useful. Stop putting dumb ignorant comments on things, find something better to do please.

ROFLCOPTOR

Even buying stadard type software, do you not customize it to your needs? or do you use it as is?