Tired of running your business using off-the-shelf software that doesn’t – or can’t – do what you want it to? Having the software of your dreams built for you is now a viable and affordable option.

We all know the frustrations of grappling with software that doesn’t quite do what you want, or having to use applications for purposes they weren’t really designed for. Whether it’s running an old, outdated copy of a CRM suite that you can only use 10% of, or trying to keep track of your orders using an Excel spreadsheet, it’s easy to outgrow the ad-hoc systems that you started your business with.

All too soon, your IT is holding you back because new staff cannot easily access or share business information; you need to start dealing with sales and customers in a more systematic way; or you need more in-depth, accessible reporting simply to keep tabs on what’s happening.

And the real problem emerges when you start to look at buying, deploying and managing a more advanced business software suite. The costs of doing this can be prohibitive in the first place – or, worse, hidden; especially your time – even without the ongoing expense of licensing and support, plus migrating your data onto it.

Build it, and ease your pain

But there is an alternative. In the film Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) launches a new business and saves his ailing farm by building a baseball pitch, on the instructions of an ethereal voice.

In the same way, you no longer have to put up with off-the-shelf software that doesn’t do exactly what you want it to. Emerging technologies such as the cloud model and code-less software design have made it viable to have software built specifically for you.

Software that’s individually designed to suit your specific business needs, and works with the type of data you need and use. So you get the functionality you want, and crucially, wherever you need it, as it’s available over the web wherever and whenever you have an Internet connection. And of course, by following a cloud model, it’s easier for the solution to grow and expand as you need it to.

Having bespoke applications made is an option that a number of businesses are now taking.

Preparing to build

So how should you approach having a business application built for you, and choosing a developer to build it? Here’s a 5-point guide to help you in having the solution of your dreams built for you.

- Remember, everything starts with the data. What exactly do you want the software to do, and what data will it work with? This will set the direction for your build, and the developer you choose should be able to construct the application to let you slice and dice the data as you wish

- Ask the credentials of the developer – can they show examples of similar systems they’ve developed for other firms? How quickly could they develop a working ‘snapshot’ of your intended application? With latest-generation development toolkits, it’s possible to do this even within a couple of days – which will help you move forward quickly.

- Ensure your software application will be based on a thin-client, cloud model. Using the latest web development toolkits, applications can be delivered via a browser with minimal bandwidth use, enabling you to work securely from anywhere you can get a Web connection. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to work from home because you haven’t got the right client software, or because it uses so much bandwidth that everything grinds to a halt. All you should need for your bespoke app is a web browser and other common, free technologies, such as Java.

- Build in growing room: of course you want your business to expand, so make sure the application can expand with it. Again, the thin-client model is key here, as it means much less hassle with licenses, support, updates and so on.

- Work as you build: if the initial pilot application can be built quickly, you can start to use the application and refine functionality as you work. This iterative process ensures the application really does serve your needs: after all, not all ideas work as well in real situations as they do on paper.

Just 5 years ago, the idea of having your own business software built was as far-fetched as the plot of Field of Dreams. But with the latest development tools and software models, and the right partner, you can realise your software dreams.