What is Bespoke Software?

Also known as Custom or Tailor-made Software

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Bespoke Business Software

Before you can even consider whether bespoke business software would benefit your business, you need to know what it is and what it isn't. As the name states, bespoke business software, also referred to as tailor-made or custom software, is generally built for commercial companies or organizations - these can range from sole traders to global corporations.

Bespoke Business Software - What it is

Bespoke software is specifically designed for an individual, person, business, company or organization. Working closely with a client, developers will find out exactly what the client needs. This process is called requirements gathering.

The client pays for the software to be built and owns the finished product. This means the client is free to use and distribute the software as they wish. The software can grow as much as the client wants it to, so new features can be added whenever the client desires.

Bespoke Business Software - What it isn't

Bespoke software is not available to buy from a commercial retailer or wholesaler. For instance, you can't go online and purchase it for download or delivery.

Once a bespoke piece of software is complete and paid for, it is not available to buy on the open market. It is not general software as it contains only the client's requested features and functionality.

Bespoke Business Software - Who Buys it

Bespoke business software can be purchased by any size of business. This could be an individual sole trader; a small to medium enterprise; a large corporation or organization, including governments. All these groups usually have one thing in common, the software they are currently using just does not do what they need it too.

Bespoke Business Software - How it Differs from Other Software?

The main difference is that bespoke business software is not created before it is purchased, it is ordered and then developed. Most other business software is licensed from the developers or purchased through a software vendor. Because bespoke business software is commissioned, it solely belongs to the company, organization or individual who ordered it and this includes the intellectual property rights (IP). With ready-made software the IP normally belongs to the developers of the software product.

If you're interested in bespoke business software, check out our five stage development process.