Traditionally, there are two ways to implement an IT solution in a business process.
- Buy an off-the-shelf solution.
- Pay a developer to build a bespoke solution.
For many problems these are still the best options. However, when dealing with specific, small, everyday problems, both have drawbacks.
Off-the-shelf solutions tend to be plentiful when trying to address the usual run-of-the-mill problems. However, when it comes to overcoming a small, specialized problem it can be difficult to find an appropriate off-the-shelf solution. They are often designed to work for everyone, but do not seem to work for you. The result is change in the working procedures to fit the application, instead of being able to find the solution that neatly slots into your existing business process.
Another issue with buying an off-the-shelf solution to address every small problem, is a proliferation of applications that do not communicate with one another. Often, data that may be useful elsewhere in the business is locked up and inaccessible within a number of independent applications.
Bringing in a specialist developer to create an application also brings in its own problems, the most obvious of which is cost. For major business developments, this cost is justifiable, but for many small problems it is not. Another problem is supporting and developing the application after it has been rolled out. Often further development requires bringing the developer back in at additional cost or finding an alternative developer, who will spend much of their time working out how the bespoke application works. As for fixing faults—custom applications tend to have custom faults. The knowledge bases available for off-the-shelf applications will not exist for your unique application.
If you can develop the application yourself, with a framework that is easy to use and encourages you to follow good practice, you can overcome these problems. You will be able to rapidly develop and deploy solutions that are tailor-made to address the current issues. Working to a clear, well defined framework, will make it easier to write a code that you can return to six months later and understand. This makes support and future development easier. As the development staff used is in-house, costs will tend to be lower, and it will be more likely that the developer will be available to fix problems.