Web applications increasingly determine the business model and the business success of companies. This often raises the question of when it makes sense to build planned or existing web applications from scratch. Is it better to rely on existing platforms or to develop a custom solution? In this article, we will discuss some factors that can help with this decision.
- Unique business requirements
One of the main considerations for building a custom web application is whether there are unique business needs that are not met by any existing platform. Often there are standard applications or platforms that cover the needs of most businesses, but there are always exceptions. If your business has specific requirements that cannot be met by an off-the-shelf solution, a custom web application may be the best choice.
- High adaptability
Existing solutions are often less flexible in terms of customisation options and can cause problems when changes are needed. They can provide a lot of functionality, but if that functionality doesn't fit your needs exactly, you can end up spending more time and resources on customisation than if you were starting from scratch. Building your own web application gives you full control over the functionality and design to meet your specific needs.
- Long-term cost-benefit analysis
An important financial consideration is the long-term cost-benefit analysis. While building your own web application may seem more expensive at first, it can be more cost-effective in the long run. If you have to constantly pay for customisations, updates or additional third-party features, these costs may increase over time. Therefore, it may be cheaper in the long run to build your own application, especially if you have specific and continuously changing requirements.
- Ownership and independence
With a self-built web application, you have full control and ownership of the software. You are not dependent on the business decisions of a third-party provider and can design your application as you see fit. This can be particularly advantageous when it comes to maintaining data security and privacy.
- Competitive advantages
Building your own web application can give your business a competitive edge. A customised application that is specific to your business processes and goals can provide a superior user experience and is an asset that can add value to your business.
Conclusion
The decision to build a web application from scratch depends on a variety of factors. It is important to consider these factors carefully and include both short-term and long-term considerations in the decision-making process. In the right context, building your own web application can be a powerful tool to drive business forward, improve customer experiences and gain a competitive advantage. However, it is not the right solution for every scenario, so this decision should always be based on sound analysis. With COSBOO's ARGO backend, you build on an infrastructure that is prepared to implement customised web applications. The combination of ARGO modules creates individual solutions for secure and modern digital projects. The ARGO core features have been tested thousands of times and ensure the necessary security even for projects with sensitive data. In addition, ARGO guarantees almost unlimited scalability and expandability.