What is custom software?
Developing Custom Software is the process of designing, building and maintaining custom software specifically for your business. The term ‘custom software’ might sound complex, but at its core, it’s about simplifying your business challenges with tailor-made solutions.
Unlike off-the-shelf products, custom software is purpose-built to reflect the way your team works, integrate with your existing systems and solve your specific challenges.
In simple terms, off-the-shelf software is made for the masses, whereas custom software is made just for you.
Whether you’re navigating inefficient workflows, disconnected systems, or rapid growth, bespoke solutions can help your business scale smarter, by creating tools that remove friction.
Why custom software matters more than ever
The demand for developing custom software is growing, and for good reason.
- According to McKinsey & Company study, implementation custom software can help a company save up to 30% (2019)
- An estimated 69% of all managerial tasks will be fully automated by 2025, freeing up leadership teams to focus on innovation and strategy (Cflow, 2025)
- Over 90% of employees agree that automation increases their productivity (Salesforce, 2021)
Off-the-shelf software vs custom software
Understanding the difference can help you decide which path is right for your business.
| Feature | Off-The-Shelf Software | Custom Software |
| Cost | Lower initial cost but monthly subscription charges | Higher upfront investment but no monthly subscription charges |
| Customisation | Limited or none | Fully customisable |
| Speed to Deploy | Immediate | Dependant on scope |
| Fit for Unique Needs | Often requires compromise | Built exactly to spec |
| Scalability | May require switching platforms as you grow | Grows with your business |
| Ownership | Licensed to use | Fully owned |
| Integrations | May be limited | Designed to integrate with your tools |
Why develop custom software?
As your business evolves, the tools that once worked often start to hold you back. Custom software removes these limitations by creating systems that fit your processes.
Common reasons for developing custom software:
- You have unique processes that off-the-shelf tools can’t support
- You’re drowning in spreadsheets or manual admin
- You rely on platforms that don’t talk to each other
- You want to automate low-value tasks and reduce costs
- You’re scaling and need systems to grow with you
Custom software is about building straightforward, effective tools that free up your team and drive value across your organisation.
Do you want to change your processes to match what your tools allow, or do you want your software to support your unique way of working?
What’s right for you: custom or off-the-shelf?
Both approaches have their place, here are a few reasons why you might choose either route:
Off-the-shelf software might be the best fit if:
- You need a quick solution with minimal upfront cost
- Your workflows are standard and don’t require custom logic
- You’re a very early-stage business testing processes
Developing custom software is likely the best solution if:
- You’ve outgrown your current tools and their limitations are costing you time and money
- Efficiency, automation, and integration are critical to your operations
- You want to build long-term operational or competitive advantage
- You’re scaling and need a system that can grow with you
Is it all or nothing?
It doesn’t have to be! The beauty of custom software is that it’s flexible and can be created to do whatever you need.
A hybrid approach can offer a good return on investment. Using off-the-shelf platforms to provide solutions to common, commodity areas that all businesses face like accounting or HR and creating custom software tools for your unique processes can give you the best of both worlds.
Integrating your existing tools with a custom software solution means you can focus on fine-tuning the parts of your business that make you unique and give you an advantage.
Learn more about how we manage software integrations here.
How Rareloop approaches custom development
At Rareloop, we build custom solutions that are grounded in strategy, shaped by design, and brought to life through thoughtful human-centred development. Our approach to developing custom software means we create the right solution.
Every project begins with a collaborative Discovery Phase where we work closely with your team to deeply understand your goals, pain points, and users. This helps us uncover the real problems and opportunities, to ensure the solution we design is focused, effective and rooted in your business context.
Once we’ve got a handle on your needs, we move into design. We create intuitive, user-focused experiences that look great and make day-to-day tasks easier. Every screen and interaction if crafted to reflect the needs of the people who’ll be using your software.
Next, our development team brings your product to life. We follow agile principles, working in short sprints to deliver working software early and often, so you stay in the loop and the end result always exceeds expectations.
After launching your software, we’ll continue to work with you to gather feedback, iterate on features, and ensure the system continues to deliver value as your needs grow and change.
Proven results, built around you
We’ve been helping organisations across the UK improve operations and unlock efficiency through custom software since 2011.
- We’ve saved the equivalent of a full-time team member by automating operations for a veterinary business.
- We cut SMS costs by 80% for a financial services firm
- We’ve reduced payment collection time from 3 days to 6 minutes for an insurance provider
- Saved over £250,000 a year for an industrial cleaning business by reducing on-site dependencies.
Designed for people, not just processes
At the heart of any successful system are the people using it. Whether your end-users are staff, customers, or stakeholders, we take a user-first approach, so the software we create is intuitive, accessible and genuinely useful.
Conclusion
Developing custom software isn’t about adding complexity, it’s about removing friction that slows down your team. If off-the-shelf software feels like a compromise, it might be time for something built just for you.
