Creating Software: 10 Tips for Developing Your Own Software

It is no longer a secret that we live in a digital age where more and more services are offered online and where an increasing number of people try to meet their needs online. For more and more companies, it is therefore attractive to develop their own software. Whether for internal use to simplify or automate various tasks, or for the user and customers. 

Examples of such applications could be an online shop for the website or even an internal customer management system. But how is software created? In this article you will learn which ten steps are necessary to program software. 

The Essentials at a Glance

The Advantages of Your Own Software

Developing your own software is certainly a significant cost factor and quite labor-intensive. However, with your own program—regardless of its type—you always have numerous advantages. The biggest is that you can offer the user a customized solution that precisely meets your desires and the requirements of your company.

If you decide to have your own software developed, you get to choose which functions the program should have, which tasks it must be able to perform, etc. A common problem among our clients who have software developed is that there is no single program that offers all the necessary functions —meaning the client must use several tools or there is simply no program on the market that can handle the desired task.

Another factor is security. If you work with sensitive information and customer data, it is important that your customers can trust you. With third-party software, however, it is often unclear what really happens to the data, and if a hacker attack occurs, you are dependent on the security mechanisms of those other companies. Recent events have shown that this security is not always guaranteed. Additionally, due to GDPR regulations, guidelines, and internal audits, certain data must be stored on your own servers.

By developing your own software, you solve all the aforementioned problems. You create a program that exactly meets your desires and requirements, whose code only you know, and that runs on your own servers or IT infrastructure. On the other hand, you are responsible for updates and improvements, and identifying bugs can be more challenging due to a smaller user base. Furthermore, you are solely responsible for security. If you get hacked or something happens to the stored data, you alone bear the responsibility. 

What Costs Can You Expect for Software Development?

The costs for developing software cannot be determined uniformly but depend on the specific project. In any case, they are higher than those for developing a simple website and can range from a few thousand euros to five- or six-figure amounts.

In addition to development costs, you must also plan for various additional expenses—such as for marketing, for third-party licenses (for data protection, for example), for support etc. Additionally, there may be costs for hosting and traffic if you do not run the program on your own servers or if it is an offline program. In any case, a significant amount of capital is required. 

In order to calculate the costs for your planned software project, you need to sit down with our team and discuss the project and its functions with us. We will then let you know if your project can be implemented, offer suggestions for possible options and, together with you, create an offer or cost estimate that lists the potential costs for the development of the software by Shopboostr. 

Also, keep in mind that this is only a rough estimate that may change during development. Perhaps unexpected problems occur, additional software is needed, or adjustments must be made. In such cases, the Shopboostr team will contact you to discuss the issues, options, and costs. Only when you are fully in agreement will we continue work on the project. 

Ten Tips for Developing Your Own Software

In this section, we provide you with ten important tips designed to help you develop your own software and contribute to the success of your project.

The tips have been created by our software experts for you and are intended not only to inform but also to answer the most important questions on the subject.

Tip 1: Conduct a Market and Competitor Analysis for an Initial Overview

If you are considering creating your own software, it is worthwhile to first conduct a market analysis to see what software is available on the market and whether it can perform the tasks you require. This way, you can save on the costs of developing your own software and even use the program immediately. 

If the software is intended for distribution or for the sale of products or services, it is also worthwhile to conduct a competitor analysis to find out which companies are already in the industry, what they offer, and what they may be lacking—or what you might be able to do better.

Tip 2: Educate Yourself Thoroughly on the Subject

Learn all you can about the subject. Look into what is important in developing software and what needs attention. This does not mean you must learn how to program or how the various programming languages work. Rather, it means thinking like a CEO and leader of such a project. 

Ideally, you should invest in an online course that covers the topic and also addresses problems and difficulties. Even if you are an experienced entrepreneur running your own business, this step is important. The development of a program is an elaborate and complex process that differs from running a company and brings entirely different requirements and expectations that you need to manage and be aware of. 

Tip 3: Thorough Planning is Essential

Every project must be thoroughly planned. This is especially true for software development. You need to consider which functions the software should perform, where and how it should be executed, and how you want to secure the program. You must also think about the download process and aspects such as the user interface. Additionally, you need to address which operating systems will be supported. Should the software run only on Android or iOS? Or perhaps also on Microsoft Windows, Mac, and possibly even Linux?

Furthermore, you must consider maintenance and updates, familiarize yourself with the various programming languages, and determine which is best suited for your software. The Shopboostr team is happy to assist you in this regard through consultation. Nonetheless, it is important that you plan thoroughly in advance. Only in this way will your software be successful and only then can we possibly collaborate with you on this project.

Tip 4: Find a Business Partner

A business partner is not necessarily required for developing a program or your own software. However, a partnership can be advantageous and sometimes even makes sense—for instance, if you know someone in online marketing who could also benefit from your software, or someone who works as a host with whom you already have a good rapport or have built a relationship of trust through previous collaboration. 

In addition to the combined knowledge and the fact that two heads are better than one, a business partner offers another decisive advantage: you can share the costs for development between you. This can make even an expensive project suddenly more affordable. This is yet another reason why finding a partner is so popular. 

Tip 5: Collaborate with Professional Agencies

If you do not have experience in programming software and apps, you cannot avoid seeking an experienced agency. They will have to handle the programming and development in the desired programming language and implement the necessary functions. Naturally, these services come at a significant cost. 

However, working with an agency has various advantages. You receive extensive and professional advice from their staff, can rely on professional implementation, and the agency often also handles tasks such as marketing, as well as subsequent support and management of the software, its updates, and troubleshooting in case of problems. Shopboostr is one such professional agency. We offer you all the important services surrounding the development of your own software—from planning and conception, through implementation, to marketing. Find out more in a free initial consultation and let our experts advise you in detail. 

Tip 6: Consider Your Target Audience

Every software, whether for customers or internal use, is aimed at a specific target audience. For example, a customer management program may be of interest to the sales department in a company, while software for billing is developed for the accounting department. The same applies to online shops and web apps. There are target audiences such as companies, private individuals, tradespeople, painters, children, men, women, etc. 

It is very important that you consider your intended target audience from the very beginning. The target audience determines not only the design of the platform, but also the marketing and advertising campaigns. Both the software and the marketing, as well as any promotions, must be tailored to the respective target audience in order for your project to be successful. 

Tip 7: Learn About Required Third-Party Providers

If you plan to develop software for customers that, for example, needs to process payments, then you must collaborate with third-party providers. Platforms such as Klarna or Stripe handle billing for many common payment methods and provide you with the necessary infrastructure. Companies like PayPal or Skrill offer business accounts for commercial users. 

While PayPal is considered a standard here, there are many providers, especially for processing card and direct debit payments. You should therefore look into the available options early on, examine what functions and services they offer, and most importantly, what costs are incurred. This is crucial, as the appropriate interfaces and APIs must be integrated early during software development. 

Tip 8: Develop a Marketing Strategy

In almost all cases—unless it is internal software—you must launch your program to the public once it is completed. That means you need to market your software. It is advisable to consider the desired concepts and various options early on. Additionally, you must ensure that important design features such as responsiveness and SEO criteria are met. 

After all, the best software is useless if no one notices it online. The good news is that Shopboostr is an expert in this field. We are well-versed in SEO and marketing and know which marketing options are suitable for you and which are not. Together with you, we will discuss the various concepts and options to reach a decision. 

Tip 9: Solid Financing is Essential

Ensure in advance that you have the necessary financing to implement your software. High costs will be incurred without any revenue from the software. If it is a tool for internal use, there will often be no revenue at all. Additionally, there are costs for developers, the IDE or programming environment, and other tools required to create the project.

Only with the development of a prototype and the start of pre-sales can you expect the first revenues for public software. Therefore, it is particularly important that any loans are secured or that the necessary reserves are in place. Also, remember that development takes time. Especially complicated projects can take up to a year or longer—if everything goes smoothly. There is nothing worse than having to cancel a project due to insufficient financing after many months of hard work and high expenses. 

Tip 10: Consider Software Maintenance

Once your software is created, the most difficult part is over. However, the work is not finished. Your program may have bugs or develop technical issues over time. Additionally, things can change and code that currently works may suddenly become outdated. Perhaps external providers will change their API. 

These are all things that can happen—and will happen during the operation of your software. Therefore, it is important that you have the necessary resources to maintain your software, provide support, and, if necessary, expand and update your program. If this is not possible through your IT department and support team, you will need to hire a partner. Shopboostr is happy to take on this task for you. However, it is crucial that you plan ahead, consider these aspects, and have your application thoroughly tested by a professional. 

Bonus Tip: Find a Trustworthy Hosting Partner

Conclusion and Summary

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