An example of proprietary software would be Microsfot Windows and Adobe Photoshop, there is of course a host of others, but these are well known and will give the reader a good idea of what is being discussed here.

Proprietary software describes computer software which is the legal and rightful owner of one person, or party.  If another party wishes to use it they need to adhere to a set of terms which have been defined by either a contrat or a licencing agreements.  These terms include sharing privileges, use of the software and use of the software’s code.

There are a few free software packages that are available under proprietary terms though.  What this means is that the original holders of the software can use dual licencing in order that they may redistribute proprietary versions.  Free software that has been released for public use allows anyone to make proprietary redistributions.

There is proprietary software which comes with source code and users can use, study and even modify the software, but they restricted from redistributing modifications to the software by licences or non disclosure agreements.  They are also restricted from sharing the software.

Shareware software is proprietary, but it has a limited life and is generally offered on a trial basis, after which it is either disabled, or restriction of use are imposed.

Propreitary software which no longer marketed by its owner and which is used without permission is called abandonware.  IT may or may not include source code, but some has its code placed in public by its author.  This software is known as free software, not proprietary.

What are your rights?  The reason behind software licensing is that it exempts those who publish it from all liability under ‘consumer protection laws’.

There is no actual tactile product involved.  The purchaser of the software has not rights and none are placed on the publisher either. Nor are there any requirements which state that the program even works.

When you purchase software you are buying the privilege to use it, in accordance with certain conditions contained in the licence.  This privilege can be revoked by the software publisher at anytime, even without any just cause and if the publisher decides that they no longer want to support their product, or issue more licences, there is no recourse for the customer which leaves them in a sticky situation and might even force them to do something illegal, just to keep their systems running.

This is a very one way contract which is law.  This law reduces the client’s right while affording new rights to software publishers who are able to invade computers and computer networks without permission.  Publishers are also able to disable use of their product if they believe any infraction to the licence has been done, whether real or not.

In business, ethics as well as the cost of licence compliance must be evaluated as well as the cost of the risks if compliance is not adhered to.  A business is in peril if they do not adhere to this compliance in every detail.  Larger companies understand these risks and have found the consequences of infraction unacceptable, so in order to prevent penalties or worse, they have established strong licence compliance policies amongst users.  This leaves the ‘licence police’ looking at the more defenceless smaller organisations instead.

Outsourcing your IT support enables you to leave these worries behind as your IT support company can look after the legalities and all licensing issues.  That leaves you to get on with running your business.

Anybody who has ever had anything to do with a computer, which would be just about everyone unless you are living in a technological vacuum, will know what a nightmare they can be when things go wrong. With software malfunctions, crashes and hacking to contend with when you are the owner of a computer it is quite a risky business.

To add to your computer disaster paranoia which can cause sleepless nights is the menace of a virus. Having a home computer become ill and non-responsive because of being infected by a virus is one thing. Having your business computers get infected is a whole different kettle of fish.

Vicious viruses

When you own or run a business you know that your computer is the life of your business. All your information is stored on the hard drive, including the vital statistics you need to keep your head above water. Losing the use of your computer is debilitating enough for the period of time that it is out of action but losing the information you have stored on it is just as bad as your local area being hit by a natural disaster.

In fact a computer virus in your business computer system is your own personal natural disaster. This unnecessary havoc is preventable. By simply planning your virus protection you can save your business from the risk of infection.

Viruses can come in any shape and form; they can even come from business partners and suppliers. Prevention in this case is far better than cure because curing a virus may just wipe out every vital piece of information.

In a world where technology is essential and at the same time is changing faster then most can keep up, trying to maintain a secure stable and up-to-date IT system can be a very demanding task. This is especially true for small to medium sized business’s that can’t afford to have a team of techo-savvy gurus at their beck and call.

Most start up companies and smaller enterprises simply don’t have the budget required to run their systems in-house, while at the same time can’t afford to be without their IT department.

So the best alternative needs to be considered. Out-sourcing is not a revolutionary idea, it has been a part of business development for years and is now even more economical then ever before thanks to the developments in technology.

Better out than in

Outsourcing your IT requirements has become a useful method of staying on top of the technology. Practically all software programs come with regular updates, and these updates are often vital for ensuring program efficiency and work productivity.

Sometimes these updates provide protection and therefore are essential to avoiding major problems occurring in a network or server system, and hence should never be taken lightly.

Updates are often new better version of the older program or tweaks to the existing program, either way their release dates vary therefore monitoring for updates can become an time consuming and thankless job. So as a business owner there is no need to go down that path when there are safe, secure and economical ways to meet the needs of the business, outsourcing.

Bespoke software, also know as custom software is a type of software that one cannot buy from the shelf and is developed for a specific company and its needs. The software is designed in order to meet the specific requirements of a customer.

Templates or framework programs have recently become more popular, these programs allow you to buy a basic program and then mould it to best suit the needs of a specific company. Bespoke software is generally not for mass use and is designed specifically for one customer.

Why you should consider bespoke software?

The main and most obvious benefit to the use of bespoke software is the fact that you can design it to suit your company perfectly and engineer it in such a way that it is more accurate and time saving than any program on the market.

The program can be designed in phases, allowing you to incorporate it into your company slowly, ensuring that you company maintains full productivity throughout. This step-by-step approach will offer you the possibility of making further changes as required.

Bespoke software usually incorporates the latest technology to achieve the requirements of the customer, this means that you will be one step ahead of competitors in terms of progressive technology. Overall bespoke software is easier to use, gives you more control, delivers more accurate work, increase productivity and should be considered by any company who feels limited by its current software and want the advantage over competitors.

No two companies are the same or have the same business and information technology needs. Many factors come into play that shape a company’s way of operating. Financial constraints are an ever present factor and budgets need to be revised often.

Giant corporations obviously can think much bigger when it comes to IT solutions. This is just as important though for a small business and must be addressed. For any business to be locked in a constant battle with its IT is counter productive. It is not only frustrating, but eventually becomes a financial drain.

Health and profit go hand in hand

To operate your business on a healthy footing your networks and computers must be healthy. In the inevitable event that a problem arises, your company must have access to professional IT resources.

This is needed to have the problem dealt with in a fast and efficient manner.  The great news about using the services of a professional IT firm is that you are not bound to one type of solution, contract or service. A reputable firm will offer you bespoke software. They will work within your budget to create software that is tailor made to your specific needs.

This means they may suggest standard software packages or complete bespoke software. Best suited for your business may be a combination. What you can be guaranteed of is that your IT firm will put in place the right IT system for full support of your business.

They will maintain it in such a way that it can be expanded as your business grows. Software development projects is crucial for the health of your business, whatever its size.

All businesses have software needs and for many the ‘off-the-shelf’ styled software is sufficient. This is not the case for others though and many companies need or prefer bespoke software development.

A professional IT consultant has the resources and experienced manpower onboard to offer you bespoke software that is tailor-made to your specific business needs.

What benefits does this bring to your company?

It is designed for your particular business requirements and can be formulated to interact with existing software that you operate. It is usually easier to use and does not come with unnecessary installations. It has more flexibility and as business requirements change, it can be modified.

Your support structure is better as you will normally have access directly to the developers. Another plus point is that the developer is in the position to suggest improvements and alterations and this is a valuable source of IT information and advice. Bespoke software development is sound business sense as it has the ability to put you in front of your competitors.

It is understandable that a bespoke development comes at a higher price. You will also have to invest some of your own time during the development phase. What you get is a unique software development developed by an IT company that operates according to Best Practice and industry standards.

Your company has access to ongoing support that is hugely beneficial to your business. The highest cost is an off-putting factor for some businesses, but when a comparison is made against the commercial benefits it is easy to see that bespoke software development is cost-effective and hugely beneficial.

Any successful business will agree that Information Technology is a critical part of their business success. Your systems need to run at optimum level and you need full support from your chosen IT firm to maintain these indispensable systems.

This means that part of your business needs will be the development of software to boost performance and bring new innovation into your business. When your company wishes to implement a new development there are essential factors that must be evaluated.

This needs to be done so that you can make an informed decision whether to go ahead or perhaps switch to a different software development at this time.

Questions to ask

What are the goals with this project and will this application solve certain problems thereby adding value. What will the impact on your staff be; will it make their working conditions easier and thereby lift morale. How long has this development been used in the industry. Also, will your developer be able to give support for the full lifetime of this development.

Evaluate the compatibility of the new product and will it bring about improvement to the systems you have in use. How much training will your staff need to become conversant with the new development?

Affordability of the new product; can your budget handle the financial outlay at the present time? Is this a once-off expense or will there need to be a budget for this in the future? These are the basic evaluations that must be made when planning on any new software development project for your company to keep IT costs within your budget.

IT infrastructure is essential for any business that is competing in the current market regardless of whether the company is doing business on a global or local scale. The reasons for this are simple; in order to provide efficient services you have to ensure that your IT systems are meeting the demands of your business.

This can be the right software, which ensures accurate recording of customer data, or even the right email systems, which have appropriate Anti-virus protection. Once in a while this Business It infrastructure needs to be upgraded so that it can keep up with the demands. It is then that you will find the various IT companies offering their services.

While many large corporations have their own It staff this does not necessarily apply to all companies and businesses out there. It is up to you as the business manager to ensure that the business is up to date with the latest upgrades. These mainly include server updating and perhaps purchasing more up to date software.

Don’t forget your staff

If your company is doing a systems upgrade in terms of updating software you will need to get your staff trained up on its uses. This means that you can get the It company to incorporate this in your initial IT fee.

To make your staff more efficient will need to provide them with this training as new software can often cause a lag at work and even lead to low morale if no one knows how to use it. It could in turn effect the way your company deals with the customer who might not have the patience to understand that you have just implemented a new system in order to provide them with a better service.

Small businesses need to be innovative and use new ideas in order for them to stay ahead of their competition. They can achieve this result by hiring a software development company to provide tailor-made software development for them. They need to make sure they choose the correct one. It is important for the software development company to have a good understanding of the type of business you have so they can customize the software to meet your specific needs.

It also saves time and is cost effective. You need to make sure that they provide good quality software. That you know how the software works, and that it is convenient and easy to use. It is also important to make sure the software development company you are hiring has a good reputation. Preferably handling similar cases as yours and has skilled software developers to do the task for you. They must also provide ongoing maintenance and support for the developed applications.

Tailor-Made Software Development

The great thing about tailor-made software is it is designed specifically to meet your company’s needs. It does not offer you any functionality which you do not want or need. Thus with tailor made software your business will do much better and have a positive change for the good.

So even if you are a small business your business will thrive if you depend on tailor-made software development. Thus staying ahead of your competition as mentioned before and giving you better RIO (return on investment).