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How to Address Critical Challenges in Custom Enterprise Software Development

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Custom enterprise software development is tough, to say the least. Designing a UI, writing code to connect the app to the database, setting up the infrastructure ‒ all of these tasks require technical skills and attention to detail. Ensuring the application is secure, scalable, and maintainable makes the task even more complex.

At MindK, we’ve been providing enterprise software development services to European and American companies for the past 12 years. We’ve witnessed the challenges that only emerge in large enterprise projects:

  • Satisfying the often conflicting expectations of multiple stakeholders.
  • Modernizing decade-old interfaces and legacy technologies. 
  • Developing scalable and cost-effective architecture.
  • Migrating to the cloud in a cost-effective way. 
  • Using predictive intelligence, robotic process automation, and data engineering to improve the company’s bottom line.

Custom enterprise software development

There are challenges, and there are solutions. So let’s discuss them!

Learn about the top challenges in enterprise software development 

Knowing the bottlenecks of enterprise custom software development can help you make the project a smashing success.

Legacy systems and technical debt

79% of app modernization projects fail. Why? The answer is simple ‒ software modernization is a challenging and time-consuming process. A single wrong move can badly affect your business. We understand the struggle with ineffective tools, skills, and training needed to work on complex code laden with fragile dependencies.

Enterprise software is usually connected to core business processes. These workflows must be thoroughly studied and understood by a development team. Besides, it often relies on outdated technology that is no longer supported. Finding specialists with the right skills to improve and maintain is difficult.

custom-enterprise software development challenges

Adopting Agile at scale

Despite its popularity among software development teams, enterprise businesses face difficulties when adopting Agile methodology. To begin with, not all team members might be happy about changing their methods and resist a shift to Agile. Middle managers and executives might also lack the necessary Agile expertise to understand and correctly communicate its benefits.

Last but not least, companies experience issues when establishing effective communication channels, a big no-no for Agile software development. When communication is inefficient and slow, Agile won’t deliver the desired results.

agile free book download

Shortage of qualified developers

A recent wave of layoffs might be deceiving. According to Gartner, 86% of CIOs now report more competition for skilled engineers than in 2022. 73% of executives fear losing employees faster than they can hire. Analysts believe that the demand for technical skills will continue to outpace the supply, leading to a shortage of 4 million developers by 2025.

With that in mind, Forbes expects more companies to hire contractors in 2023. Besides cost savings, hiring global contractors can help you fill gaps in high-demand skills like cloud engineering, cybersecurity, blockchain, or AI. You can check our detailed guide on how to hire reliable contractors to address this challenge.

 

Gartner CIO survey visualization
Infogram

Managing stakeholder expectations (and other organizational issues)

Enterprise projects are costly, complex, and risky. For these reasons, they often get pushback from someone in the organization who doesn’t want change. Moreover, some stakeholders might have radically different expectations about the project.  

We’re currently building a massive medical system for American lactologists. A Product Owner from the client’s side sees the application as comprehensive Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for doctors, patients, and insurers. 

However, when you talk to the project sponsors, they want a different implementation for many features. Their Customer Support team often advocates additional flourishes that would be too costly for the company. Those flourishes, however, make perfect sense if your main motivation is to delight customers.

Patient visit reports

Patient visit reports in custom medical software developed by MindK 

Managing the budget, timelines, and stakeholder expectations places high requirements on the Project Managers. They have to first identify all people that might be impacted by the project. We then recommend organizing monthly sync-ups with those people. Such a meeting should be short and to the point, focusing on the project’s future. When you align everyone’s expectations, the team can find suitable compromises to maintain the buy-in. 

From updating legacy software to API integration and cloud migration, MindK has proven expertise to help you develop custom enterprise software, mitigating risks and preventing project failures.  

Re-engineer your existing system using modern technologies

We can re-engineer your solution to easily implement new features, integrate with the latest tools, and ensure high scalability. With popular modern technologies, it gets easier to improve and maintain your software. 

Case study: creating a sustainability platform for Forbes Global 2000 companies 

CEMAsys.com provides energy and carbon management services for socially responsible companies. 10 years ago, they launched a monolithic solution that used Joomla and Symfony. At some point, it became too costly to debug and add new features. Moreover, the old technologies couldn’t handle new requirements, leading to poor experience and slow development.

We helped CEMAsys migrate to a new tech stack, including Angular, NestJS, and AdonisJS. Thanks to a modular service-oriented architecture, developers can easily add new functionality without wasting a lot of time on debugging. The system handles more than 2 million environmental records without performance hits thanks to Azure and Kubernetes autoscaling. 

CEMAsys has scaled to more than 800 corporate customers. We continue to work together to add new features and expand into the American market.

 

CemaSYS SaaS environmental reporting system

Moving a sustainability data platform from a monolith to a service-oriented architecture [case study

Move to microservices-based architecture

Breaking down your enterprise software into smaller, independent units provides a lot of benefits. They include faster development, easier integrations, better scalability, performance, and system stability,

Case study: saving $14,000 a month and improving scalability with microservices

One of our clients is a leading US company that helps businesses analyze online reputation. It had a huge monolithic application that became too difficult to maintain and update with new features. Moreover, it scaled poorly and cost our client huge sums of money on cloud hosting. 

To solve these issues, MindK created a comprehensive improvement roadmap. It included migration to microservices, setting up containers, implementing Kubernetes and AWS autoscaling, and automating CI/CD pipelines. Our cloud optimization saved the client over $14,000 in monthly costs. Microservices made releases faster, more secure and predictable. New features are now cheaper to develop and maintain.

cut operational costs with MindK

Migrate to the cloud in a cost-effective way

If implemented correctly, Cloud migration makes your application faster, more scalable and secure, as well as cuts operational costs. Our engineers can develop an optimal cloud migration strategy and move your application to AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Case study: making it 10x cheaper to onboard customers with cloud-native technologies

AlreadyOn offers eLearning and member management solutions for various organizations in Norway. Each client received a customized solution, hosted on a dedicated server. This made it very expensive to onboard clients or add new features. 

To solve these challenges, we redesigned the system into a powerful SaaS application on AWS. Using cloud-native technologies made it up to 10x cheaper to onboard new clients. Microservices have better performance and scalability thanks to Kubernetes clusters. The team continues to release improvements without disrupting 200,000+ active users. 

custom SaaS membership management system case study

Developing a SaaS CRM and learning management system for Norwegian organizations [case study]

Turn your data into Business Intelligence

Want to extract actionable insights from large data volumes originating from multiple sources? Our expertise in data architecture design, ETL processes, data warehousing, reporting, and visualization can help you turn masses of unstructured data into clear insights.

Case study: saving hundreds of hours a week with marketing automation and analytics

Converze Media manages dozens of ad campaigns on streaming networks, TV and radio stations across the US. Creating ad orders, sending them to stations, and tracking conversions took hours upon hours of hard work. Advertisers needed to use different tools for each channel, extract the data into huge Excel documents, and analyze it manually. 

MindK helped them create a first-of-a-kind AdTech platform. It automates campaign planning, order creation, and dispatching. The solution collects data from a custom Google Analytics-like ad pixel and third-party integrations. It then automatically calculates ad ROI based on dozens of variables. In just a couple of clicks, you can generate reports with over 20 graphs, bar charts, and heat maps. This saves our client hundreds of hours a week.

AIM Analytics custom AdTech software

Building a first-of-its-kind automation platform for the US direct response advertisers [case study]

Extend your system’s capabilities via API integrations

Want to ensure seamless integration between your systems or connect your software to third-party services? MindK can integrate different systems via APIs or develop a reliable custom API to enable smooth and secure data exchange. 

Case study: developing a cloud-based platform with 20+ integrations 

For more than a century, Harrison Publishing House (HPH) has been a trusted provider of material catalogs for the American construction industry. The company lacked a centralized system with up-to-date information on construction items and project statuses.  

HPH contacted MindK to streamline business processes for distributors, manufacturers, and construction companies. Their in-house team was focused on data operations. So we implemented a cloud-based platform for managing internal departments, procurement, and project participants. With more than 20 integrations, the solution offers a fully automated order processing that offers up to a 5% reduction in annual expenses.

CINX SaaS application case study

Creating a cloud-based supply chain solution for the US construction industry [case study]

Conclusion

Building enterprise software is challenging. With over 12 years in the industry, MindK has both experience and knowledge to tackle enterprise-level challenges. 

Whether you need to integrate third-party systems, handle vast amounts of data, or create a new cutting-edge solution, feel free to book a free consultation with our engineering experts

Expertise in custom enterprise solution development

✓Full range of custom enterprise app development services: IT consulting, requirements gathering, UI/UX design, project management, Agile development & testing, DevSecOps, and post-implementation support.

✓More than 170 complex projects – CRM, Business Intelligence, Supply Chain Management, HRM, Business Process Automation, Data Hubs, and integrated enterprise solutions.

✓Experience with disruptive technologies – AI & Machine Learning, IoT, Big Data, and cloud-native development.

✓Industry expertise, including Healthcare, HR & Recruitment, FinTech, and Education.

100+ qualified software development experts

✓85% of Senior and Middle engineers with an average retention of 5 years.

✓Popular and easily maintainable tech stack, including Angular, React, and Node.js.

✓Experience with serverless, microservice, and service-oriented architectures on Azure, and AWS

✓Product mindset with a focus on delivering value to stakeholders. 

Agile and DevSecOps evangelism

✓8 years of experience in Agile and DevOps methodologies.

✓Professional Business Analysts and Project Managers that collect requirements, control risks, budgets, schedules, and stakeholder expectations. 

✓Rapid delivery with CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, containerization, test automation, GitOps, 24/7 monitoring, and alerting.

✓Focus on security, compliance, and code quality in custom enterprise application development.

Let's start custom enterprise software development

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the most common types of enterprise software?

    Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is responsible for rapid exchange of data between various departments. It typically has multiple modules, each responsible for a different area of a business. They might cover accounting, inventory management, customer service, business process management, order management, human resources, e-commerce, and shipping.

    Customer Relationships Management (CRM) provides a detailed overview of relationships with each customer. It allows tracking of every interaction with a client, in person, via phone, email, social media, and so on. According to Nucleus Research, every dollar you invest in CRM software can return as much as $8.71 in increased sales.

    Business Intelligence (BI) software helps companies gain actionable insights based on data that comes from various sources: marketing, sales, manufacturing, HR, and so on. It uses data mining, benchmarking, data visualization, and advanced statistical algorithms to reveal patterns and make accurate forecasts. 

    Supply Chain Management (SCM) software helps manage procurement, storage, shipping, and distribution. It deals with materials ordering, suppliers, procurement, manufacturing, order processing, warehousing, logistics, and distribution.

    Human Resources Management (HRM) tools automate routine tasks like hiring, payroll management, workforce planning, performance management, payroll, reporting, employee training, and engagement.

    Marketing automation software helps enterprises turn leads into delighted clients. Use cases might range from segmenting audiences to managing campaigns at a huge scale. One of our clients has been running dozens of campaigns on national & state TV and radio stations. We helped them build first-in-the class ad automation software that saves hundreds of hours a week on manual actions. 

    Business process management (BPM) software uses a wide range of methods and tools used to document, analyze, and automate the company’s workflows. Low-code BPM platforms allow companies to create visual representations of processes, remove bottlenecks, and simplify decision-making.

  • What makes enterprise software development different from a regular project?

    Besides the sheer scale, enterprise application software (EAS) have a number of defining characteristics:

    High performance. An enterprise application should handle the stress of the entire organization using it every day.

    Fully owned by the company, no need to share the app with thousands of other users, which helps with lightning-fast queries.

    High customization – likely created specifically to match your business processes.

    High scalability and extensibility. The system grows together with your business.

    Large number of integrations – multiple systems working together to perform a variety of tasks.

    Data Portability. You can extract the data stored in the system for other purposes.

    High security and robustness. Enterprise software systems are typically equipped with several layers of security (e.g. two-factor authentication, multiple user roles, and encryption).

  • What are the specific security measures and protocols recommended for custom enterprise software to ensure data protection and compliance?

    For custom enterprise software, security measures should ideally encompass both physical and cyber defenses, including encryption, secure access controls, and regular security audits. Adhering to global regulations like GDPR or HIPAA is critical, requiring both technical and procedural safeguards to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance.

  • How does the cost and time of developing custom enterprise software compare to purchasing and customizing off-the-shelf software solutions?

    The cost and development time of custom enterprise software can significantly exceed that of off-the-shelf solutions, mainly due to the tailored design and development process. However, this investment can offer long-term savings and efficiency gains by closely aligning with specific business needs and processes.

    The cost of custom enterprise software development can vary depending on project complexity, technologies used, and the experience of your development team. You can learn more about web development costs by checking our ultimate guide. 

     

  • What are the steps involved in custom enterprise software development?

    Requirements gathering. The first step is to gather requirements from the stakeholders within your organization. This includes identifying the business needs and determining the specific functionality that the software should provide. We also recommend involving the end-users of a system to learn about their actual needs.

    Design. Once the requirements are gathered and analyzed, it’s time to design the software. This includes creating the system architecture, its user interface, and functionality.

    Development & testing. This phase involves coding, testing, and debugging the software using an Agile methodology. Once the software is developed, it might need testing to ensure it works as expected.

    Deployment. When the software is ready, the team can install the software on the target systems and make it available to users.

  • How long does it take to develop enterprise software?

    The time it takes to develop custom enterprise software varies depending on the factors mentioned above. However, it usually takes longer than building standard web applications.

  • What are the risks of enterprise software development?

    There are a few risks associated with custom enterprise software development:

    Misaligned expectations. Enterprise projects have a lot of stakeholders that might have conflicting expectations. 

    Cost overruns. Custom software development is expensive. Without skilled project management, you might end up paying more than expected.

    Schedule delays. Complex projects might take longer than expected, so it’s important to manage the schedule and stakeholder expectations.

    Technical problems. Some innovative features might turn out to be much more complex than anticipated, leading to delays or revisions. 

    Poor quality. When the development team is inexperienced or mismanaged, you might end up with subpar quality.

    Learn more about these risks and how to mitigate them

  • How do I find a reputable enterprise software development company?

    Here’s how to find a reliable partner for enterprise application development:

    Search for vendors with relevant expertise and technology stack.

    Check case studies and client reviews on independent review aggregators like Clutch.co. If possible, talk to those clients personally. 

    Talk to the team. Learn about their development processes, communication protocols, support and maintenance options, and English skills.

    Ensure they have transparent pricing models. Contracts like time-and-materials or fixed price can have different meanings for different companies, so it’s a good idea to discuss those options in detail.

    Sign legally binding agreements and NDAs to protect your intellectual property and confidential information.

    Establish an effective communication system that satisfies the key stakeholders.

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