CUSTOM-MADE OR GENERIC SOLUTIONS? IS CUSTOM-MADE THE BETTER OPTION? AND WHY IS IT?

The market has expanded, deadlines are shorter, and customer requirements are more demanding. Logistics processes are adapting much faster than before. This brings us to an important question – can a generic solution meet all the requirements of an individual company, especially in a specific field such as logistics?

The main purpose of business digitalization is to reduce errors caused by the human factor, while saving time and energy. However, if software implementation requires excessive adjustments to existing workflows and employee activities, then resources are not saved to the extent they could be.

Experience shows that although business processes within a particular industry may be similar, they are never identical, and every client has a segment that is specific to their operations.

Parallel and/or chain processes

Transportation, warehousing, fleet management, orders, deliveries, complaints… These are the essential links in logistics that cannot be bypassed. Activities are interdependent and must be synchronized. Information is expected to be delivered as soon as it is generated and to immediately demonstrate its impact. When multiple different off-the-shelf solutions need to be aligned, the question arises – how optimal can the process be in terms of speed, accuracy, and precision?

Generic solutions typically support standard logistics processes – a simple delivery process and a predictable and stable workload. However, as business grows, precise control is also required over processes that go beyond general frameworks and make a system unique.

Weaknesses of generic solutions

As systems evolve, generic solutions often show the following limitations:

• Limited integration capabilities with carrier systems
• Certain complaints and failed deliveries require manual handling
• Performance drops in case of sudden workload increases
• More time is needed for updates and adjustments by vendors or due to changes with partners

At that point, what is needed is a unique software solution – one that grows and develops in parallel with your business.

Custom-made software solutions

Simply put – a solution created according to your needs and the way you operate: your workflows, your reports, your communication flows, and your business dynamics.

• Dispatching data and rules – organized and structured according to your definitions
• Exception management and complaints handling – configured according to your requirements
• Reporting – parameters and their cross-analysis according to your report types, with report generation based on the data and time periods you define

When processes become more complex and business volume increases, software becomes a significant support tool for structuring and recording data. It simplifies operations instead of complicating them, which often happens when trying to force specific data structures into generic solutions.

Data integration

Custom-made software is also developed according to your needs when it comes to data integration with other systems. One such approach is the API-first approach. What matters most is that data migration happens within the timeframe and classification that best suit your business needs.

Costs – higher initially, lower over time

Although off-the-shelf solutions may seem more affordable at first glance, with all the necessary add-ons, customizations, and maintenance, they can exceed the total cost of a custom-made solution. At the same time, they may still never fully meet all the requirements that software developed specifically for your business can fulfill.