Many companies nowadays choose to develop new software instead of buying it because it cuts costs without compromising efficiency, which will offer a competitive advantage over others.
The number of companies investing in developing software is increasing. Still, many software development companies tend to overlook the hidden costs of launching a new program. So it’s worth investing some time into doing your market research and getting a clearer picture of things like projected costs for the initial stages of development and what to expect as you move forward and how these software costs might affect you financially.
Suppose you buy a new car. Even though you’ve spent some money, it’s still not in tip-top condition. For example, you might have to pay monthly fees for Maintenance and possibly some additional expenses like repair costs if something breaks down after you try to drive off into the sunset.
But what are these hidden costs of software development?
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6 Types Of Hidden Costs That You Need To Anticipate Before Launching Your Software
#1. Maintenance Cost
Beyond the final delivery of your product, it is important to remember that your software development team is not done yet. Therefore, beyond its initial launch, you will have to keep updating and adjusting your software for it to stay competitive within the marketplace.
As you continue to progress through your development process with your team, you will begin to notice an increase in sales. You will need a team of experts who can handle the increasing demand and keep pace with the competition, likely doing the same or gaining ground in your field. This is where Maintenance comes into play. This is about keeping things up-to-date– this includes keeping products on shelves at stores, changing customer demand, new features being pushed out, and all sorts of other things!
#2. Hosting And Server Costs
Hosting and server costs depend upon the number of users, how much information you will store on their servers, and how much space their servers take up. Therefore, hosting expenses are the best investments to consider during your initial software development budget.
As a developer, you can expect to have a lot of servers. Whether you’re building an application or testing one out, there are servers involved at every step along the way. You’ll have servers for email and web requests, among others. Many of these who hold your project’s code will be hosted on someone else’s computer, so they’ll charge you as such – more than likely per month. If you want to know what makes a good development server (an important resource for any programmer), continue to read!
#3. Training And Development Of Staff Members
Training is an expense that many forget about when projecting software development costs. However, this expense is likely to show up when a team member you trained decides to leave your company or if they no longer work well with companies that offer project maintenance and software development outsourcing.
Hiring a new employee is an important step in growing your software business. However, to ensure that they can contribute to your software’s Maintenance, you should provide them with adequate training on how the program works and its protocols (because everyone contributes in their way).
#4. Software Security
Creating robust software and enhancing the user experience is not enough to make your software development successful. Still, equally important is maintaining and hardening the security of your product – because security should be at the forefront of every digital offering we create.
Software security is imperative to protect your company’s money, business model, and integrity. However, this means you need to take additional steps to make sure that hackers don’t target your software or website and any other online platform you may have created to market your products because this will destroy both of them and ultimately damage the brand image you’ve worked so hard to protect. Therefore make sure your IT (Information Technology) team takes the necessary steps to ensure that if harmful code makes its way onto your site, they get offline as quickly as possible and quarantine the area before any real harm can be done!
#5. Software Testing And Troubleshooting
It’s important to test your software before it goes into production. This will save time and money in the long run, as one can ensure that there are no bugs or technical errors by testing the software extensively before launch. Furthermore, by thoroughly testing a product, one can ensure they won’t run into any problems once launch day comes.
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#6. Software Upgrade
Customers’ needs are always changing, and your software must adapt to meet those needs. Therefore, it would help if you prepared for whatever uncertainties might lie ahead by setting up a way of monitoring what is going on in the market and adjusting accordingly.
Changes in technology and customer demand can bring opportunities and burdens to a business. A mobile application development company should be aware of these changes and prepared to adapt quickly if and when necessary. Such changes may give an enterprise a competitive advantage over those that do not recognize or utilize these opportunities immediately.
3 Proven Ways To Prevent Hidden Cost In Software Development
Are you fully prepared for the costs involved in setting up your business? If not, then why don’t you take the time to consider a few of the expenses involved with starting up a company?
We know about the 6 types of hidden costs incurred in software development. Let’s discuss how we can prepare for these pitfalls to avoid them as much as possible throughout our project:
1. Select The Appropriate Technology
Don’t be afraid to choose a technology after taking the advice of other companies and making thorough research. The technology you choose should be durable so that you do not experience problems while upgrading software later on down the line. Be sure to work with dependable technologies such as React Native or Java if you want a more scalable product in the long run. Alternatively, an open-source technology like WordPress allows you to create beautiful websites with minimal upkeep.
2. Target key Platform
You need to make sure you’re focusing on the right platforms for both users and developers. So how do you select which platforms to test with? Either conduct surveys or talk to some of your friends and family who typically make purchases with apps. And finally, if someone in your household typically has an iOS device, make sure they also have access to an Android device. Else your users won’t be able to use your app. Also, while you think it’s important that everyone is playing on their specific Platform of choice, it doesn’t hurt to reassure them that they aren’t missing anything either by offering them a platform-agnostic feature that works across all devices!
3. Don't Invest Too Much In Third-Party Tools
People often use third-party tools or software to improve their software. But you need to be aware that you are losing ownership of your product! As companies grow, it becomes increasingly important to manage costs and budgets and assess the balance between what core features of the application are critical to its success versus nice-to-haves that do not impact functionality.
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Final Words
The cost of software development is not limited to just the initial project launch. While you have a budget from the get-go, there are going to be some “hidden expenses” that need to be considered specifically when it comes down to making one:
- Maintenance costs
- Hosting and server costs
- Training of staff members
- Software security
- Software testing
Please make sure you’re aware of the above 7 hidden costs of software development to prepare for them before your project can start its journey out into the world. If you are looking for more information on mobile app development services, reach out to Syndell for more! Connect with us Now!!
FAQs
You should anticipate ongoing maintenance and support, as well as potential updates and upgrades post-launch. It is also important to plan for potential unexpected issues or bugs that may arise after the software is live.
Some strategies for minimizing hidden costs post-launch include thorough planning and budgeting, proper project management, and effective communication with all team members. It is also helpful to be proactive in addressing potential issues and seeking out ways to optimize processes and reduce waste. Another strategy is to regularly review and assess the cost-benefit of any additional features or changes made to the software.
There are several steps you can take to prepare for software development post-launch:
- Make a thorough list of all the features and functionality you want to include in your software.
- Set clear goals and objectives for your software development project.
- Determine the budget and timeline for your project, taking into account any potential hidden costs.
- Assemble a team of experienced software developers, designers, and testers.
- Create a project plan outlining the steps and tasks needed to complete the project on time and on budget.
- Communicate regularly with your team to stay informed about progress and address any issues that may arise.
Some common software development costs after launch include maintenance and support, updates and upgrades, and bug fixing. Additionally, there may be costs associated with training and onboarding new users, as well as integration and customization for specific business needs.
- Clearly define project scope and objectives to avoid scope creep and unexpected costs.
- Continuously monitor and track project progress and costs to identify and address any potential cost overruns.
- Utilize agile methodologies to allow for flexibility and adaptability in the event of unexpected costs.
