4:45

If you’re weighing the benefits of COTS applications over bespoke software, there might be a better alternative. This third option changes the equation: low-code development.

5:30

Build anything from simple process automation apps to modernized core systems. Low-code platforms operate in the cloud. Cloud computing gives you the flexibility and scalability necessary to build applications for your organization’s current and future needs.

But is low-code right for your organization? Learn more about your choices, such as when it’s best to build and when it’s best to buy enterprise-grade software.

Enterprises can build software tailored to their needs using low-code. In addition, low-code is intuitive and doesn’t require a large staff of highly skilled technical experts.

Custom development isn’t necessarily the right choice in some scenarios. The same can be said for low-code. Here are issues to consider when choosing off-the-shelf vs. custom software or whether to build or buy.

Consider process uniqueness, integration needs, and in-house IT skills. COTS excels in standardized processes, while low-code shines in custom scenarios. Evaluate scalability, vendor lock-in risks, and the trade-off between immediate functionality and future adaptability. Time-to-market and total cost of ownership are crucial deciding factors.

As an out-of-the-box solution, COTS products aren’t customized — they are configured. Fully integrating with your IT infrastructure can require extensive rigging by an experienced developer.

NC State has more than 100 campus entities that offer courses, and each relies on a different registration method. The disparities made reporting processes inefficient, and the university’s decentralized IT architecture created standardization challenges.

Maybe the contract for your ERP system may be up for renewal. Or maybe you’re looking to automate specific business workflows for the first time.

5-15 report

The COTS system that was once the perfect, quick fix now needs to support a larger, global workforce. Is it able to scale? Is it compliant with the regulatory environment of other regions? Can it integrate with a new set of existing systems?

“That’s when we started to become aware of low-code platforms as an alternative to rapidly develop and deliver code,” said Gwen Hazlehurst, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise Application Services at NCSU.

Low-code is a better choice in the long run. It helps companies save time and money and helps them retain full control over their product.

Your engineers can only configure solutions within the boundaries of the tools, even those with broader-than-average capabilities. COTS limitations lead businesses to adapt their processes to fit the tool when really it should be the other way around.

Quadrophenia train scene

3/15

Businesses often adopt a hybrid approach, introducing low-code for new projects or to extend COTS functionality. They identify processes requiring more flexibility and gradually replace COTS modules. This phased transition allows for skill development and minimal operational disruption, enabling a smooth shift towards more adaptable solutions.

A low-code platform removes barriers like cost and time, allowing your organization to create custom solutions. While COTS software lacks customization capabilities and adaptability, low-code automation platforms make anything possible.

With Mendix, enterprises can ditch “one-size-fits-all” generic solutions for one-of-a-kind, fully-tailored software. The platform can also supplement your core systems, giving you the flexibility to evolve at the speed of business. You can also turn your commercial software ideas into lucrative outcomes with the Mendix ISV program.

5:45

Hidden COTS costs often lurk in customization, integration complexities, and ongoing licensing fees. Unexpected expenses may arise from hardware upgrades, data migration, and potential downtime. Long-term costs can include vendor lock-in, scalability limitations, and the need for third-party add-ons. Always factor in training, compliance, and business process adaptation expenses.

They couldn’t afford traditional development, and a custom COTS solution wasn’t an option either. Anxious for an affordable, fast alternative, NC State started to search for a different kind of solution.

COTS software has a lot of appeal for businesses of all sizes and industries because it’s readily available. If you need a straightforward solution, you could have a new COTS application implemented in a matter of days. You can also deploy more complex systems quickly.

Instead of traditional coding languages like Java and C#, you build using visuals like iconography, diagrams, graphics, and logic. Everyone can collaborate and communicate using this common language.

the who - 5:15 lyrics meaning

Enterprises used to see custom software development as a huge investment in money and time. While this may still hold for traditional development, low-code software development is an entirely different story.

515 The Who Live

After browsing vendors, you find a few options that fit your immediate needs. But what about in six months when your company acquires a competitor in APAC?

Even modified off-the-shelf (MOTS) software — COTS with some control over customization— is limited. Vendors typically don’t support customizations because they require custom coding. Custom coding is an expensive process you were likely trying to avoid by purchasing an off-the-shelf product.

More specifically, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) is ready-made software designed for many customers. Some common examples of COTS software products include:

No matter the situation, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products vs. custom software development is an inevitable dilemma.

According to Gartner, off-the-shelf is “equipment that has already been manufactured and is available for delivery from stock.”

NC State released an RFP for a customized COTS solution with the hope that a third party could help. The responses from COTS vendors were unsustainable: $3-10 million over five years.

COTS products won’t fit your company’s exact functionality needs or goals. The software is almost guaranteed to be lacking in at least one area. Some software includes unnecessary features you must pay for, even if you don’t need them.

Compared to the alternatives, COTS products typically have more predictable costs. Because there are few options for customization, annual licensing is typically the only long-term cost after initial implementation. The vendor also handles support, software updates, and patches.

Enterprise low-code platforms take a visual approach to custom development. Intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, reusable components, communication tools, and more guide you through every step of the application lifecycle. You can build fully customized solutions faster and more affordably than traditional development. No hard coding skills are necessary.