This is where custom software development comes in. But what is custom software development? Instead of a product you buy off a shelf, it’s a tool you design and build exclusively for your business. It’s a strategic investment that can streamline operations, give you a competitive edge, and set your company on a path to sustained growth.

In this article, we’ll demystify what custom software development is and show you why it’s a powerful move for forward-thinking leaders who are ready to build a better business.

What is Custom Software Development?

At its core, custom software development is the process of designing, building, and maintaining software applications that are specifically tailored to the needs of a single user or organization. This software development definition is key to understanding its value. Unlike off-the-shelf software, which is a one-size-fits-all solution, custom software is a perfect fit, built specifically to address your unique challenges and opportunities.

Think of it this way: off-the-shelf software is like renting a modular office space. It’s functional and sets up quickly, but limits you to a pre-set layout and design. A custom-developed application, on the other hand, is like hiring an architect to draw up an architectural blueprint. It’s a deliberate process of planning and design, ensuring every room and hallway is placed precisely. It creates a workspace that is uniquely fitted to your brand and optimized for maximum efficiency.

This tailored approach lets the software integrate seamlessly with your existing systems, automate your most complex workflows, and solve specific business problems that off-the-shelf products simply can’t. If you’re looking for examples of software that truly align with a business’s specific needs, custom solutions are the answer.

What are the Different Types of Custom Software Development?

When we talk about software development, we’re referring to a broad field with many specializations. The work of a software developer can be very different depending on the part of the system they’re building. Understanding the types of software development is crucial for any business leader. Here are a few of the most common specializations and what the different types of software developers focus on:

• Front-end Development: This is the part of a website or application that users interact with directly. Front-end developers are the builders behind the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). They make sure the software looks great and is easy to use.
• Back-end Development: This work happens behind the scenes. Back-end developers create the logic that powers a software application, managing databases, servers, and APIs. Their work is the engine that makes the whole system run smoothly.
• Mobile Software Development: As the name suggests, this is the process of creating applications for mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets.
• 3D Software Development: These developers build immersive experiences using technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), creating new ways for users to interact with digital content.
• DevOps Engineer: A blend of software development and IT operations. DevOps engineers work to streamline the development process and ensure a fast, reliable, and continuous delivery of software.
• Database Development: These specialists design, implement, and maintain the complex databases that store and organize a company’s critical information.
• Systems Engineer: This role is focused on the architecture of a system, making sure all the components work together efficiently and effectively.

For those interested in the tools of the trade, programming software examples include languages like Python, JavaScript, and C++. All of which are used on a software development platform to build applications. But we don’t get deep into specific programming languages in this article.

Examples of the Benefits of Custom Software Development

While the initial investment in a custom solution may be higher, the custom software development examples we see in the market show that the benefits are substantial. For business leaders, it’s not just about having a unique application. It’s about the tangible value and competitive edge that it provides.

Strong Competitive Advantage

When you build a custom solution, you own the intellectual property. This allows you to create unique features that give you a distinct edge in your market. At the same time, you are building a barrier to entry that competitors can’t easily overcome. For example, Meridian Rapid Defense Group, a provider of mobile vehicle barriers, gained a powerful competitive advantage by building a custom software platform to automate the complex planning process for safety mitigation. This tool not only simplifies their internal operations but also functions as a visual sales tool. This proprietary software creates a better experience for their customers and gives the company a stronger position in the market.

Increased Operational Efficiency

Custom software mirrors your existing workflows; it doesn’t force you into a pre-defined mold. By automating manual, repetitive, or complex tasks, a custom application can boost productivity and free up your teams to focus on higher-value work. For instance, Allstar Elevator Inspection relied on a MS-Dynamics and Google Sheets setup that worked… with multiple workarounds, manual steps, and overall inefficiencies. The company invested in a custom software solution to move the entire workflow to a digital platform. This new system automated inspection reports and significantly improved operational efficiency.

Long-Term Scalability

Generic solutions can’t always grow with your business. Custom software is built for the future. It scales and adapts as your company expands, preventing costly and disruptive replacements down the line. A great example of this is LECS, an electrical contracting company that was spending a small fortune every year in SaaS licenses. Rather than paying for off-the-shelf software in perpetuity, LECS decided to build a bespoke system to handle their reporting, billing, and bonus workflows. This software allowed the company to move away from costly SaaS products and to a more flexible, scalable long-term solution.

Full Ownership & Control

With custom software, you are in complete control. You own the code and the intellectual property. This means you can change it, integrate it with any system you want, and align the solution perfectly with your business goals. The US Gymnastics Development Center, for example, built a custom software solution to manage its operations, which included complex pricing models that were difficult for other software to replicate. A custom web-based gym management system gave them full ownership and control to handle payments exactly how they wanted. It also transformed payment processing from a task that previously took days into one handled in under an hour.  

Conclusion: Builders of Better

Custom software development is more than just code; it’s a strategic partnership and an investment in your company’s future. For business leaders looking to overcome limitations, gain a competitive edge, and unlock new levels of efficiency, a custom solution is the path to achieving those goals.

If you’re ready to stop fitting your business into a generic box, let’s talk. We’re Builders of Better, which means we’re ready to help you build something that’s truly your own.

The post What is Custom Software Development: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Saritasa.

How Did Cloud Computing Overcome Security Fears?

The idea of entrusting your most sensitive, proprietary data to an external provider, storing it on servers you didn’t own or directly control, was pretty scary. There was real fear that “the cloud” was this sort of nebulous (see what I did there?) place where your data goes, but you have no idea where it really lives and have little control over its security. People saw the cloud as a potential security nightmare waiting to happen.

Fast forward to today, and for the most part, that fear and apprehension seem like a distant memory. Cloud hosting is not just commonplace; it’s the backbone of countless businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Experts systematically addressed the initial fears through robust security protocols, stringent compliance certifications, transparent service level agreements, and a growing understanding of cloud architecture.

Companies learned that well-managed cloud environments could often be more secure than their on-premises counterparts, benefiting from dedicated security teams and advanced threat detection capabilities that individual businesses might struggle to replicate. People overcame those fears by learning how the cloud works and understanding the benefits it can provide when used correctly.

Why Are Companies Apprehensive About AI Data Usage?

Now, it seems like AI is in a similar position as it nears the top of the hype curve. As we stand on the precipice of the AI revolution, a striking sense of deja vu is permeating the corporate world. Many of those same fears we had about the cloud are resurfacing when we think about using AI in our business, especially around AI data governance and transparency. The excitement around artificial intelligence’s transformative potential is palpable, but so too is a familiar undercurrent of unease. This time, the concern isn’t just about data storage; it’s about data access and usage by intelligent systems.

The core fear, much like with early cloud adoption, revolves around control and confidentiality. Companies are asking: What happens to our sensitive data when we feed it to an AI model? Is it truly secure? Will our proprietary information inadvertently become part of the AI’s collective knowledge, potentially exposing our secrets to competitors?

This fear isn’t entirely unfounded. In some cases, companies discovered to their dismay that certain AI models were training on their submitted data, sometimes allowing competitors to gain unintended insights. This “scare” highlighted a critical need for clear guidelines, robust data governance, and transparent practices in the nascent AI landscape.

As a result, AI service providers added clear guidelines in their terms of use regarding their use of your data for training their models. Often, with unpaid, lower-tier access plans, your data could be used for training. However, with higher-tier paid plans, the use of your data by the AI provided is restricted or precluded altogether.

So, how can we draw parallels from the cloud’s journey to navigate the current AI apprehension?

Lessons from the Cloud: A Roadmap for AI Data Governance

So, how can we draw parallels from the cloud’s journey to navigate the current AI data governance challenges and overcome apprehension?

1.)  Transparency and Control

The cloud industry has matured by offering granular control over data, clear visibility into security measures, and transparent policies on data usage. Similarly, AI providers must give businesses explicit control over their data’s lifecycle within AI models, clearly explain whether and how they use data for training, and provide mechanisms to opt out or segregate data.

2.)  Robust AI Security and Compliance Standards

Just as cloud providers invested heavily in certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliance, AI developers must prioritize robust security frameworks and adhere to evolving AI-specific compliance standards. This includes secure data ingestion, anonymization techniques, and stringent access controls to prevent data leakage.

3.)  Private AI Instances and Walled Garden Solutions

Early cloud adopters often started with hybrid models or private cloud deployments before fully embracing public cloud. We might see a similar trend with AI, where companies initially opt for private AI instances or “walled garden” solutions. These would guarantee their data remains isolated and is not used for broader model training.

4.)  AI Education and Best Practices

A significant part of overcoming cloud skepticism was educating businesses on best practices for cloud security and data management. The same will be true for AI. Companies need to understand the nuances of different AI models, the implications of data sharing, and how to implement their own internal governance frameworks for AI adoption.

5.)  Industry Standards and AI Regulations

The cloud industry benefited from the development of industry-wide security standards and, eventually, regulatory frameworks. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect – and indeed, need – the development of similar standards and regulations to build trust and ensure responsible AI deployment. This might include certifications for “privacy-preserving AI” or “data-isolated AI” services.

The Future of Trust and AI Data Governance

The journey to widespread AI adoption, particularly with sensitive business data, will mirror the cloud’s path and depend on strong AI data governance frameworks built on transparency, security, and privacy. Businesses will demand assurances that their competitive edge won’t be eroded by inadvertently training a competitor’s AI or exposing their strategic insights.

The initial scare served as a crucial wake-up call. It prompted AI developers and platform providers to prioritize robust data governance and clear communication. As technology evolves, we can anticipate more sophisticated solutions for data anonymization, federated learning (where models learn from decentralized data without direct sharing), and homomorphic encryption (allowing computations on encrypted data).

Just as the perception of the cloud evolved from a feared gamble into an essential powerhouse for innovation, fears of AI will take a similar path. Artificial intelligence is ready to embark on a thrilling journey of transformation. This wave of apprehension is not just normal; it’s a dramatic chapter in the story of progress.

Imagine a world where businesses fully embrace the incredible potential of AI, fueled by lessons learned from the past. By tackling the crucial issues of data privacy and control head-on, the AI industry is set to ignite a bold future where organizations unleash the full force of artificial intelligence, all while safeguarding their most prized possession: their data. The future is bright, and the possibilities are endless! With change comes fear; it is normal. When it comes to technology, it is constantly changing, and we get over that fear. We did it with the cloud, and we will with AI.

The post Déjà vu: From Cloud Skepticism to AI Apprehension – Proper AI Data Governance and Data Security appeared first on Saritasa.

Looking for the best custom software development companies in 2025? Whether you’re a startup or a Fortune 500 enterprise, we’ve curated the top development firms across three categories: enterprise, mid-to-large, and small business. 

• Accenture tops the list for enterprise organizations.
• Saritasa is ranked #1 for mid-to-large businesses.
• Saritasa also appears across all tiers as a flexible, experienced, U.S.-based provider.

The Case for Custom Software Development 

In a world of SaaS overload and ever-evolving tech trends, more businesses are turning to custom software to solve specific problems, streamline operations, and support scalable growth. 

We have a whole article on the pros and cons of SaaS versus custom, but the short of it is that custom software allows you to:

• Build solutions tailored to your exact business needs
• Own your platform and data
• Integrate seamlessly with internal systems and workflows
• Scale and adapt your solution over time
• Differentiate your business in a crowded market

Whether you’re modernizing a legacy system or launching a brand-new platform, the right development partner makes all the difference.

What To Consider When Selecting a Custom Software Development Firm

Not all software developers are equal. The best firm for a large enterprise won’t necessarily be the best fit for a fast-growing small business. Ultimately, the best team for your project is the one you have the most confidence in. 

We have a full article packed with tips to find your perfect software development team, but the key things to consider are:

• Technical expertise – Do they specialize in the tech stack you need? 
• Industry experience – Have they built similar solutions in your vertical?
• Process maturity – Do they have proven workflows for delivery, QA, and project management?
• Team structure – Are you getting a dedicated team or freelancers?
• Flexibility and scalability – Can they adapt as your needs grow?
• Support and maintenance – What happens after launch?

Now let’s dive into the top picks for each business tier.

Top Custom Software Development Companies for Enterprise Businesses

Enterprise organizations typically have over 1,000 employees and need complex, scalable solutions that align with global operations, compliance standards, and legacy integrations.

These companies often prioritize:

• Security and compliance (HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR)
• Complex integrations and large user bases
• Advanced DevOps and architecture planning
• Ongoing support and dedicated account management

1. Accenture

HQ: Dublin, Ireland

Founded: 1989 

Employees: ~774,000

Min Project Size: Enterprise level

A global leader in IT services, Accenture offers enterprise-grade consulting and custom software development across nearly every industry. Known for its scale, strategy, and digital transformation expertise.

2. Saritasa

HQ: Irvine, CA, USA

Founded: 2005

Team Size: ~200
Min Project Size: $25K

Saritasa brings enterprise clients 20 years of experience, with U.S.-based project management and globally distributed engineering teams. Known for deep technical strategy, legacy system modernization, and complex integrations. Saritasa has been recognized with numerous awards, including Inc. Power Partners and the Clutch 1000. 

3. Deloitte

HQ: London, UK

Founded: 1845
Team: ~415,000 (global)

Min Project: Enterprise level

A global consulting leader with deep expertise in enterprise-scale digital transformation, Deloitte offers full-spectrum custom software development services with a focus on compliance, security, and long-term strategy.

4. BairesDev

HQ: San Francisco, CA, USA

Founded: 2009
Team: ~4,000+
Min Project: ~$50K

A nearshore development powerhouse, BairesDev delivers high-quality engineering talent from Latin America to help businesses build scalable custom software quickly and cost-effectively.

5. Intellectsoft

HQ: New York, NY, USA

Founded: 2007
Team: ~250
Min Project: ~$50K

Specializing in custom enterprise software and emerging technologies like blockchain and IoT, Intellectsoft serves businesses looking for innovative, forward-thinking digital solutions.

Top Custom Software Development Companies for Mid-to-Large Businesses

Mid-to-large businesses (100 to 1,000+ employees) need custom solutions that balance complexity with budget. These companies often seek long-term partners for modernization, product development, or operational tools.

These businesses typically prioritize:

• Fast, reliable development cycles
• Scalable solutions that evolve with growth
• Integrations with internal tools or ERPs
• Transparency, communication, and agility

1. Saritasa

HQ: Irvine, CA, USA

Founded: 2005

Team Size: ~200
Min Project Size: $25K

Saritasa is the go-to partner for mid-sized businesses seeking expert guidance, technical execution, and a hands-on approach. With specialties in SaaS, web apps, mobile apps, VR/AR, and system integrations, Saritasa offers end-to-end development for companies ready to scale.

2. ScienceSoft

HQ: McKinney, TX, USA

Founded: 1989

Team: ~750+

Min Project: ~$50K

With over three decades of experience, ScienceSoft provides end-to-end custom software development, focusing on security, scalability, and tailored business intelligence across industries.

3. iTransition

HQ: Decatur, GA, USA
Founded: 1998
Team: ~3,000+
Min Project: ~$25K

Known for its flexible delivery models and strong technical expertise, iTransition offers custom software development that supports digital transformation, cloud migration, and modern app architecture.

4. MilesIT

HQ: Lumberton, NJ, USA
Founded: 1997
Team: ~500+
Min Project: ~$1K+

MilesIT helps small to mid-sized businesses streamline operations through custom software, IT consulting, and managed services tailored to business growth and efficiency.

5. BairesDev

HQ: San Francisco, CA, USA

Founded: 2009
Team: ~4,000+
Min Project: ~$50K

BairesDev partners with mid-sized businesses to deliver scalable, cost-efficient custom software solutions, offering access to top-tier Latin American engineering talent with flexible engagement models and fast turnaround times.

Top Custom Software Development Companies for Small Businesses

Small businesses (1 to 100 employees) often seek MVP development, automation tools, or internal platforms tailored to their workflows. These firms need partners who are nimble, affordable, and able to communicate clearly.

Small business priorities often include:

• Fast turnaround and cost transparency
• MVP or prototype development
• Strong UX/UI support
• Guidance on tech stack and scalability

1. Saritasa

HQ: Irvine, CA, USA

Founded: 2005

Team Size: ~200
Min Project Size: $25K

Why #1: Even at smaller budgets, Saritasa delivers polished MVPs, UX-led UI, and flexible engagement. Their services are perfect for small businesses looking for a team to new to custom software.

2. Website Muscle

HQ: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Founded: 2007
Team: ~50
Min Project: ~$10K

Ideal for small businesses, Website Muscle delivers affordable custom websites and lightweight software solutions with a focus on branding, local SEO, and client-friendly support.

3. Tekrevol

HQ: Houston, TX, USA

Founded: 2014
Team: ~300
Min Project: ~$20K

A fast-growing digital innovation company, Tekrevol focuses on custom mobile apps, web platforms, and startup MVPs with strong UX design and branding support

4. Chetu

HQ: Sunrise, FL, USA

Founded: 2000

Team: ~3,200

Min Project: ~$30K

Chetu provides dedicated development teams across a wide range of industries and technologies, offering cost-effective, scalable custom software development solutions from concept to deployment.

5. iTransition

HQ: Decatur, GA, USA
Founded: 1998
Team: ~3,000+
Min Project: ~$25K

Known for its flexible delivery models and strong technical expertise, iTransition offers custom software development that supports digital transformation, cloud migration, and modern app architecture.

FAQ About Top Custom Software Development Companies 

1. What is the best custom software development company in 2025?

The best custom software development company in 2025 depends on your business size and goals. For enterprises, Accenture leads with global reach and consulting depth. For mid-sized and small businesses, Saritasa stands out for its balance of technical expertise, transparent pricing, and end-to-end service.

2. How do I choose the right custom software development firm for my business?

Start by identifying your goals, timeline, and budget. Then look for firms with relevant experience, strong communication, scalable architecture practices, and a proven development process. Always ask about team structure, post-launch support, and project examples in your industry.

3. What’s the difference between enterprise, mid-sized, and small business software development needs?

Enterprise companies need highly scalable, secure, and often globally integrated systems. Mid-sized businesses prioritize flexibility, efficiency, and custom integrations. Small businesses typically focus on cost-effective solutions that improve workflows or customer experiences with minimal overhead.

4. What should I look for in a custom software development partner?

Look for technical expertise, a collaborative approach, transparency in pricing and timelines, and a focus on long-term support. A strong partner will understand your business goals and have the technical skills to turn them into a reality.

Final Take: The Top Custom Software Development Companies of 2025

As you research potential custom software developers, it should become clear there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your optimal partner depends on your company’s size, goals, and desired outcomes.

• Accenture delivers global-scale enterprise muscle.
• Saritasa blends U.S.-first leadership with technical rigor across all business sizes.
• Specialists like Website Muscle or Chetu offer lean, focused MVP delivery for small teams.

Need help finding the right balance between quality, agility, and business alignment? Saritasa is ready to help build better software, no matter the scale.

The post The Top 10 Custom Software Development Companies of 2025 appeared first on Saritasa.

How a Virtual Reality Development Company Designs for Intuitive User Experience

As a leading virtual reality development company, we know that even the most advanced technology fails if it isn’t user-friendly. That’s why we emphasize a robust, intentional design phase prior to any actual development. Our process starts with a deep understanding of both business goals and user needs, which we translate into designing the experience. 

Start With “Why”

At Saritasa, our first step is always understanding the “why” behind the project: why is virtual reality best suited for this scenario? Once we understand that, we can uncover the other critical pieces of the puzzle. What problem are we solving? What should users be able to do? And last but not least, how should they do it in VR? 

That “how” is where the magic happens and where a professional virtual reality development company’s skills truly shine. Unlike traditional training, VR must replicate or adapt complex, multi-step real-world processes into a digital environment. Most organizations don’t need every single step to be fully interactive, so our team strategically blends interactive elements, animations, and informational scenes for the highest impact. The result is a balance between immersion and practicality that focuses on the most critical areas (driven by the “why” we identified earlier), like building muscle memory, replicating real equipment, and creating digital twins of processes. This ensures training and simulations feel natural, impactful, and aligned with business goals.

Intuitive Interactions

For many users, virtual reality is a new experience. Some may have never worn a headset, much less held a VR controller. That’s why it’s critical to design interactions that are easy to use with clear guidance and natural, intuitive movements. By reducing the learning curve, we help ensure users stay engaged instead of getting frustrated by confusing mechanics. 

Every action inside a VR experience should feel like second nature. Whether it’s picking up an object, opening a door, or operating machinery, interactions must mirror how users expect things to work in the real world. A great example of this is our hands-on demo of ASCO’s power transfer switch. 

Flexible Navigation

Movement is often one of the trickiest aspects of VR. Done right, it creates a sense of total freedom and immersion. Done wrong, it can induce motion sickness and headaches. Through our experience, we’ve identified tried and true methods for optimal comfort and control. 

Some training experiences, such as the railcar training for Loadstar, benefit from a blend of free movement to give the user control over where and how they move, combined with prompts and clickable teleportation points. 

In other scenarios, guided teleportation helps users move efficiently by highlighting the next point of interest, giving clear direction on where to go.

Alternatively, some experiences may not need navigation at all, instead simply teleporting the user between tasks automatically once they complete the previous activity.

Sound & Voiceovers

Sound is critical to creating a truly immersive experience. From ambient sounds that create realistic background noises to object sounds (for example, a power tool as it’s used) to interaction sounds that give auditory feedback on the user’s actions, sound plays a vital part. Not only do the sounds have to fit the experience, they need to blend seamlessly into the environment, which requires sound design and balancing the direction each sound comes from in relation to the user. That way, if a machine combusts to their left, they will naturally look left towards the source. 

Another consideration is voiceovers, which are often used to provide direction and walk users through an experience. The inclusion of clear voiceovers can give users the impression of a dedicated instructor, walking them through critical tasks. 

Why Technical Expertise Matters in a Virtual Reality Development Company

Great VR should feel effortless to the user, but it takes a combination of technical skills and practical experience to make that happen. As a trusted virtual reality development company, we fine-tune every technical detail to create seamless experiences.

High Frame Rates and Low Latency

In VR, what the user sees must perfectly match what their brain expects. Any lag or dropped frames breaks the immersion and can make the experience feel awkward or uncomfortable. 

High frame rates (typically 90Hz or above) and ultra-low latency to ensure smooth, real-time responsiveness. This requires careful optimization of assets, efficient coding practices, and close attention to hardware capabilities. Some ways we do this include reducing the polygon count on background objects or using level-of-detail (LOD) scaling ensures performance doesn’t suffer even in complex environments. 

Motion Smoothing & Predictive Algorithms

Motion smoothing techniques help eliminate jitter and lag, making transitions between movements feel seamless. These systems are especially critical in fast-paced training simulations or interactive demos where fluid response is essential.

Meanwhile, predictive tracking systems can anticipate user actions (for example, turning their head, reaching for an object, or moving across space) and adjust the VR environment accordingly.

Haptic Feedback and Visual Cues

Touch and visual response are powerful tools for reinforcing user actions and maintaining immersion. In real life, every action has a reaction, so VR should be no different.

Responsive haptic feedback in controllers gives users subtle, yet powerful, confirmation of their actions. Whether it’s the click of a button, the resistance of a trigger, or the vibration of an impact, this feedback creates a direct connection between user intent and system response.

At the same time, visual cues (like object highlights, tool tips on the controller, or subtle animations) further enhance this feedback loop, ensuring users always know their actions are registering.

Realistic Physics

Even in stylized or non-photorealistic environments, physics must behave believably. Users inherently know how objects should move, fall, or react, so when something feels off, it breaks the experience.

VR physics should match real-world expectations, which means:

• Objects have appropriate weight and inertia.
• Gravity behaves consistently.
• Impacts cause logical reactions.

For example, if a user throws a virtual rock, it should arc through the air at a believable speed, hit a surface with expected force, and react naturally, even if it’s a cartoon rock in a fantasy world. This realism helps anchor the user’s brain in the virtual environment.

The Saritasa Difference: A Virtual Reality Development Company That Designs for Real Results

A great VR experience shouldn’t need explaining. It should just work. At Saritasa, we partner with our clients to create immersive experiences that drive business outcomes. Whether you’re looking to train employees, engage customers, or visualize products, our team has the experience and insight to bring your vision to life.  

If you’re searching for a virtual reality development company that prioritizes user experience and delivers real-world results, let’s talk. 

The post What Makes a Virtual Reality Development Company Stand Out? Inside Saritasa’s Approach to Intuitive VR appeared first on Saritasa.

This article breaks down the latest data on legacy software modernization, including the top challenges, reasons for delay, and what IT leaders want from modern systems. Download the full report below.

What is Legacy Software Modernization?

Legacy software modernization is defined as the process of upgrading or replacing outdated systems to improve performance, security, usability, and compatibility with modern tools. This includes moving from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud, updating core platforms, or rewriting legacy code to support new business needs.

Summary of Key Findings

62% of organizations still use legacy systems
43% say security vulnerabilities are a major concern
68% rely on their internal IT team for maintenance
50% say the biggest reason they haven’t upgraded is because “the current system still works.”
48% say performance improvements are their top modernization goal

Who We Surveyed

We surveyed 504 IT professionals across industries and company sizes.

• Company sizes:
  • 1–99 employees: 15%
  • 100–999: 38%
  • 1,000+: 47%
• Industries represented:
  • Technology/software: 65%
  • Others: finance, government, healthcare, manufacturing
• Roles:
  • IT management: 53%
  • Developers, engineers, analysts, project managers: 47%

This data represents a variety of experiences, from small IT teams wearing multiple hats to large enterprises navigating complex modernization efforts.

How Legacy Systems Are Maintained in 2025

Despite widespread awareness of the risks, legacy systems are still deeply embedded in most organizations. 62% of respondents said their organization continues to rely on legacy software.

When asked who maintains these legacy systems:

• 68% said their internal IT departments handle it
• 20% rely on legacy software specialists
• 7% outsource to external vendors
• 5% admitted no one maintains it regularly (which poses a serious risk)

For many companies, maintaining legacy systems means supporting outdated codebases, navigating end-of-life products, or dealing with brittle integrations. And these challenges are often compounded by limited documentation and shrinking institutional knowledge from natural turnover.

Top Legacy Software Challenges in 2025

When asked about their legacy software’s biggest challenges, IT professionals pointed to the issues that cause the most disruption and risk.

The Top 5 reported issues were:

1. Security vulnerabilities (43%)
2. Incompatibility with modern systems or tools (41%)
3. Limited scalability (40%)
4. High maintenance/support costs (39%)
5. Lack of vendor support or updates (32%)

Security concerns are especially pressing, exacerbated by the fact that many legacy platforms no longer receive patches or updates. This creates vulnerabilities that are difficult, or even impossible, to address.

Just behind security is a growing frustration with system incompatibility. As legacy tools fail to integrate with modern platforms, IT teams are forced to operate in disconnected silos. Valuable data often becomes trapped in outdated systems, making it harder to get a complete view of operations and slowing down business decision-making.

This fragmentation also limits an organization’s ability to evolve. From modern cloud-based platforms to Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, today’s technologies require access to large volumes of well-structured, unified data. Legacy systems make that nearly impossible.

In short, legacy software isn’t just outdated, it’s actively getting in the way of innovation.

Why Organizations Delay Legacy Software Modernization

The number one reason IT pros say they haven’t upgraded? “The current system still works.” Half of all respondents cited this as their primary blocker. 

But “working” doesn’t mean optimal. And it’s undoubtedly not future-proof. 

Here’s how the top blockers broke down:

• 50%: The current system is still functional
• 44%: Budget limitations
• 38%: Fear of disrupting operations
• 35%: Data migration concerns
• 30%: Lack of internal support for modernization
• 25%: Lack of clear ROI

The most pervasive hurdle is complacency, believing the current system “works well enough”. That mindset underpins at least three of the top six blockers:

• If the system still works, there’s less urgency to act
• Without urgency, there’s often limited internal buy-in
• Without buy-in, it becomes difficult to prove ROI

And so the cycle continues. Legacy software modernization is pushed aside because it’s politically or financially inconvenient.

Yet ironically, the best time to modernize is while systems are still working. Waiting until a legacy platform fails often leads to rushed, patchwork solutions and costly downtime. Proactive modernization reduces risk, improves long-term ROI, and avoids fire-drill emergencies.

Budget constraints, the second most-cited blocker, create a different trap. As legacy systems age, maintenance and support costs climb, often consuming a growing share of the IT budget. This leaves teams with less and less room to invest in modern infrastructure, reinforcing the status quo and delaying long-term progress. The majority of IT budgets go towards maintaining legacy systems, rather than new technologies or improvements (Source). 

In other words, legacy systems may appear “cheaper” on the surface, but they’re often more expensive to maintain than to replace.

What IT Teams Want from Modernized Systems

When asked what they’d prioritize in a modernized system, IT professionals were clear: they want solutions that are faster, more flexible, better connected, and ready for growth.

Top Priorities for Modernization:

• Improved performance or speed (48%)
• Cloud-based or remote access (45%)
• Greater scalability/flexibility (44%)
• Integration with modern tools (44%)
• Enhanced security (42%)

Additional priorities included better analytics, automation, and long-term cost savings. All of which are clear signs that IT teams want to evolve beyond the limitations of current legacy systems.

Legacy Software Modernization Unlocks New Opportunities

Organizations that modernize their platforms position themselves to take advantage of powerful technologies like AI, automation, and advanced analytics. These tools are quickly becoming essential for making smarter decisions, increasing efficiency, and staying competitive. After all, the AI market is predicted to reach 826 billion by 2030, after growing 268% between 2023 and 2024 (source). 

• AI helps teams identify patterns, predict outcomes, and personalize experiences at scale.
• Automation streamlines repetitive tasks, reduces manual errors, and frees up valuable time.
• Analytics turns raw data into actionable insights that drive strategic decisions.

However, all of these capabilities rely on clean, connected, and accessible data, which legacy systems often can’t provide. Legacy systems trap data in silos, prevent modern integrations, and limit performance. 

Even more concerning is the growing risk to data integrity and security. Legacy systems often lack modern protections, making them vulnerable to breaches, data loss, and compliance failures. Valuable historical data can be lost entirely if a legacy platform fails without proper backups.

Modern platforms, by contrast, are designed for agility. They offer built-in APIs, cloud accessibility, stronger security protocols, built-in redundancy, and scalable architecture designed to support the evolving needs of the business. 

Strong software enables faster growth, smarter operations, and stronger customer experiences. Legacy software modernization isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about staying ahead. 

Legacy Modernization Challenges by Role and Company Size

While the specific challenges vary by company size and role, the underlying friction is nearly universal: modernizing legacy systems is hard, no matter who you are.

Smaller businesses are often more tolerant of outdated tools, not because they’re unaware of the risks, but because budget and resource constraints make modernization difficult to prioritize. If the system still works, it’s easy to justify postponing upgrades.

Larger enterprises, on the other hand, face a different set of pressures. They’re more likely to report concerns around:

• Data migration complexity
• Escalating maintenance costs
• Lack of vendor support for legacy platforms

They may have the budget, but also have deeper entanglements, more stakeholders, and a higher level of risk associated with change.

Role also plays a factor. Middle managers (often those tasked with executing modernization plans) reported the most significant strain in balancing innovation with operational continuity. IT leaders may see the long-term need for change, while individual contributors feel the daily friction of outdated systems without the authority to address them directly.

Despite these nuances, the common thread is clear: Legacy modernization is a shared challenge across the board. Whether you’re managing a small team or running global infrastructure, success depends on cross-functional alignment between IT, finance, and leadership.

Legacy Software Modernization is an Investment in the Future

Despite growing security, scalability, and cost concerns, most organizations still rely on legacy software. Why? Replacing entrenched software systems is hard work that requires an investment of time, money, and effort across the organization.

But the risk of inaction is growing. Legacy platforms are harder to secure, maintain, and integrate with the tools businesses rely on today.

For IT leaders, the question isn’t whether to modernize, it’s how to do so without disrupting the business. The first step is understanding the scope of the challenge and aligning stakeholders around shared goals. To get everyone on the same page, legacy software modernization needs to be seen as a strategic investment in long-term agility, security, and performance.

Saritasa helps businesses modernize legacy systems with smart planning, efficient architecture, and zero-downtime deployment strategies. Contact us to start your legacy software modernization journey.

Download the full report.

The post Legacy Software Modernization in 2025: Survey of 500+ U.S. IT Pros appeared first on Saritasa.

Are you envisioning a cozy cabin, a modern smart home, or a high-rise with built-in security and rooftop amenities? The cost varies dramatically depending on what you want.

Custom software works the same way. It’s a tailored solution built to fit your business needs, whether that’s a simple data entry form or a robust enterprise platform. Costs fluctuate depending on what you’re building, how you’re building it, and who’s doing the work. 

Quick Answer: How Much Does Custom Software Development Cost?

Custom software development costs between $50,000 and $250,000 for most projects, but can exceed $1 million for complex enterprise systems. Pricing depends on project scope, design, integrations, and the team. 

In this article, we’ll walk through the key factors that influence custom software development pricing so you can budget confidently, avoid sticker shock, and set realistic expectations.

Think of Custom Software Development Costs Like Building a House

Let’s keep the house analogy going. Imagine you’re meeting with contractors to build your dream home. Before they can give you a quote, they need to know:

• How big is the house?
• Is it one story or three?
• Do you want smart home tech, a pool, and/or solar panels?
• What kind of finishes and materials do you want?
• Are you building in a major city or a rural area?
• Do you want it done in six months or two years?

This is the same kind of information a software development team needs to estimate the custom software development cost for your project accurately.

What Impacts Custom Software Development Cost?

1.) Project Scope and Complexity

The size and complexity of your software project will have the most significant impact on the custom software development cost.  Just like a house can be a tiny home or a sprawling estate, custom software development projects range from simple websites to complex enterprise systems. The more features, integrations, and use cases, the more it costs. 

To see how complex your project may be, consider the following:

• Does your software require multiple user types?
• Does your software integrate with other systems?
• Does it need to be accessible from multiple devices?
• Does it need to function offline?
• Will it be used by multiple different teams for different functions?
• Do you need reporting & analytics?
• Is your application customer-facing?

If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, the chances are your project is more complex than meets the eye. Remember, simple to explain does not mean it’s simple to build. 

Pro Tip: Clearly define your project scope from the start. The more detailed and specific you can be about your app’s functionality, the easier it will be for development teams to provide an accurate estimate. And, the easier it is to know if you are comparing apples to apples. 

2.) Consulting & Product Planning: Hiring the Architect

Product planning is like the architectural design phase of any home project. It’s where you define your vision and validate whether your idea makes business sense before investing in development.

Consulting and product planning can include:

• User and market research
• Defining your MVP (minimum viable product)
• Creating a roadmap
• Mapping out features and user flows
• Identifying edge cases, compliance needs, and key KPIs

Skipping this step can lead to wasted development time, misaligned features, or a product that doesn’t solve the real problem. Just like you wouldn’t build a house without blueprints, you shouldn’t build custom software without a plan.

3.) UI/UX Design: Selecting the Finishes

When it comes to software design, you have options. Think of it like the finishes in a house: you can have a functional builders-grade bathroom or you can install marble tile, a rainfall shower, and heated floors. Both will work, but the experience (and budget) is very different.

• Minimal Design (basic countertops): Wireframes, a simple layout, and standard UI elements.
• Polished UI (quartz countertops): Custom styling, polished interfaces, intuitive navigation, and mobile responsiveness.
• Full Design System (luxury remodel): Comprehensive brand guidelines, reusable components, design tokens, and accessibility standards.

The more time and thought you put into design, especially during early UX strategy and user flow planning, the more intuitive and engaging your app will feel. But it does come at a cost.

If your app is customer-facing, skipping design is like building a luxury home and furnishing it with plastic lawn chairs. Technically, it’ll be functional, but not the impression you want to leave.

Design can account for 10–25% of a project’s total budget, depending on your goals.

4.) Software Development: Skilled Professionals Build Quality

Just like building a house isn’t just about nailing boards together, developing custom software is more than writing code that “works”. 

Great software comes from a combination of:

• Best Practices (structural integrity): Writing clean, maintainable code with proper structure, naming, and version control.
• Documentation (blueprints): Clear documentation ensures future developers (or even your own team) can understand and maintain the system.
• Architecture (load-bearing walls): Choosing the right frameworks, databases, and design patterns ensures your software can grow and evolve.
• Security (fireproofing): Following security standards and data protection practices from the beginning protects you and your users.

Development quality can dramatically affect both the upfront cost and the long-term maintenance of your software. It may not always be visible, but it determines whether your product can stand the test of time.

Sure, you can build a house out of cheap materials, but it probably won’t last through a storm. Shortcuts might get your app live faster, but they often lead to technical debt (fragile code that breaks easily, can’t scale, and is expensive to fix). 

Expect custom software development costs to take the majority of your budget, anywhere from 60-75% of the total project costs. 

5.) Quality Assurance (QA): The Final Inspection

Would you move into a house that hasn’t been inspected? Probably not. And you shouldn’t launch software that hasn’t been tested either.

That’s where QA comes in. Think of it like your building inspectors. Their job is to ensure that everything works as expected, is up to code, and won’t break under pressure.

QA isn’t just about catching bugs – it’s about maintaining standards. QA testers and engineers check:

• Does the app function correctly on different devices and browsers?
• Are there security vulnerabilities?
• What happens if a user enters the wrong data or loses connection?

They simulate real-world conditions, just like a home inspector might test the outlets or run water through the pipes. Skipping QA to save money can end up costing you more if your users run into issues post-launch.

Expect QA to make up 10–20% of your overall development budget and potentially save you much more in support, reputation, and fixes down the line.

6.) Infrastructure & Hosting: The Foundation, Utilities, & Security System

Every house needs a foundation, plumbing, electricity, and security, even if it’s invisible. Software is no different. Infrastructure is what keeps your platform running, secure, and ready to grow.

Both infrastructure and DevOps affect cost based on:

• Scalability (auto-scaling, load balancing)
• Security (firewalls, encryption, access control)
• High availability (failover systems, backups)
• Ongoing monitoring and logging
• Regulatory compliance (HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, etc.)

Infrastructure might not be flashy, but it’s foundational. Cutting corners here can lead to outages, poor performance, or data breaches (the software equivalent of a flooded basement or a break-in). A 2023 study found that 48% of sensitive data loss came from compromised software systems (source).

Infrastructure costs depend on usage, storage, and architecture, but expect it to account for 5–15% of the initial build, plus monthly hosting and monitoring fees.

7.) Maintenance and Updates

Even after you move into your new home, you’ll need to maintain it, replacing filters, repainting, and fixing that one door that always sticks. Software’s no different.

Technology evolves. Security patches come out. Users give feedback. Over time, you may want to add features, fix bugs, or update for new devices and platforms. This is normal and should be budgeted for, just like homeowners set aside funds for repairs or renovations.

Typically, maintenance costs can range from 15% to 20% of the initial development cost per year. For example, if your app cost $100,000 to build, you might expect to pay $15,000 to $20,000 annually for updates and bug fixes. Of course, that doesn’t include new features or ongoing development. 

8.) Development Team and Expertise

The quality and expertise of the team you hire will significantly influence the cost. Custom software development typically involves a team with diverse, specialized skillsets.

When building this team, you’ll need to decide whether to hire a freelancer, a small development agency, or a large, established software company, or various combinations in between. Each option has its advantages and drawbacks, which are explored deeper here.

Suffice to say, selecting the right team is critical to the success of your software. Continuing the house-building analogy… you probably wouldn’t hire a single handy-man to design and build your beach house. 

9.) Location of the Development Team

Just like with housing, the location of your development team also affects pricing. A house in the middle of nowhere is significantly cheaper than one of prime beach-front real estate. Labor rates can range from $25/hr (offshore) to $250/hr+ (specialized U.S. firms).

• Offshore can be more affordable, but may come with time zone, language, or quality challenges.
• Onshore or nearshore teams often cost more but may offer smoother communication and higher quality.

Outsourcing is often a quick way to save costs in the short term, but be wary, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. A poorly built foundation will cost far more to fix later. 

While lower rates aren’t always indicative of subpar work, the further away your team is, the less control and more risk you have. Be sure to consider the trade-offs in communication, time zone overlap, code quality, and support. Before you decide to go with the lowest cost option, ask yourself:

• Are you technical enough to verify product quality?
• Where would your main point of contact be located? Will this present communication issues?
• Is there a language barrier?
• What legal protections do you have if the project goes sideways?
• Is the cost saving worth the extra risk?

Like hiring local contractors, sometimes it’s worth paying more for reliability, trust, and smooth collaboration.

So… How Much Does Custom Software Development Cost Exactly?

While costs vary, here’s a rough idea based on scope:

• Basic MVP / Internal Tool: $50,000 – $100,000
• Mid-sized Web or Mobile App: $100,000 – $250,000
• Complex SaaS or Enterprise Software: $250,000 – $1,000,000+

Remember, these are high-level ranges. The real custom software development cost depends on your vision, complexity, and long-term goals.

Understanding the True Cost of Custom Software Development

Custom software development is an investment in your business’s future. Whether you’re building a mobile app, web solution, or enterprise platform, understanding the factors that drive development costs will help you make an informed decision.

So instead of asking, “What’s the cheapest quote I can get?”, ask:

• What am I trying to achieve?
• Who can help me plan and build it right?
• How do I make sure this investment pays off?

Whether you’re building a functional bungalow or a tech-powered dream home, choosing the right partner and planning the right foundation makes all the difference.

The post How Much Does Custom Software Development Cost? appeared first on Saritasa.

Consider your business. Maybe you’re relying on spreadsheets or using an existing SaaS product that doesn’t quite fit your unique business needs. It’s frustrating when no available software matches your workflow, and changing your entire process to fit a software is just impractical. So, you turn to custom software development to help streamline your business workflow.

Chances are, if you’ve struggled to find an application matching your business needs, other companies are in a similar boat. If you plan on building an application for your business, there’s a potential that other companies may benefit from the same application. Maybe you could create a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application used internally and licensed to other companies. If successful, this SaaS application could help recoup some of the development costs for your application or even become profitable.

Another option might be to initially develop the first version of the application for internal use and then convert it to a SaaS product in later phases of the project.

The development approach differs significantly depending on whether the back office software is custom-built for a single company’s internal use or as a SaaS product. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between these two approaches and what it takes to transform an internal-use application into a marketable SaaS solution.

Key Differences Between Internal-Use and SaaS Custom Back Office Software Development

When deciding between custom software development for internal use or as a SaaS product, it is important to understand the key differences. These differences significantly impact the effort (cost) required to develop the application.

User Base and Scalability

• Internal Use: The application is designed for a single company, often with a well-defined number of users. Performance optimization is focused on the specific needs of that company, without the need for complex scaling.
• SaaS: The application must support multiple companies, each with potentially thousands of users. Scalability is a major concern, requiring cloud infrastructure and multi-tenant architecture. The cloud implementation must dynamically scale to meet the varying requirements of multiple companies using the application. The load on the application will vary greatly based on the location (time zone) of the companies utilizing the application. Peak load on the application can also be affected by the business’s fiscal calendar. For example, end-of-quarter reporting can generate a large draw on computing resources. See my previous article, Will It Scale, for a deeper dive into the importance of software architecture.

Customization and Configuration

• Internal Use: The back office software is typically tailored to the company’s specific workflows, with hardcoded business rules and minimal need for external configuration. When building an application just for your company, you only need to consider your business process and workflow. You can make sure the application matches your processes closely.
• SaaS: When building a SaaS application, you must consider that your users’ business processes might differ from those of your company. The product must be highly configurable to accommodate diverse customer needs. This requires a flexible architecture with configurable workflows, role-based access control, and customizable dashboards.

Security and Compliance

• Internal Use: Security measures are designed to meet the specific company’s IT policies, and compliance requirements are limited to the company’s industry regulations.
• SaaS: The platform must adhere to industry-wide security and compliance standards (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA). Strong authentication, data encryption, and role-based access control become critical.

Deployment and Maintenance

• Internal Use: The back office software is typically deployed on the company’s private servers or a simple cloud architecture sized to meet your company’s current demands. Dynamic scaling is more of a nice-to-have, rather than a need-to-have, as the increase in load is more predictable.  Updates and maintenance are controlled internally.
• SaaS: The application is hosted in the cloud, requiring robust DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and frequent updates to ensure continuous improvements and security patches. The environment must dynamically scale to meet unexpected loads. Service availability is a key consideration as well, as it may prevent the ability to schedule maintenance.  (Unsure what DevOps is or why it’s important? Check out my article on the basics & benefits.)

Pricing and Monetization

• Internal Use: There is likely no monetization.
• SaaS: Monetization is based on subscription models, often including tiered pricing based on features, number of users, or usage limits. You must be able to take payment, which means integration with a credit card processor, a UI for clients to manage their subscriptions, and revenue reporting. There is also the accounting that goes along with running a business to support the sales of the application.

Support and Customer Success

• Internal Use: Support is handled by an internal IT team, with direct access to developers for issue resolution.
• SaaS: Requires a dedicated customer support and success team, with comprehensive documentation, training resources, and 24/7 support options.

Marketing

• Internal Use: Not really necessary
• SaaS: A marketing website will be necessary to promote the SaaS product. The website will need content, calls to action, SEO, and a means for users to purchase subscriptions and check out.

Transforming an Internal-Use Back Office Software Application into a SaaS Product

When considering developing a back-office application for internal use with the potential to evolve into a SaaS product, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. Some of these items can be added in later releases without too much trouble. However, others need to be considered from the start as they are more difficult to add in later releases if the application was not initially architected to support them.

Plan for Multi-Tenancy

If your application is developed for internal use at the start, it will probably have a single-tenant architecture. This means it was designed to serve only one company.

To become a SaaS product, it must support multiple customers securely. This involves implementing a multi-tenant architecture where each tenant’s data is isolated but served from a shared infrastructure.

It’s best to plan for multi-tenancy from the start. While it’s possible to re-architect an application to add support for multiple tenants, doing so can be difficult and complex, depending on the application type.

Scale Hosting

For an internal application, your hosting environment only needs to support the expected load from your company. This load is typically predictable, and you don’t need to scale quickly. The application could be hosted locally or in a simple cloud environment.

An on-premises or single-company cloud setup won’t work for SaaS. Migrating to a cloud provider like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud ensures scalability, reliability, and global availability. More importantly, the cloud environment must dynamically scale to meet unexpected user loads and provide consistent response times for a good user experience.

Implement Subscription Management and Billing

You’ll need a way to manage user subscriptions, payments, and pricing tiers. SaaS platforms often integrate with billing solutions like Stripe, Chargebee, or Recurly for automated payment processing. This will need to be added to the application, as well as the ability to control access to the application based on subscription status.

This should be considered from the start, as adding controls to manage application access based on a subscription status can require refactoring if added in later releases.

Enhance Security and Compliance

A SaaS product must follow strict security protocols. Implement robust authentication (OAuth, SSO, MFA), encrypt sensitive data, and ensure compliance with global regulations like GDPR and SOC 2.

Build Self-Service Capabilities

Internal applications often rely on IT support for configuration. A SaaS product should provide a user-friendly admin panel for self-service account management, role-based access, and workflow configuration.

Developing a Customer Support Strategy

SaaS users expect responsive support, documentation, and knowledge bases. Consider setting up ticketing systems, chatbots, and dedicated customer success teams.

Implement Continuous Delivery and Monitoring

Unlike an internal application with occasional updates, a SaaS product requires frequent releases and proactive monitoring. Set up CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and performance monitoring tools like New Relic or Datadog. You’ll also want to consider containerizing the application and automating the update deployment process to reduce the chance of updates causing unexpected downtime.

Market and Acquire Customers

Shifting from an internal tool to a SaaS business requires a go-to-market strategy. Invest in digital marketing, SEO, and sales efforts to attract users. Leverage testimonials from the original internal company to add credibility. A website to promote the application will also be required.

Anything is Possible with Custom Software Development

Turning an internal tool into a successful SaaS product doesn’t happen overnight, and trying to build both at once often leads to costly mistakes. A better approach is to first focus on building a functional internal tool that meets your business needs. From there, it’s easier to make an informed decision about whether to transition to a SaaS model.

While the process can be challenging, with the right strategy, thoughtful planning, and an experienced technology partner, businesses can confidently take the next step towards transforming their custom internal software into a SaaS product. While re-architecting or re-integrating the system may be necessary, this staged approach is often more realistic than trying to scale prematurely. By focusing on scalability, security, self-service, and customer support, businesses can successfully make the leap from internal software to a thriving SaaS company.

The post From Internal Tool to SaaS: A Guide to Custom Back Office Software appeared first on Saritasa.

That’s exactly what we set out to solve with VR Foundations.

What is VR Foundations?

VR Foundations is a set of two pre-built, customizable virtual reality experiences designed to reduce time to market and initial investment drastically. It includes:

• The Virtual Reality Product Display Experience
• The Virtual Reality Trade Show Experience

These experiences come with a solid foundation already developed – multiple environments to choose from, seamless navigation, high-quality graphics, and interactive elements. This means businesses can explore the benefits of VR with minimal effort and risk.

Why We Created VR Foundations

At Saritasa, we’ve been building custom VR experiences since 2016. Over the years, we’ve spoken with hundreds of companies eager to leverage VR but hesitant to take the plunge. Here’s what we learned:

1. The Price Barrier

Custom VR experiences can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on complexity. For many organizations, especially marketing teams, securing this budget can be a major hurdle, even if they see VR’s potential.

With VR Foundations, we’ve reduced the initial investment by 75% or more, making it far more accessible. Now, teams can experiment with VR without blowing their entire annual budget.

2. The Time Crunch

Many companies approach us with VR ideas for trade shows, product launches, and conferences – often just months (or even weeks!) away. But here’s the challenge: custom VR projects take three to six months to develop.

With VR Foundations, we cut that timeline down to less than a month. Now, companies can integrate immersive experiences into their events without last-minute panic.

Real-World Use Cases: How Companies Are Leveraging VR

Imagine a manufacturing company that produces large industrial machinery. Transporting a full-sized piece of equipment to a trade show is costly, complicated, and often impractical. With the VR Product Display Experience, they can create a virtual showroom, allowing attendees to explore and interact with their machinery in a realistic, immersive environment – without the logistical nightmare.

Or consider a nonprofit organization focused on environmental conservation. They use the VR Trade Show Experience to raise awareness, featuring a series of engaging, educational mini-games. This interactive approach not only educates participants but also builds a deep emotional connection to their cause, making brand engagement more memorable and impactful.

Companies that once struggled to stand out at events or showcase their products can now do so effortlessly with VR Foundations.

How Customizable is VR Foundations?

We designed VR Foundations to be adaptable across industries and brands. You can customize:

• Content and theme
• Text, colors, and logos are all easily swappable to match your brand.
• Choose from multiple pre-designed environments.

Choose from four pre-designed environments:

• Warehouse
• Laboratory
• Office space
• Cityscape

And if you need something beyond the basics? Our custom development team can tailor these experiences to fit your exact needs.

How to Get Started with VR Foundations

The best way to understand the impact of VR Foundations is to experience it firsthand. Both demo experiences are available for free download on the Meta store: VR Product Display and VR Trade Show. Contact us, and we’ll walk you through the possibilities.

1. Determine the right VR Foundations experience for your goals, whether it’s showcasing a product or making an impact at your next event.
2. Reach out to us. Our consultants will guide you through the process.
3. Speed things up! Have your branding assets and content ready to streamline the customization process.

Ready to Make VR Part of Your Strategy?

Immersive technology has never been this accessible, fast, or cost-effective. Take the leap into VR with VR Foundations and see how easy it is to transform your marketing and brand engagement.

Let’s build something better – together.

The post Introducing VR Foundations: The Fast-Track to Immersive Experiences appeared first on Saritasa.

1. “The product is done, and I don’t anticipate any changes or additions.”
2. “Let’s pause, breathe, and revisit new features at a later time.”
3. “This is only the beginning – time to start making updates!”

Reality often disrupts these plans. Maintaining a live application and keeping users satisfied can require as much effort as the initial development. In this article, we’ll explore post-launch challenges you might face and how to tackle them with confidence. 

Bugs on Production

Bugs on production are unavoidable, but you can mitigate the worst of them with solid quality assurance (QA) processes. A mix of manual and automated testing can minimize errors and ensure smooth, speedy releases. Well-written test cases that are continuously revised and updated help ensure core functionality performs optimally and the worst bugs are caught early. 

Great QA is an investment and can even rival development costs. However, cutting corners on QA can lead to costly disruptions down the road, such as rollbacks, user dissatisfaction, and even downtime. While it’s impossible to catch every bug, solid QA processes reduce these risks significantly. 

Performance Issues

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that users are unpredictable. Even if your team performed load testing and stress testing before launch, these tests were based on assumptions of typical user behavior. Real users can, and often will, behave differently than expected.

For example, say you stress-tested performance with the expectation that users will log on at various times throughout the workday. However, once you launch, you discover that the majority of your users use your system at the start of the day, simultaneously, and it is less responsive during the “warm up” period. Or, some users obsess over the new reporting features, which results in a less efficient database cache. 

Alternatively, consider a social network for peers and relatives to connect and exchange texts and photos. Users tend to have 100-1000 friends, and it works smoothly… up until Taylor Swift creates an account and suddenly has 1,000,000 friends or followers. This imbalance could break the system design.

Real-world usage often defies assumptions. You cannot plan for every scenario, but rather, you need to be ready to adapt on the fly. This requires regular performance monitoring and a scalable infrastructure. 

Security Vulnerabilities

Even well-written, secure code can be exposed to vulnerabilities, often through third-party libraries, frameworks, or even hardware. Recent threats like Log4Shell, Meltdown, and the Terrapin Attack provide reminders that staying vigilant isn’t optional – it’s essential. 

Mitigating these risks requires more than simply patching known vulnerabilities. It requires consistent, proactive monitoring, timely updates, and staying informed about emerging threads. Security isn’t a one-time effort, it’s an ongoing commitment.

Outdated Tech Stacks and Frameworks

Technology evolves rapidly. Frameworks and platforms -like Angular, Node.js, or .NET- are constantly updated to improve security and performance. These platforms and frameworks are often supported by large corporations, such as Apple or Microsoft, or large groups of open-source contributors. These constant updates require a massive investment of time, resources, and money. The constant need to evolve limits the improvements and security patches to the most recent versions. 

Even if your application launched recently, a migration may already be necessary. This can make staying current feel like chasing a moving target. The key is to use stable or long-term support (LTS) versions when possible and plan for regular updates to avoid falling behind.

PostgreSQL

Node.js
.NET

Angular

Third-Party Vendors

Sometimes, the tools and services your application relies on make changes, forcing you to adapt. 

Acquisitions

A vendor or tool your application uses may get acquired, and the new owner can drastically change the product. In 2010, Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems and transformed how Java was managed. History is rife with these examples, there’s little an individual developer can do other than adapt to the changes. 

Policy Changes

Platforms or distribution channels may update their policies, forcing developers to comply or risk losing support. Apple is famous for these changes, such as in 2019 when it required all apps to implement Apple sign-in to remain on the App Store. 

However, some policy changes are unpopular enough to reverse, as was the case when Unity attempted to change its pricing model in 2023. After massive backlash, it reversed the policy. Not all of these policy changes are arbitrary – some come with good reason, such as WordPress’s recent ban of WP Engine.

Mistakes

Even the most reputable companies aren’t immune to errors. Case in point: in 2024, a major Crowdstrike outage disrupted millions of devices, including those at airlines like Delta, and caused significant financial damage.

Acquisitions, policy changes, and mistakes are all out of your control. No amount of planning could’ve prevented Broadcom from acquiring VMware or Apple from updating its App Store requirements. But you do have control over how quickly you react to such changes by keeping a development team up-to-date on your software and staying informed. 

DDoS attacks

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an unexpected spike of traffic caused by a malicious actor. This happens when an attacker (often using bots) floods your system with traffic in an attempt to take your system down or increase infrastructure costs. These attacks may come from competitors or random bad actors. 

Billing alarms and regular monitoring can help you respond to these attacks quickly, limiting the impact on your budget and users. In some cases, it’s wiser to let your app go down than run up a high server bill. 

Outdated Libraries

Outdated dependencies – like third-party libraries or SDKs – can bring development to a standstill. For example, Apple and Google release new versions of iOS and Android every year. While these updates aren’t an annual requirement, eventually, you’ll be forced to migrate to the latest version or risk removal from the app store. Plus, these updated SDKs often come with critical improvements. Staying proactive by updating libraries and SDKs regularly keeps your software in peak condition.

User Feedback

Good products learn from user feedback. The best products incorporate user feedback quickly and frequently. Ignoring user requests risks alienating your core user base or losing them altogether. Having a system to gather user feedback, incorporate it into your product roadmap, and communicate timelines for updates to users goes a long way in maintaining trust. 

Unforeseen Events

Natural disasters, fires, or even a severed cable can take your data center offline. Without proper safeguards, you risk losing servers, data, and backups in a single incident. This is where high availability and disaster recovery plans come into play. The right team will diversify where and how your data is stored to ensure continuity no matter what happens.

Software Is a Journey, Not a Destination

Launching a software product is only the beginning. The post-launch phase is where the real work -and growth- happens. While challenges like bugs, performance issues, and security threats may arise, each obstacle serves as an opportunity to strengthen your product. With the right mindset, tools, and team, you can navigate these challenges and turn them into stepping stones to success. After all, the best software doesn’t just survive; it evolves.

The post Staying Ahead: How to Tackle Post-Launch Software Challenges appeared first on Saritasa.

Integrate Design and Functionality from Day One

Beautiful design and streamlined functionality are the linchpins that ensure your product is easy to use, intuitive, and meets – or exceeds – the user’s expectations. Agile software development processes achieve this balance between design and functionality, employing an iterative development approach. Constant feedback loops provide continuous opportunities to refine design and functionality simultaneously, ensuring the product evolves to deliver the best possible user experience.

Involving designers from the start of the software development process – beginning with the discovery phase – is crucial. That’s because designers are advocates for both the client and their customers, helping you convert needs into features, understand best practices and conventions, and achieve your objectives. By prioritizing design at the discovery phase, you establish a solid foundation for developing a product that solves real problems and effects real change.

A product design/UX/UI-first approach helps guide the development of product features to ensure they align with user expectations from the start. In an Agile software development workflow, where a minimum viable product (MVP) may be released followed by fast iterations, involving designers from the beginning ensures that the initial release is worthy of being placed in front of users.

The ROI of Great Design

Far too often, product teams see design as an additional, extraneous cost when, in reality, it’s an essential tool for boosting your ROI. Well-designed products attract more users – and keep them engaged – increasing productivity and driving conversions. A Forrester study found that an intentional and strategic user experience can raise conversion rates by as much as 400 percent. The study also found that every dollar invested in UX returns $100 – an ROI of 9,900 percent! That illustrates how investing in a well-considered UX and UI can pay off handsomely.

Design-driven companies also capture greater customer loyalty. A McKinsey study found that companies that invest in design see a 32 percent revenue increase and a 56 percent higher total return to investors over five years than those that don’t. Beautiful design is more than aesthetics; it’s a business strategy that drives profitability.

Better Design Equals a Better UX

Exceptional software almost always features exceptional design. A well-considered UI can be the difference between a product that users love and one they abandon. Simplifying navigation, reducing unnecessary steps, and delivering an intuitive experience helps capture and keep users and customers.

UX design goes beyond the interface, considering the entire user journey while engaging with the software. By anticipating their needs, reducing friction, and simplifying the overall experience, UX is vital to keeping users engaged, streamlining processes, and achieving your objectives.

Why Human-Centered Design Matters

Human-centered design ensures you create products and services that resonate and are tailored to your audience’s needs. This means putting the user first in every aspect of the product development process so you understand their challenges, objectives, and preferences. A human-centered approach enables our developers and designers to create products that are not only usable but genuinely delight users, solve real problems, and strengthen brand loyalty and advocacy.

Empathy is at the core of human-centered design. By conducting user research and testing, analyzing feedback, and validating design decisions with real users, Saritasa can help you create products that truly resonate with your customers. Maintaining that resonance is an ongoing, necessary effort that ensures your product evolves to address changes in user preferences, your organization, and the market landscape.

Design Drives Better Results

Design isn’t just a phase of the software development process – it’s the glue that holds everything together. By leveraging this symbiotic relationship between the client, designers, and developers, you help deepen partnerships and ensure a consistent, positive user experience. When design is integrated throughout the process, from discovery to deployment, your product will create a lasting impression that achieves your objectives.

Think of human-centered design as the connective tissue that ensures excellent ideas become successful products. The results? Increased engagement and conversions and a better ROI.

Schedule a free consultation to learn more about Saritasa’s software design and development services.

The post How Integrating Design Into Every Phase of Software Development Maximizes Your ROI appeared first on Saritasa.