Software Development/Engineering Thread

[thebigfella]

Christ a grad 

This a job for vendor/consultant who either implements their own solution or someone else's; and obviously a track record of doing it. You agree a fixed price implementation/support/managed service and move on.

You will hemorrhage cash trying to implement a bespoke solution and its a waste employing someone to learn on the job. I suspect this is because you believe it would be cheaper to do yourself but that never works out to be the case. I'd save yourself the headache.

[cornerback]

Its definitely not an off-the-shelf product - before my time they tried that route & it was a complete waste of time & money.

I've also contacted software companies that work in our industry but they are no use!! They just want to sell us their products - we would need major modifications that they aren't prepared to do - so in that sense we need bespoke software. 

The friends I have talked to would also be of the opinion that we need bespoke... where their opinions differ is one says definitely employ someone & the other isn't sure either way - employ or outsource.

Would a fixed term contract be an option & then outsource the upkeep/maintenance/updating?

[AZOffaly]

That would be an option, yes. But make sure the requirements are crystal clear, and if possible get a fixed price.