# Development

Off The Shelf Applications and Software: Definition, Benefits, and Examples

Red Rocket TeamDec 5, 20244 min read

Nowadays, competition between businesses in any field of activity is highly intense. This forces entrepreneurs to constantly look for new and effective solutions that can make them a strong player in the market. Obviously, you can look for new marketing solutions, change technologies or even reduce the prices of your products/services. However, sometimes, improving profit margins and increasing company efficiency can be achieved with modern software.

For example, more than 70% of companies and startups in the world use CRM systems in their regular work. This number is gradually increasing. This statistic perfectly demonstrates how software and necessary programs are popular today all over the world.

Of course, there are many types of software and approaches to its production and distribution. Sometimes companies order custom development or simply use SaaS solutions with a monthly subscription. Another option is off the shelf software. If you want to learn more about off the shelf software definition, development features and case studies, you've come to the right place. We are here to tell you about COTS and why your company needs them for its own development.

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Off the Shelf Meaning in Software Development

Actually, the term off the shelf can often be found if you are part of a department for purchasing various goods. However, today, we are talking about software development, so let's understand this term in the context of programs and applications. Off the shelf software is a digital product that is 100% ready to be used for various needs. Their main feature is that they are initially developed for mass use, including a large set of features. Here is a brief summary of how these solutions differ from others:

Finished product.
Created for the mass market.
Not characterized by personalization.
They have a wide range of functionality.

Certainly, it all depends on the specific software you choose. Such a product can help you communicate with customers, perform bookkeeping, communicate with other employees, and much more. As a rule, off the shelf software is the most popular type of digital product used by entrepreneurs, especially small companies. Why is it so? These solutions are not considered expensive, so every business, regardless of size, can afford to use them. Companies use steps to develop software products efficiently so that customers can get the best experience.

What Sets COTS Apart from SaaS Solutions?

As we mentioned above, entrepreneurs use different types and models of software. People often compare off the shelf software and SaaS solutions without realizing which is the better choice. Let us tell you more about COTS vs SaaS to help you find the optimal solution for your needs. Although both help address business needs to improve processes and solve particular issues. They have different approaches to acquisition, implementation, and support, which have their benefits and drawbacks.

On the other hand, SaaS refers to solutions in which the software is accessed through the application service. Subscribers are not required to make any purchases of application licenses or computer systems hardware. Why is it so? The software applications are hosted and administered by a third-party provider. This model is based on a subscription model where users pay per month or per year, hence leading to regular expenses. While this seems to be a big challenge, the ease of use and fast growth that comes with SaaS make the costs worthwhile.

We also should notice that broadly SaaS can be divided into general and custom solutions. General SaaS deliver uniform software services to a large market thus they are cheaper. On the other hand, custom SaaS is costly and develops solutions based on the requirements of specific enterprises.

So, overall, COTS (commercial off the shelf systems) and SaaS can improve the business performance. However, the decision in their selection is determined by the budget constraints, technology requirements, and the need for scalability.

Key Benefits of Off-the-Shelf Applications

Now you know what off the shelf software is and how it differs from SaaS solutions. It is quite a popular choice among modern entrepreneurs and startups. Why? Quite simply – such applications can provide a number of powerful advantages that will be useful for you. We have collected the most important pros of COTS software:

Such solutions are cheap. If you compare off the shelf software and custom solutions, you will realize how cheap it is to use off-the-shelf products. Sure, their functionality is not as great and personalized. However, you don't have to pay to use them.
It's ready to deploy and work right away. It works like you bought a new video game, downloaded it, and can start playing. You don't have to spend a lot of time setting it up, deploying it, or connecting it to other programs.
Availability of reviews. Developers initially come up with digital products so that they can be used by a large number of people and organizations. This means that there is always a group of people from whom you can learn more details about usage, nuances and drawbacks.
You can always ask for help. Another perk is a support team that is available to answer any questions you may have and help with potential problems. Usually, such ways of contacting specialists, such as email or developer hotline, are provided.

The above described advantages of off the shelf software demonstrate why a large number of business people today favor this model. These are solutions for those who are not ready to overpay for unique features and wait a long time for software deployment.

Examples of COTS Software and Their Impact

Would you like to see what are some real life examples of off the shelf software and how they impact companies? It's time to talk more about specific things and show you what COTS is in real life. We have prepared for you 4 popular examples, the names of which many people have heard.

1. Zoom

The first example we want to tell you about is a program that gained popularity during the Covid-19 period. With video conferencing, webinars, and virtual meetings, Zoom has completely changed the way people communicate. With its easy-to-use interface and good video & audio quality, it’s indispensable for businesses, educational institutions, and personal use. Since then, Zoom has offered features like breakout rooms and integration with other tools that enable collaboration and productivity round the world.

2. Slack

Organized channels and instant messaging simplify communication with coworkers, making Slack a main point of modern workplace communication. It works with everything to ensure workflow streaminess and keeps all the information in one central location. Customization of the platform, as well as bots—like reminders and notifications — aid in streamlining your teams and reducing email overload.

3. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop, like other examples of COTS software, offers solutions for a large number of people. Photoshop is a power design tool for image editing, creating digital art, and the creation of professional-level graphics. As a robust feature-providing suite, it provides users with basic photo editing and advanced compositing, as well as 3D rendering for beginners and experts alike.

4. Salesforce CRM

Salesforce CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management platform designed to optimize sales, service, and marketing processes. It provides actionable insights through advanced analytics, AI-driven predictions, and real-time customer data.

Key Drawbacks of Commercial Off-the-Shelf Systems

It's no secret that almost anything has its pros and cons. Commercial off-the-shelf systems are no exception, and we want to tell you what difficulties and disadvantages you can expect.

The first point is that you will have to agree to a compromise. As mentioned above, these are digital products aimed at a large number of people, so they cannot offer personalized features. Thus, your company will need to customize workflows.

The next disadvantage is the dependency on software changes. Once the developers make changes, you will only have to accept it and get used to working differently. If the features that are important to you are removed or critically changed, you will have to look for another analog software.

Another disadvantage we've noticed in real user reviews is the time it takes to know how to use the product. Some features can be awkward and not done the way you want them, so companies have to spend more time training employees.

Final thoughts

As you might have realized by now, these days thousands of entrepreneurs around the world are using off the shelf applications to improve their overall efficiency. This is a favorable model for both developers and business users, as everyone gets their own benefits.

Naturally, if you have a lot of financial resources, the best solution is to consider custom software development. However, you need to know the selection rules and red flags in development companies. This will allow you to get a program or application where all the features and interface meet your expectations and needs.