Custom Applications
TPAC and Custom Applications
Custom apps are a tricky area. Today, more than ever before, they often entail banding together web services from websites like Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube. The benefit here is that developing a custom app or integrating your site with 3rd party services is easier than ever, but the cost and risk can torpedo your efforts as well. Here’s our take on custom apps.
Rule # 1. Unless you know you can do it better, and publicize it more, than the guy who’s already done it, don’t do it. Reinventing the wheel just to say ‘I own it’ is a costly proposition. Services like WordPress and Blogger offer blogging and message board services that are popular and integrated as far as the eye can see. Developing a custom blog platform for your site may not be the best use of resources, when you could easily integrate one of these third party services. The risk here is that third party services can go out of business, or change their code base from time to time, and that can leave your site in the lurch. In this case, however, the benefits of using existing software far outweighs the risk.
In other situations, it may make sense to develop custom applications. We recently built a new custom ticketing site from the ground up, and will be leaving TicketMaster soon. In this case, the cost-benefit analysis strongly favored building our own custom ticketing app instead of continuing to use TicketMaster’s site. We took on the staff, overhead, and risk of developing a new software application, and so far it has paid off nicely. Additionally, it gave us the opportunity do some groundbreaking integration with TPAC Group Sales and Social Media sites. This approach integrated using existing popular platforms to syndicate messages from our custom ticketing software.
The main concerns about developing custom softeware are the cost, long term support of the custom app, and risk of not completing the project on time or in a satisfactory manner. Over 95% of all custom software projects fail, believe it or not. They either go way over budget, way over time, or under deliver. Before you take on a custom development project, make sure you exhaust every over-the-counter option, because even if it has some limitations, nine times out of ten it will take more time, cost more money, and be more aggrivation than using something that already exists.
Broadway in Chicago iPhone app
With show info, special offers, theatre information and more… Broadway in Chicago has broke big with their own iPhone app, the first in our industry. “To be in the know for Broadway shows, Broadway In Chicago’s official app is the only resource you need to find out what’s on stage, how to get there and where to eat or stay while you are downtown. Check performance times, purchase tickets and even preview video from some of the hottest shows on Chicago stages. For backstage scoop and the best deals, follow Broadway In Chicago’s blog or listen to the latest podcast, perfect for the true Broadway fan.”
