In drug development, the demand for custom software is fueled by the complexity of the industry—where no two programs or trials are exactly alike. But is building from scratch always the smartest way forward?
Why Custom Software?
Custom solutions in the life sciences are often driven by factors like:
Purpose or Usage
User or Persona
Disease and Indication
Treatment or Clinical Trial
Program or Process
Manufacturer or Sponsor
Features and Functions
Region
Each of these factors contributes to the perception that unique software is required. Adding to this complexity, the labels we assign—such as Website, Portal, Mobile App, CRM, or AI Tool—create even more variability and push the demand for bespoke solutions higher.
What Makes a Solution ‘Custom’?
In the life sciences, “custom” often means software tailored to address a specific set of needs. For instance, a patient support app designed for a rare disease treatment must accommodate specialized requirements, while an HCP portal demands entirely different features. Factors like user interface, data privacy, and regional regulations all play a role in shaping these solutions.
However, while this approach seems logical, much of the custom software developed in the industry ends up duplicating functionality. Common features such as user authentication, data handling, and reporting are rebuilt across systems, leading to inefficiencies and wasted resources.
The Realities of Drug Development and Custom Software
Many companies feel they have no choice but to build specialized software to ensure compliance with specific regulations, safeguard patient data, and manage complex workflows. However, this approach leads to a significant challenge: the time, effort, and cost involved in building these custom solutions from scratch. Many biopharma companies, CROs, and healthcare providers find themselves dedicating enormous resources to create solutions that—while they may be unique on the surface—often have a high degree of overlap in terms of functionality.
The Myth of Custom: Redundant Functionality
Here’s the catch: up to 80% of the functionality across custom solutions is redundant. Features like user authentication, data management, analytics, and reporting are built repeatedly across systems, despite using the same underlying technology. This redundancy not only wastes resources but also diverts attention from the industry’s core mission: accelerating drug development and improving patient outcomes.
The Hidden Costs
Custom solutions come with significant challenges:
Time: Months or years can be spent developing bespoke software, delaying critical initiatives.
Cost: Development often consumes substantial budgets, leaving little for innovation.
Resource Drain: IT teams focus on repetitive development work instead of high-value projects.
The Industry’s Bottleneck
To meet the rising demand for custom solutions, many companies are either expanding IT departments or outsourcing development. However, this dependency on IT has created bottlenecks that inflate costs and delay progress. Meanwhile, opportunities to adopt modular, reusable systems are often overlooked.
A Smarter Approach: Modular and No-Code Solutions
Custom solutions will always have a place in life sciences, but the way we approach them needs to evolve. Instead of reinventing the wheel for every project, companies should consider:
Modular Components: Building systems using reusable, adaptable modules.
No-Code and Low-Code Platforms: Leveraging tools that allow customization without the need for extensive development.
Configurable Platforms: Adopting software with built-in flexibility to adapt to changing needs.
These approaches offer the tailored fit of custom software while reducing costs, shortening timelines, and freeing up resources for innovation.
Moving Forward: Rethinking How We Build Custom Solutions
By rethinking how we build software, life sciences companies can break free from the inefficiencies of traditional custom development. The goal is not to eliminate custom solutions but to build them smarter—modular, scalable, and focused on what matters most: supporting patients and advancing drug development.
If your organization is ready to embrace a more efficient and innovative approach to software development, the time to act is now.