COTS Software – An Ultimate Tool to Streamline Business Operations
Want to escalate reliability, mitigate cost, and keep delivery time short? Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software is ready-made and available to purchase anytime in the commercial market.
Today’s businesses leverage the advanced software available. It helps them with improved process efficiency. COTS software is one such ready-to-use tool.
COTS stands for Commercial-Off-the-Shelf software. It targets enterprises with predetermined specifications. Nowadays, government entities are more receptive to this tool. They are using it to replace traditional approaches to managing daily tasks.
COTS is user-friendly and integrates into the existing systems without any hassle. Companies who want to accelerate their digital presence game can opt for COTS.
This article will let you explore COTS fundamentals. So, let’s get going.
COTS Software – A Quick Walk-Through 👨💻
Commercial-Off-The-Shelf software is a ready-made app solution. Businesses can choose the best one based on their preferences and customer needs.
These pre-built packaged software/apps get developed to address business challenges using a single solution. COTS components are ready to install.
You can tailor COTS software to address business demands and integrate it into the existing organisational structure.
Extending their features and functionality with customisation is also an option. But, concerning the long-term service and maintenance implications, take this decision cautiously.
Packaged Software Market size is anticipated to raise about 7.94 billion U.S. Dollars by the end of 2027 with a 17% CAGR.
There are other similar terms to COTS like,
MOTS
It stands for Modifiable-Off-The-Shelf software. With MOTS, you can modify the source code according to business requirements.
GOTS
It stands for Government-Off-the-Shelf software. With GOTS, you can modify the source code according to government requirements. Only government and public sectors can use GOTS software.
NOTS
It stands for Niche-Off-The-Shelf/ NATO-Off-the-Shelf software. With NOTS, you can modify the source code according to niche market requirements. It is developed by NC3A.
COTS Software Benefits 👍
- Initially budget-friendly option
- Quick implementation
- Offer more functionality than you need
- Owned by someone else. They take care of the development/upgrade costs.
- Some have included support
- Access reviews and feedback from existing users
- Updates are generally included
- Easily deployable
- On-time updates
- Larger technical assistance
COTS Software Drawbacks 👎
- It can be more expensive over time
- Do not offer complete control
- It can be impossible to make changes according to your needs
- May not support after some time
- Additional costs for upgrades
- Too many features that might not use for you
- It has limited features
- You might face issues with integration
- It may not suit your work process
COTS Software vs Custom Software
COTS Software – How to Choose the Best One?
Below, you can discover some tips to select the best COTS software solution for your organisation.
|1. Identify needs and predict the future
You need to analyse the expected potential growth and manage future assumptions. If you lack focus in the analysis, your future implementation will be at risk.
Perform thorough cost analysis that comprises costs for five years. It is essential if your software needs ongoing licensing and maintenance.
|2. Focus on integrations
Ensure that the COTS software you choose integrates flawlessly with your existing systems.
If the COTS software is a couple of years old, it might be written using legacy language. Optimising it over time is challenging. It is beneficial to invest in improving your current systems.
|3. Opt for the right licence
While investing in COTS, opt for single-user and general licence options. Select the latter when software is used by a large-sized department.
|4. Pay attention to upgrades and maintenance
Each software needs regular updates and maintenance. Usually, COTS software needs fewer maintenance services and costs less to update.
|5. Focus on your contract
Do not get trapped with the vendor who charges extra for software reinstallation on a different machine. Ensure that your contract mentions all the required support.
The contract should clearly indicate what to expect in emergency maintenance or operational vulnerabilities.
COTS Integration – What is it?
COTS integration means the merging of one COTS software with another one. The other software is either COTS or non-COTS. The Commercial-Off-The-Shelf integrated systems are also called COTS-Based-Systems (CBS). COTS software is a crucial component of CBS.
Precise integration is significant for the smooth COTS product performance with the other systems. The system will not work amicably or incomplete without the proper integration.
It is also significant that software development based on pre-existing component integration is not similar to typical custom development. The reason is the earlier software components do not mean to address the project’s defined condition.
COTS components aim to fulfil market needs. It becomes crucial to understand component functionality and the way they change to alter the business process and user needs.
CBS Classification
It is classified into two categories.
- COTS-solution system
- COTS-aggregated system
The COTS-solution system is customised to offer essential system functionality. It is one crucial product or a suite of products from a single supplier.
Here the conducted tests are design focused. Tests should assess the product’s cost-effectiveness. They ensure the best result is acquired with sound efforts. The system should be simple, eye-catchy, and easy to use.
A COTS-aggregated system is a combination of various products which could be COTS/non-COTS from multiple vendors.
For CBS testing, the first step is COTS product assessment. All the COTS and non-COTS components get verified individually to assure smooth performance. It helps to identify whether CBS are compatible with each other and delivers expected outcomes. It also validates how long the gained output is reliable.
The ability to maintain is the second crucial element. The system needs less maintenance and has good adaptability with various CBS.
The different COTS documentation utilised in the COTS-Based-Systems should be accessible and updated on time. It is crucial to perform appropriate risk drive testing. For that, focus on the risk created or mitigated by the CBS.
What is COTS Product Reuse?
Commercial-Off-the-Shelf product reuse implies that,
- Function and Class libraries that execute commonly used abstractions are accessible to reuse
- Shared components are linked to an app at different points while programming compilation
- Large-scale systems that summarise generic business features and rules are possible to adapt for a business
- You can develop a system by configuring and integrating the existing system
COTS Software Examples
We are using different COTS software in day-to-day operations. It simplifies the way of working and is now an inevitable part of daily work. Some of the software is,
- Development tools like Visual Basic and Sybase
- Spreadsheets or Accounting Software
- Word processors
- Libraries that need connection with available codes like browser add-ons, graphic engines, or game
- Screens, printers, and equivalent retailer device drivers
- Windows DLLs
- Adobe Photoshop
In a Nutshell
Selecting efficient software can be a tough nut to crack. COTS software is a cost-effective solution for brands searching to implement digital functionalities instantly.
Make sure to review the above-mentioned points, and you can make the right choice of COTS software for your enterprise.
If you discover that a COTS solution would be a risky investment, opt for custom software development instead. Sometimes you need software that aligns perfectly with business processes and goals.