Ever since AceProject has been on the project management software market, we have been receiving request for cutomization.

Most organizations will shy away from custom work because they find it too complicated or too time-consuming. However, in the project management industry, I have yet to see two companies managing their projects the same way. Or track time the same way.

We have seen the custom work business grow steadily over the last 3 or 4 years. In our experience, it's been a great way to build long-term relationships with our clients. We work closely with them before, during and after the work is completed, to make sure they get what they pay for. On their end, our clients get exactly the software they want. On our end, we get to be inspired by the features they ask us to add to their AceProject account.

Sometimes, we decide to add the feature to the standard system and the client gets a rebate on the development costs. Sometimes, we'll implement the feature later on in the standard system, with an improved interface.

For Websystems, the custom work aspect of our business is an opportunity for growth. It's becoming a differentiator for us in the market. Because we are a samller orgnization, we are more flexible and it's easier for us to change how we allocate our resources, to accomodate a client request.

Now, our challenge is to keep a balance between the custom work and developing the standard system. While we don't like refusing a contract, we can't allow AceProject to be neglected because of custom work.

Some would say this is a beautfitul problem :-)