I write custom business software for a living, and can say that nothing has changed. The problem is that different industries, and even companies within industries, need different features. That's accomodated in stuff like SAP and Oracle by teams of programmers that write custom code and/or configure some of their hundreds of modules for each client during their rollout.
For smaller companies that can't afford a $20m+ software package, they're left either with separate best of breed software packages for each of their departments, or an all in one system that doesn't do everything they need, but does some of the basics. Smaller companies go with the all in one package, and then bolt on manual processes in Excel, Access or the like. Larger companies buy high end software for each of their departments (Salesforce.com for the sales team, for example), and then largely let them operate in their own silos.
Custom software can fill in the breach between the Oracles of the world and the second tier products. Reporting systems that will bring data from separate systems together is a relatively low-cost undertaking that can add a lot of value. Full systems that run a company can be developed, too. Depending on the requirements, they can be pretty reasonably priced.
For smaller companies that can't afford a $20m+ software package, they're left either with separate best of breed software packages for each of their departments, or an all in one system that doesn't do everything they need, but does some of the basics. Smaller companies go with the all in one package, and then bolt on manual processes in Excel, Access or the like. Larger companies buy high end software for each of their departments (Salesforce.com for the sales team, for example), and then largely let them operate in their own silos.
Custom software can fill in the breach between the Oracles of the world and the second tier products. Reporting systems that will bring data from separate systems together is a relatively low-cost undertaking that can add a lot of value. Full systems that run a company can be developed, too. Depending on the requirements, they can be pretty reasonably priced.