Computer Programming Services NAICS 541511

Jun 2, 2026 - Custom Software Is Replacing SaaS in Some High-Growth Companies

• Many growing businesses are turning to custom software to gain a competitive edge, according to Issue Wire. While Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms once offered speed and convenience, flexibility, control, and long-term value are outweighing the short-term convenience of off-the-shelf tools. SaaS products are designed for the masses, according to Issue Wire. They offer standardized features meant to serve a wide range of industries. For startups and small teams, this can be enough. Operations at growing companies become more complex, however. Unique workflows, advanced data requirements, and specialized customer experiences demand solutions that generic platforms simply cannot provide.
• Technology sector job losses now outpace past downturns in 2008 and 2020, according to economist Joseph Politano. The US would usually be adding around 100,000 to 300,000 jobs in tech annually, according to Politano even when there have been some pullbacks, there's generally a quick rebound. The most apt comparison is to the dot-com bust, although today's situation still isn't quite as dire, Politano said. "The fact that the only thing that you can compare it to is the worst tech job recession of all time is pretty bad," Politano said. "The length is really important here. It's been three years of job losses. It took only about four years for recovery to start from the dot-com bust, for tech to start rehiring at a semi-normal rate again. The fact that we're now three years into this and it's actually getting worse is a really big deal."

• Developers are no longer the sole gatekeepers of custom software, according to Design Rush. Business users now have access to powerful low-code and no-code platforms that allow users with minimal coding knowledge to build applications using visual interfaces. These platforms are increasingly powered by AI, enabling non-developers to create and deploy software faster, though the trade-off can be a lack of customization and scalability. Computer programming services once built everything from scratch but clients often show up with tools already in place now. The real value provided by computer programming services lies in guidance, strategy, and making sure the tools are solving the right problem in the first place, according to Design Rush.
• Computer programming industry employment and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first two months of 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Computer programming service industry revenue increased 5.8% year over year and 0.5% quarter over quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. Computer programming service industry sales are forecast to grow at a 4.27% compounded annual rate from 2026 to 2030, comparable to the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.