Why Development Needs Specialised Software, Not Generic PM Tools

Why development finance needs specialised software, not task lists and timelines

The Core Problem with Generic PM Tools

Generic project management platforms (Asana, Monday, Jira) are built for software development, marketing campaigns, and construction schedules. Development finance has fundamentally different requirements.

Generic PM tools solve: "Who's doing what when?"

Development workflows need: "Is this project viable? What's the risk? Do we have the evidence? Can we finance this?"

Development Finance vs Project Management

Viability Modelling

Generic Tools:

  • No financial calculation engine
  • Can't model scenarios or sensitivities
  • Spreadsheets still required for appraisals

Domus:

  • Built-in RICS-aligned viability engine
  • Instant scenario and sensitivity testing
  • Replaces spreadsheets entirely

Planning Constraints & Context

Generic Tools:

  • Just a task checklist for planning
  • No integration with policy data
  • Can't assess compliance or readiness

Domus:

  • Policy context layering and constraint tracking
  • Compliance checks against local plans
  • Submission readiness scoring

Financial Underwriting

Generic Tools:

  • No underwriting capabilities
  • Can't stress-test financing scenarios
  • No credit metrics (LTV, ICR, etc.)

Domus:

  • Credit-focused underwriting overlays
  • LTV, ICR, and covenant monitoring
  • Committee-ready credit pack generation

Data & Governance

Generic Tools:

  • No financial data handling
  • Limited audit trail for compliance
  • Not built for financial governance

Domus:

  • Enterprise-grade financial data security
  • Complete audit trail for compliance
  • Built for regulatory requirements

The Bottom Line

Generic PM tools excel at task management, timelines, and team coordination. But development finance requires specialised capabilities: viability modelling, planning intelligence, financial underwriting, and governance.

Using Asana or Monday for development finance is like using Excel for accounting. Technically possible, but missing the domain expertise.

See Why Development Teams Move On

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