Effective Planning can Lead to Successful Bespoke Software

Posted by PriyankPanchal on March 21st, 2015

It’s important that you choose the right bespoke software developer to ensure your project’s success. You can assess the skill and reliability of the firm during the initial and planning stages, when time frames and set and expectations are laid out. What goes into planning and building a bespoke software solution, exactly? Here’s a step by step guide.

1 - Discussion of Requirements

Before the developer can begin to select the most appropriate tools and solutions for you company, they need to gain understanding about the details of your business, your existing processes, what challenges you are currently facing, your goals and your vision. A good developer will listen to you, ask questions, and collaborate during the initial stages of planning in order to establish a strategy.

2 - Project Proposal

With the knowledge gained from discussing with you are your team, the developer then prepares and presents a proposal document that explains how they will work with you, plus information on what feature set/s will be integrated into the planned system. The proposal may also include costing and timescale details.

3 – Actual Planning

Once you commit to proceed, the bespoke software developer then embarks on a rigorous and collaborative planning process. This may involve onsite meetings with your stakeholders and the firm’s design team. The best developers use cutting-edge technologies and visual tools to map out the bespoke software’s look and feel, so you and your team can actually see it as it takes shape. These visuals are accompanied by functional specification documents that comprehensively detail all the aspects of the software.

4 - Development

Based on the specifications agreed upon, the developers then start creating the application. They may use a combination of technologies to create a reliable, high quality app or software product. Development work typically takes place in the developer’s premises; some of the best companies don’t outsource any of their tasks, so they retain absolute control. This may ensure better quality communication and development techniques.

5- Quality Assurance Testing

During this stage, the software’s codes and design aspects are tested thoroughly. The final round of testing—called ‘user acceptance testing’—is extremely crucial in ensuring the robustness and reliability of the system when used by the people or teams that will be utilising it regularly.

6 - Training

Good bespoke apps and software are already intuitive, so very little user training is necessary. Still, developers provide functional specifications and manuals written in easy t0 understand language for your company’s reference.

About the Author

This article is written by Priyank Panchal who is head of development at Schnell Solutions Limited.  He leads several teams of multi-skilled software developers which work with Schnell's customer around the globe on their IT transformation and modernization initiatives including bespoke software applications.  He is also responsible for various services offered by Schnell viz. Bespoke Software Development and Consulting, Web and Mobile App Development, IT Audit and Ebase Xi. Prior to working with Schnell, Priyank has worked for a large multi-national organization which specializes in Integration and Automation, and responsible for creating and delivering innovative web and service transformation projects across the globe.