Software encapsulates your organization’s value, in terms of records, process and collaboration. A highly tuned piece of software can enable an organization to grow freely.
Custom application software development allows you to create new business offerings and processes that are unique to your organization. It is something nobody else can as easily procure, because it represents your desires. These in turn can allow you to create competitive advantage since you have the control over how these are implemented. Pursuing this course can allow you to have lower long term costs, and greater flexibility to react to business changes.
Because software is essentially the implementation of ideas that facilitate a business process, every software project has certain steps that are important to follow:
Vision
This step sets the high level direction for the project, so that the software will support the business goals of the environment. In this phase we confirm the opportunity to improve, develop a high level function list that any software must provide for, identify resources, including budget, timeline, and personnel, and identify risks. We also review available products that may also meet the needs of your organization as a building block.
Definition
This step defines the needed functionality to the degree needed to build it at a later step. Included on this step are the following tasks.
- Requirements - Build out the function list, including specific requirements for data format or validation, security roles, reporting needs, integration with other systems, etc.
- Design - This step allows us to jointly design the software, including screens, report layouts, etc. Also in this phase any technical designs (database, software code requirements, etc.) are defined.
- Test Plans - Detailed plans based on the requirements are developed for a pass/fail system.
Build
We now take the previously defined needs and actually build them, using software development tools to build the user forms, security checks, reports, etc. Additionally, we test and do initial user training both for feedback and familiarization to ensure the result works as needed.
Deploy
This places the finished product into the hands of users, and includes training as needed to ensure adoption. Support is also begun at this point to ensure long term success.
It is important to note that each piece builds upon the previous one. It is not necessary to be overly formal with each piece, only to the extent that it manages risk. Larger projects tend to be more formal, but can be broken into various phases so that each is more manageable. This also provides the benefit of getting some functionality into the field earlier, to take advantage of its features and speed ROI.
Call us to find out how we can help you create a unique advantage in your industry.