What is software product development?
Software product development basically refers to the process of implementing certain result-oriented features in a software product, aiming to meet transitioning or on-demand market requirements. A closer look at software product development shows that it’s actually a repetitive process built up on business logic.
Too much info? Let’s simplify!
Software product development is a logical sequence of connected steps finally leading to an operational software product
The objective of software product development is to solve one / a set of specific problem areas in personal (e.g. - for solopreneural requirements), business or societal front.
Challenges In Software Product Development - Your Problem, Our To-Do!
- Top-notch customer experience along with technically sound functionalities
- Manual effort requirement minimized to the highest possible extent ..these are the two primary requirements of every software product development seeker today. To make it more complex than it already sounds, the ‘extent’ stretches a little further with each step the digital world evolves with!
Do you hear ‘challenges’?
We heard yet another exciting exercise!
Here’s why!
No idea about the development time for your software product? It’s not you, there’s a lot like you.. Searching for ‘How much time would software product development take?’ → not getting a → rephrasing the question & searching again → being disappointed with no clear result!
For custom software product development, there’s no blueprint. So there’s always a confusion as to what's under development even after the project scope is finalized. No one likes a last minute surprise in their software!
However, our guide to choosing the right development partner will free you from these worries for sure!
Users want MORE, always. The competition is high and with each passing day, the users get accustomed to more convenience. So, the key to attract a large chunk of that customer base as loyalists, is to provide them something that the competitors can’t match up to very soon! But, ‘what’ - is the unresolved question!
Decisions are difficult and even more so, when there’s data present in abundance but without proper structuring. What to do with all the data and how to use them properly to back up crucial decisions is a tougher decision itself!
Determining a techstack is a tough choice. Whether to.
- Incorporate the latest technology
OR
- Choose a technology that eases the functionalities & is convenient to be used
is a huge confusion. Then there’s the desktop-first or mobile-first, desktop-only or mobile-only confusion adding up to the pool.
We're nodding 'Yes' to all your struggle points as our strengths...
Software Product Development Strategy - The Step Zero
While product development sounds like a ‘development-only’ affair, in reality it includes a long process starting with strategizing. A software product development strategy is what makes or breaks the foundation of the quality of the software developed.
What Is A Software Product Development Strategy?
A software product development strategy is a well-researched plan with an objective to capture the target market successfully. Basically the software product development strategy ensures the process is streamlined through the steps & an effective final launch. Ideally, a strategy is what connects the dots between your market, competitor & goals.
Here’s what makes a software product development strategy the zeroth step for product development:
Cross Functional Teamwork Made A Breeze!
With a strategy to follow, collaborative working among the cross-functional teams runs smooth as there’s a clear picture in everyone’s head regarding how the end result is supposed to be. Therefore, every associated member, regardless of the responsibility, is always on the same page.
Ample Room For Feedback
What if your product is launched and a couple of months into the market, creates no ripple at all, leave alone the expected wave? If imagining this situation is sounding like a nightmare, think how bad facing it would be.
Guarantees Efficient Development
Just like you know you’ll reach a destination with a map in hand, you can’t go wrong with a software product development strategy marking a route map for your product development (given you choose the right software development partner)!
Steps for software product development
Even though with stakeholders, audiences, business goals, market scenario and more of such impacting factors in vision, the product development responsibilities look a little too overwhelming - there’s a tried and tested way to success! It’s a step by step plan listing every stage of software product development starting from ideation up till launch.
Research & Chalk Out A Product Development Roadmap
Requirements and feasibility analysis
UX/ UI Design
Start With Product Development
Integrate with your most-used software for a steady input stream (and convenience)
Test - Feedback - Repeat!
Launch
Keep Room For Maintenance
Risks in software product development
Even with a strategy in place, software product development still has significant risks lying across the process. The intangible nature and clear contradiction to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ concept stands as the primary cause of the risks.
Let’s know them up close!
Misleading estimations
Starting off with software product development without estimations is not easy, but starting off with an estimation that goes south along the way of execution, is worse.
1. What leads to Inaccurate estimations in product development?
Misinterpretation of desired features and lack of exposure & experience in that specific area of development, are the prime culprits that make estimations go wrong.
2. What leads to Inaccurate estimations in product development?
Misinterpretation of desired features and lack of exposure & experience in that specific area of development, are the prime culprits that make estimations go wrong.
Scope disparity pre and post development
Suppose, you order a breakfast at a restaurant saying you want a platter which has toasts, fruit salad, scrambled eggs and a latte. Now after 15 minutes, while waiting for your food you remember that..
1. You totally forgot to mention that you are lactose intolerant so you need soy milk in your latte
2. Your toast should have margarine brushed not butter
3. You don’t like bananas and melon in your salad
...what effect do you think it will have on your order after you inform the waitress?
Yes, it will take a toll on...
3.1. What is finally served to you as they never confirmed they could plate out the modified order you asked for after ordering
3.2. The serving time
3.3. The price you need to pay for the same
Now think of the same concept i.e. change of scope, in the product development context!
Scope disparity impacts exactly the same areas for your product development too, namely - fund requirements, quality of developed product and development time.
Low Development Quality Killing Product’s Potential
When it comes to development, poor code quality is another major risk. The question here can be, what is called a ‘poor code’? Isn’t some code that don’t run into the outcome simply discarded? Let’s settle the fact first. A poor code or a ‘low quality code’ is a code that serves the purpose but:
1. Is difficult to read i.e. isn’t easily absorbable by other developers for review or future modifications
2. Was completed under a tight deadline without adequate testing
3. Has ample scope for improvement
In short, a low quality code leaves a risk of piling up technical debts, implying the code’s future extension and maintenance become unnecessarily difficult and require a great deal of time & effort.
Lack of ownership
Software product development is generally built around a fixed purpose and thus, deals with a business’ insider confidential information. So, it’s important to have someone take up the accountability to be there for instant support starting from the delivery phase up till minor failures.
To make it worse, this risk often shows up only when something has already gone wrong in the product’s performance.
Why Software Product Development with BinaryFolks is (Fool + Fail)-proof
By now you know what goes wrong in software product development and now let’s have a look at how BinaryFolks have been doing them just right!
Let’s know them up close!
Some Overestimate Others Underestimate
..But We ESTIMATE!
..But We ESTIMATE!
Here’s what makes our estimation process all about what matters & absolutely no-nonsense!
We understand the skeleton first - bells & whistles come later
Research is where our software product development process starts from , even before you spend your first dollar, about:
What techstack will do full justice to your desired functionalities? (unless you strictly have a techstack in mind)
How aligned our developers’ skill set is with your requirements?
What timeline looks feasible considering our develop-test-enhance loop of working?
Calculate our cost of development without sending quality factor for a toss. Keep room for risk management
We start with a telescopic view of the scope
..and cover one milestone at a time!
..and cover one milestone at a time!
Here’s how we adjust our view!
We don’t just listen, we listen and read - going by the ABACUS logic that implies it’s always easier hands-on than in-head. So, we listen to your mission and also ask you to pen down (or type out!) your idea for a refined look at the picture you have envisioned regarding the product development.
We ask questions till we understand every word you speak about your requirement, instead of leaving the exploration phase at a 60,000 ft view.
Next, we break the big picture down into elements, call it ‘milestones’, document them in a precise BRD (Business Requirement Document) and assign individual time tags to each milestone contributing to the scope, for smaller loops of feedback and maximized chances of near-perfection.
With ex-engineers from Google Amazon and Salesforce
Code quality is the last thing to worry about!
Code quality is the last thing to worry about!
Here’s how we adjust our view!
Multiple code reviews
Coding standard compliance check
Rigorous testing
Constant supervision by a dedicated project manager tracking the progress and quality of the project
You Own The Software Product
Management & Maintenance Are On Us!
Management & Maintenance Are On Us!
Sounds like a deal? Partnering with us for product development, you sign up for:
End-to-end project management by team BinaryFolks
Constant updates on project progress (Read, transparency in process)
Close-knit feedback loop and prompt action on the feedback
Complete IP rights
Post-launch 3 month’s complimentary support by team BinaryFolks
Software product development by BinaryFolks
Why Outsource Software Development To BinaryFolks?
Driven by ex-engineers from Google, Amazon & Salesforce
101% Value For Money (+1 for Our Complimentary Consultation before You Spend Your 1st Dollar!)
Reviews That You Can Verify!
Safeguarded Business With An NDA
Out-Of-The-Box Innovations
Eye For Details
Questions Galore (Until Your Requirement & Our Understanding are mirror copies!)
Insight-Rich Scope Enhancement
Intense Domain Expertise
Close-knit feedback loop