10 Factors To Consider When Developing Software

There are a lot of things to consider when planning a software project, and the amount of time and effort needed on these will depend on the size or complexity of your project. 

There are a lot of things to consider when planning a software project, and the amount of time and effort needed on these will depend on the size or complexity of your project. 

At Reach we can take you through the process step by step, but the following may help you start to understand the different elements that need be taken into consideration when planning a bespoke software project. 

1. Define Your Needs And Goals

This one seems obvious but it is easier said than done. You may have the beginnings of an awesome idea, but every aspect needs to be thought through. Sitting down and outlining what users will need to be able to do will help your developers understand all the various functions the software needs to provide. Once your goals are clearly defined, you can work out what you will need to reach the end points.

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Plannah

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2. Understand Your Users

Who are they? What will make their life/job roles easier? Your new software might be cool, but not everyone will think it is. If you aren’t solving a problem, persuading users to adopt it could prove time consuming and difficult. For every technology-related change, there is some level of impact on your staff. Talk to them, if you are going to be replacing an existing system then it will be beneficial to discover what it is that matters to current users. If you are developing a product for a new market you may need to carry out some market research, will it be best to launch small and add features over time based on feedback?

3. Project Restraints

Time, budget, technologies, your availability, will there be other systems your new software needs to be able to work in conjunction with?, all these, plus more are all constraining factors when planning a new project. Logically, the less constraints there are means more flexibility to deliver your project exactly as you wish. Understandably, there are some elements that are fixed but it is crucial that this is known ahead of time in order to plan accordingly. One of the most common issues in project management is the infamous timeline. Being realistic in setting timelines with projects is critical. 

4. Priorities

What is most important to you? What can you not do without? Could the project be split up into phases in order to deliver the most important aspects of the project sooner rather than later? Knowing what is most or least important will aid in steering you towards the best possible plan for the project. The better a developer understands the purpose and requirements of your application the better the solution will be, because more information means a better understanding of your needs/wants. Furthermore, what are the tangible and intangible benefits you expect of this software? How much will it save you, or how much business do you expect it to earn for you?

5. Software Integration

Does your new software need to be able to integrate with another system? If so, do you know if it is feasible or will you require help with your research? It can be challenging to integrate what you are making with tools your audience may already be using. You need to find ways to make your product compatible using application program interfaces (APIs) or Software Development Kits (SDKs). 

6. Reporting

Software systems are superb at capturing all manner of data, whether that be directly from user input or from user behaviour. Reporting on all the captured data could prove to be an invaluable insight that could benefit your business. Custom reporting tools provide the ability to create personalised and unique reports for your data. In addition to selecting the data you’ll display in your report, you can also customise a report’s metrics, dimensions, appearance, and more. It is important to consider what information you’d like to report on so that your custom software is equipped to capture the necessary data. 

7. Software Hosting & Distribution

Where is your software going to be hosted? If it’s an app, that means choosing a distribution mechanism, such as an app store or your company registering for an enterprise program. If its server based that means using a server or cloud services. Servers need specialist configuration and management to ensure they remain secure and stable. You need to consider whether you have the resources to handle this internally or whether you need help with this.

8. Deployment

The most important part! Does your project have a go live deadline? There are different approaches for going live depending on your scenario. You may wish to do a soft launch with targeted users, alternatively, you may have no choice but to do everything at once. You will need to consider data migration or setup and customer communication. It is also worth noting that there can always be bumps on the road to deployment. Save yourself some time and hardship by scheduling in some extra cushion time during the planning stages in case it is needed. 

9. Software Maintenance

A software maintenance agreement is essential to ensure the software continues to run smoothly. Updates and maintenance are required after delivery in order to:

• Correct faults
• Improve the design
• Implement enhancements
• Interface with other systems
  Accommodate programs to that different hardware, software, systems features and telecommunications facilities can be used
• Migrate legacy software
• Retire software

10. Post-Launch Software Support

Will your software require user training? Post-launch support is a form of post-deployment customer-care support that begins directly after you launch and runs for weeks to a couple of months after launch. It is designed to help new and existing users on how to use the new platform, product, feature, or software. Ideally, the primary objective of the post-launch period involves close monitoring and evaluation of all features and functionalities of your platform, such as technical support, on-site training, handling of customer service queries, and data integrity. The goal is to establish a smooth functioning system that your users know how to navigate and enjoy doing so. After the post-launch period is complete, the usual support activities continue.

What can Reach offer you? 

Reach’s team of expert developers are dedicated to delivering bespoke digital software solutions and ground breaking Applications. With Reach Studios you can expect intuitive experiences, through a blend of beautifully crafted design and cutting edge technology.

We pride ourselves on our ability to produce a crafted bespoke solution for your business. Our experience with industry-leading clients has enabled our team to work on a vast range of applications. As a result, whatever the challenge, or complexity of the brief we work with our clients around the world to deliver. A number of the applications and software we have had the pleasure of building have won national awards in their industry and technology sectors.

Application development or software development can be a confusing topic. With lots of terminologies and solutions available depending on many factors. Therefore, we help navigate this issue focusing on the right solution. This takes into account the device type, project specification, budget, technology, and user-base.

As a result of discussing your requirements we will configure bespoke applications and software delivering the perfect solution for your project. Get in touch or make an enquiry below to discuss your idea today.