Do you have an idea for an application and would like to implement it as soon as possible? Unfortunately, the software development process is very complex. You need to prepare for it carefully so as not to expose yourself to losses related to making ill-considered decisions. We have described 6 issues that you should pay attention to.
1. Who will manage the product?
Product development is conducted by Product Managers (PM). If you run a budding startup, you can try to take on this function yourself. Be aware, however, that this is a difficult task, and it is best handled by an experienced specialist (whom you will, of course, work with to ensure that your vision is realized).
The Product Manager’s tasks include:
- creating a product vision and a long-term strategy,
- identifying market trends and related new opportunities,
- conducting marketing, product sales, and customer service with other managers,
- supporting the product preparation team,
- creating a realistic sprint schedule (scrum iteration) and overall plan actions.
You can choose to recruit a Product Manager or hire one from an outsourcing company. The latter solution allows you to quickly find a specialist and easily end cooperation when you no longer need his help (contact us if you are interested in hiring a PM).
2.Product Vision
Surely, you already have a general idea for your application. It’s time to specify it by creating a vision of the product. The most important thing in it is to define to whom the product is to be addressed and what needs the customer should meet.
For this purpose, personas are created, which means fictional characters of potential users. Each of them is defined by such features as age, place of residence, profession, education, problems, and desires, or the way of using the Internet and devices.
You should also conduct market research to know if there is a demand for your product and whether your competition already offers identical solutions. You can commission research to an external company or conduct it yourself.
As part of market research, surveys and interviews are conducted. You can also follow blogs, forums, groups, and social media profiles, as well as YouTube channels that are related to your target. Focus not only on the main content but also on the comments. On their basis, you can diagnose what the users’ needs are, e.g. what they lack in existing products or what problems they experience.
Also, identify your direct competition. Use other companies' software to help you see its shortcomings or strengths that can inspire you. See how the competition promotes its products and what are the reactions of users to them.
Based on this, you will be able to define your vision. It should focus on the users’ needs that you learned during your research. Remember that they are the most important. Put them in the foreground throughout development.
3. List of requirements and MVP
You should transform the vision of the product into its specific description. Create a list of functionalities that the software should have to meet the users’ needs. To make it easier you might create a simple mock-up of the future application (e.g. in such programs as Balsamiq Wireframes or Mockplus).
It is also worth specifying which functionalities are most important. This will allow you to set the basic development goals that must be achieved to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
MVP is a product that is not finished yet, but it has all the most important functionalities that make it meet the users’ needs. Launching it on the market allows you to collect feedback so that the final product can be perfect. If you are looking for an investor, presenting them with the MVP and not just your vision will increase the chance of obtaining financing.
4. Technical solutions
It’s time to decide how to create a product that meets your requirements. There are many solutions in software development and choosing the right one can be difficult. Therefore, you can always use IT consulting services so that experienced specialists will offer you the optimal technology.
When creating, for example, a mobile application, decide, for example, on its type. Here you can choose from:
- native applications - created for a specific operating system. Very efficient and functional, but requires two development teams if you want your application to run on Android and iOS.
- hybrid and cross-platform applications - with slightly lower parameters, but operating on both operating systems, which makes them cheaper to produce.
- PWA applications - good, e.g. for business and e-commerce systems, working simultaneously on computers and mobile devices.
- web applications - works through a web browser and are used when you want to create a solution for computers, smartphones or tablets at a lower cost.
Each solution has its pros and cons. You should carefully consider the choice, guided by your priorities, budget, or expected schedule.
5. Development team
Depending on the chosen technical solution, you will need specialists with specific competencies. To find out what they should be when developing mobile applications, read this article.
There are various methods of recruiting a team to develop applications:
- employment of specialists: this is the most “traditional” solution, but it has some disadvantages. The recruitment process is long and there may be a shortage of developers on the market, as there is a very high demand for them. Ending cooperation after closing development is also more difficult.
- Body Leasing: if you already have your team, but you lack specialists familiar with a specific technology, you can supplement it by hiring a specific person from an outsourcing company. Cooperation with the developer will last only as long as you need, and he will join your team almost overnight.
- Team Leasing: in this case, you hire a whole team of developers. It is well-coordinated because team members have worked together before, which increases their effectiveness. Specialists can work independently, although, of course, you keep full control of the development process.
Specialists working for IT outsourcing companies have extensive experience in creating various types of software and you will easily find people with the skills you need. A simple solution, of course, is to outsource development to a software house company, when all responsibility for creating the application is on its side.
6. Work methodology
Before development begins, you need to know exactly how it will proceed. When developing software, two methodologies are used: waterfall and agile.
The waterfall is linear, and the development time is strictly defined. The team completes the next steps with little or no interaction with the client. This method lacks flexibility and works well in projects where the requirements are strictly defined and will not change.
Currently, agile methodologies are much more popular. They are based on iterations, the results of which are presented to the client and evaluated by the team and the project manager. If the result of the iteration does not meet the assumed requirements, it is repeated.
If you adopt agile methodologies, you could easily adapt the shape of the application to your requirements. You will test its prototype after each iteration, thanks to which you will find out whether the development is going in the assumed direction.
Agile also allows you to respond to changes in the market and consumer needs. If the competition introduces a new solution, you will be able to improve your product to maintain the market advantage.
The very popular Scrum is one of the agile software development methodologies. DevOps (read more) is also derived from agile.
Final words
Before you start software development, deliberate the points mentioned here. Proper preparation significantly increases the chance of your product’s success. Otherwise, it may turn out that you miss the needs of the market and the consumer or choose the wrong technical solutions.
Of course, you don’t have to be perfectly versed in software development. You can rely on the help of specialists who have comprehensive experience in the industry.
If you have an idea for an application, we will help you specify the plan and choose the right solutions. We will also carry out your project from start to finish or hire specialists who will join your team.
Contact us and let’s work on your software!
