Software And Coffee

This is a tip for businesses considering, or in the throws of a custom software development project.

Software development has several stages. Geeks refer to it as the “systems development life cycle”. I’ve listed them broadly (and chronologically) below. Each stage is important to you and your business. They are:

1. Gather the requirements

Find a software provider you can communicate with, that understands your business.

2. Design a solution

The provider should understand your processes, and work with you to enhance your service and/or product offerings.

3. Develop the solution

The provider should set a realistic deadline, and keep you updated on the progress.

4. Test the solution

The provider should have a quality assurance mechanism. Deploying untested code wastes your resources.

5. Train end users

The provider should have a good relationship with your employees.

6. Release the solution

The provider should deliver what they promise. Ask for references from other clients.

7. Maintain the solution (fix bugs)

Poor work up front causes huge problems down the road. Make sure the provider has products in maintenance mode. As a matter of fact, make sure they’ve been supporting those solutions for a few years.

The verbiage may differ, but any software provider you meet with should follow these steps at a minimum. Ask them how the process usually works. If it does not match this list, it should raise a big red flag.

Stephen

One of the paradigms of Web 2.0 marketing is the “self proclaimed expert”. The idea is to present oneself as an expert by writing an article or blog, or publishing a podcast. “I’m an expert- just ask me and I’ll tell you!”.

I was listening to a podcast about starting new businesses. A few episodes in, the podcaster made a comment about never successfully starting a business. I was shocked and slightly taken aback. Not much of an expert, if you ask me.

Don’t get me wrong, failing is the first step to learning. But if you never succeed, all you can teach is what doesn’t work. Through this blog I plan to show SMB owners and managers what does work and how to make strategic software decisions.

To demonstrate my experience, I’ll share tidbits of my bio, share customer solutions, and provide feedback from my customers. Along the way, I’ll share tips and processes that will help you assess and resolve your current and future software needs.

Stephen