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