The heart of every successful product in the world today is the result of research done for months and years. The relentless hard work and efforts behind developing it prove to be fruitful in the long run. It is the backbone without which no product can survive in this ever-evolving market. The same philosophy is also applicable even in the world of Information Technology. Research done by McKinsey found out that 45% of Information Technology projects consistently exceed the estimated amount.
The more one digs deeper, the better the result. In layman’s terms, what we call research is the discovery phase for software development. Over the years, it has proved to be an effective method. The preliminary stage is where the custom software development team does an in-depth analysis before the work starts.
The ever-increasing market of customer-based industries in the New York area has given birth to the demand for custom software development. Software is the core engine that keeps a company running. Without it, a company is just like a ship without radar. For someone, who has hired a software development company or is about to hire one, the discovery phase is the primary stage as it will lay the framework for the future of his software. A discovery phase focuses on four primary areas- the problem, the need of the users, the solution that custom software can deliver, and the estimated budget required to complete the project.
This article will discuss the benefits of going through a detailed discovery phase and why it plays a crucial role in agile app development.
Risk Mitigation
As per research, one out of three software projects fails due to missed deadlines, underestimated budgets, unrealistic expectations, and poor planning. A discovery phase entails a careful evaluation of all these factors. It offers a blueprint of the estimated project completion date, budgets, and team size required. Hence, the probability of risk reduces significantly.
Sorted Finances
The primary stage of assessment in the discovery phase is crucial. One must give special attention to the financials. The final cost of development will help to finalize the budget for the project. A discovery phase tells you the exact price so that no unanticipated costs pop up during the developmental stages. In some cases, the estimated cost of the project also goes down after a detailed discovery stage.
Test a Prototype
Before the development stage begins, you have the opportunity to create a beta version of the software. You can test the software with end-users to find out if there are any bugs or glitches. Once you receive the feedback, you can quickly make the changes. It will save time, cost, and money. Moreover, during the development stage, you can also focus on more important things in your project as the discovery phase allows you more time.
Leverage Technical Expertise
The Discovery phase is just the perfect time to utilize the skills of your developers. For instance: effective data collection helps to take pragmatic technical and architectural decisions. Companies that do not have their in-house software development team mainly find it beneficial. They also hire top custom software development companies in New York that embrace clients as long-term partners, resulting in a fruitful association.
Find your Competitors
The Discovery stage gives you more time to do comprehensive research on the market. It opens new doors for you to find out about your competitors. You can do a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis of your own company; identify specific user needs and find solutions to solve them. This evaluation will enable you to strengthen your weak areas. A value proposition can also be derived, and you can start working on those principles.
In addition to the points mentioned above, I have compiled three brief stages in the Discovery phase – Business Understanding, Core Process Evaluation, Product Deliverables. Now let us discuss them.
Business Understanding
It is the first stage in the discovery phase. It will primarily focus on understanding the problem we are trying to solve after analyzing the end-users and the primary stakeholders associated with the project.
How will it benefit you?
• You can map out a plan for the next course of action
• Identify the resource requirements in terms of staffing and technical expertise
Core Process Evaluation
It is the second stage in the discovery phase. You can identify any complicated domains of your project here. All the developers, project stakeholders gather together and give an amicable solution to deal with it.
How will it benefit you?
• A better understanding of any inconsistency in the software development process
• Develop a model that deploys easily
Product Deliverables
It is the third stage in the discovery phase. It visually offers a software timeline that includes the software development strategy model of the development stage. The focus here is on the scope of the project, its timeline, and the estimated costs.
How will it benefit you?
• You will know about the features of your software from a user perspective
• You will get an idea about the estimated time of the project delivery
Before committing to a project, a systematic approach aligns with the work strategy. Software development methodologies like the Discovery stage help an organization streamline the processes, identify critical steps beforehand, and get an idea about the estimated outcome of a project.