The heart of every successful product in the world today is the result of months and years of research. The tireless hard work and efforts behind its development 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 by McKinsey found that 45% of IT projects consistently exceed the estimated amount.
The deeper you go, the better the result. In simple terms, what we call research is the discovery phase of software development. Over the years, it has proven to be an effective method. The preliminary stage is where the custom software development team performs an in-depth analysis before work begins.
The growing market for client-based industries in the New York area has given rise to the demand for custom software development. Software is the central engine that keeps a business running. Without it, a company is 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 main stage, as it will set the stage for the future of your software. A discovery phase focuses on four main areas: the problem, the need of the users, the solution that the custom software can offer, and the estimated budget needed 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 application development.
risk mitigation
According to research, one in three software projects fail due to missed deadlines, underestimated budgets, unrealistic expectations, and poor planning. A discovery phase involves a careful evaluation of all of these factors. Provides a blueprint of the project’s estimated completion date, budgets, and required team size. Therefore, the probability of risk is significantly reduced.
tidy finances
The primary stage of evaluation in the discovery phase is crucial. Pay special attention to finances. The final cost of development will help finalize the project budget. A discovery phase tells you the exact price so that unforeseen costs do not arise during the development stages. In some cases, the estimated cost of the project is also reduced after a detailed discovery stage.
prototype tests
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 feedback, you can quickly make changes. You will save time, costs and money. Also, during the development stage, you can also focus on more important things in your project, as the discovery phase gives you more time.
Take advantage of technical expertise
The discovery phase is the perfect time to use the skills of your developers. For example: Effective data collection helps make pragmatic technical and architectural decisions. Companies that do not have their in-house software development team find it mostly beneficial. They also hire the best custom software development companies in New York who accept clients as long-term partners, resulting in a fruitful partnership.
Find your competitors
The discovery stage gives you more time to do extensive market research. It opens new doors for you to meet your competitors. You can do a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis of your own company; identify the specific needs of users and find solutions to solve them. This evaluation will allow 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 short stages in the discovery phase: Business Understanding, Core Process Assessment, Product Deliverables. Now let’s talk about them.
BusinessUnderstanding
It is the first stage in the discovery phase. It will mainly focus on understanding the problem we are trying to solve after looking at the end users and key stakeholders associated with the project.
How will it benefit you?
• Can map out a plan for the next course of action
• Identify resource requirements in terms of personnel and technical expertise.
Core Process Assessment
It is the second stage in the discovery phase. You can identify any difficult areas of your project here. All the developers, the stakeholders of the project come together and provide an amicable solution to deal with it.
How will it benefit you?
• A better understanding of any inconsistencies in the software development process
• Develop a model that is easily implemented
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 schedule, and the estimated costs.
How will it benefit you?
• You will know the characteristics of your software from the user’s perspective
• You will get an idea of the estimated delivery time of the project
Before committing to a project, a systematic approach is aligned with the work strategy. Software development methodologies like the discovery stage help an organization to streamline processes, identify critical steps in advance, and gain insight into the estimated outcome of a project.