Enterprise software development involves 7 sequential stages from ideation to postproduction.
The planning stage: It is important to set up a clear roadmap of your software’s projected timelines, including the design, the actual development process, the testing phase, and any automated tools you may need. Devise plans that include cost estimation, developmental tools needed, and the budget. Take your stakeholders and key team players on board. Analyze and evaluate your testing platform and development tools.
Project assessment and feasibility: This is when you list the resources you need to develop the software. Project assessment is part of the fact-finding expedition, part of the strategy. You gather information on the tools you will need and examine your existing software. In this stage, you also create documents that list your deliverables on paper, including all major and minor details about the project. Many companies also perform feasibility studies to understand the software’s dependencies, use cases, compatibility with current software, integrations, and deadlines.
Software design: During the design phase, you create the software development modules and the overall architecture of the project, taking into account both its micro and macro details. The design also involves building prototypes, fitting the software architecture with your requirements, dependencies between modules, and also their functionalities.
Software development: When you commit your project to code, you follow many processes to ensure that you produce the best deliverables. Developers use their designs and code them in the language of their choice. They break the software into multiple modules and work in teams on each module. Project managers oversee the development phase and support developers wherever necessary, resulting in high-functioning software with no errors, ready for the testing phase.
Testing: When taken to the testing environment, the software is put through many cycles and screened for conflicts, integrations, and inconsistencies. Individual units of the software are tested. QA experts also test the code quality. Most importantly, the software is tested for its performance, to ensure that there are no gaps in processing. Security testing can be automated.
Software installation and deployment: This is when the software is rolled out to the users. Deployment can be a complex process because several applications have to run together in an integrated and seamless manner. Existing databases and systems are upgraded to fit the newly developed applications. Although the deployment process is usually automated, it is a good idea to be watchful of errors or inconsistencies.
Maintenance and upkeep: In many ways, this is a crucial stage. It is only when users start working with the developed software that errors or problems can be spotted. The users give feedback after working with the software in a real environment. This is when you improve your software, fix bugs, and update the system to fit the company’s many user requirements. When errors are spotted, the software development team launches new development cycles for new releases.
Tips to choose the right software development partner
Different companies need different software and this extends to their developers too. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a software development services partner.
Evaluate their technical skills and expertise
Look for partners with technical skills but who also respect deadlines and schedules. Software development is an ever-changing, fast-moving industry. Prioritize partners who are up to date with the latest technologies.
Avoid the cheapest options
Keeping a lid on costs is important but when you try to cut costs at the expense of quality, you will struggle with mediocre quality.
Choose partners who understand your business goals
Look for software development partners who keenly understand your business goals and how your company intends to grow and make use of the software in the long term.
Look for the best of both the worlds - design and technical skills
We live in a design-driven world. Look for partners with skills in designing the user experience (UX) and who are also experts in prototyping, validation, and other technical services.
When done the right way, enterprise software development can result in progressive organizational shifts. Enterprise software applications can lead to high-quality platforms and technologies that significantly change the way we do business.