The steps of custom software development

Custom software development is a way to create value for your company. An ideal software supports the team on its path to success and contributes to increased efficiency. What are the steps of custom software development? Let’s find out!

Custom software development has many benefits, such as increased efficiency, improved visibility, and process automation, all to make work smoother and improved usability.

SynerinSoft is committed to the agile methodology, and the software development process is managed in this spirit. To put the separate steps in context, let’s first take a look at the mysteries of agile methodology.

The agile approach

The agile approach is all about enabling a company to respond as quickly as possible to a changing environment and forming needs. With this skill, anyone can outperform the competition.

The agile approach is based on cyclicality. In practice, this means that the whole process is broken down into smaller cycles by the development team. Each cycle produces a version that is more detailed and elaborate than the previous one.

The Agile Manifesto sets out the principles to be followed during agile software development. These are:

• Customer satisfaction is the most important factor, which can be achieved by the developer delivering functioning software in the shortest possible time.
• Change is a natural part of software development and should be taken advantage of.
• The more frequently software versions are delivered, the better.
• Business professionals and developers should work together throughout the process.
• Project staff should be success-oriented and have everything in place to work efficiently.
• The most effective way to transfer information is face-to-face.
• Progress can be measured in the functioning of the software.
• Continuity and sustainability are also a requirement for the pace of work.
• Agility is facilitated by good planning and technical readiness.
• In all cases, simplicity should be pursued.
• Self-organising teams are effective in producing architectures and designs.
• Efficiency is assessed from time to time, and changes can be made to ensure this.

Now that we have a framework for an agile approach, the phases of custom development will fit better into the overall picture. Let's look at the steps of custom software development.

The 4 phases of custom software development

The survey phase

Like so many tasks, custom software development starts with a familiarisation process. This is the survey phase, the preparation phase, which aims to clarify the client's needs and objectives. 

However, to be effective, it is not only the needs that are discussed but also the opportunities. In the form of business analysis, the client and the development company jointly assess the business objectives, which ensures the success of the project. This should be done not only at the beginning of the process but also in subsequent phases.

UX/UI is also included in the assessment phase. The reason for this is that the earlier the user experience and user interface aspects enter the picture, the greater the chance that the result will be exactly what the target audience wants.

The design phase

Assessment is followed by the design phase, i.e. system design. Based on the information and the technical specifications, developers plan for a range of scenarios. These are solution plans that allow the client to choose the ideal direction the developers should take. Further design and implementation considerations should also be taken into consideration.

The support for the backend system is defined, and the programming language and, of course, the UI/UX plans and specification documents are prepared at the end of the phase.

The implementation phase

The implementation phase takes the longest time. Different versions of the software are produced, getting closer and closer to the version defined in the plans. To ensure efficiency, the development company and the client work together and are in constant consultation to ensure that the result is flawless in every respect.

Constant testing is a must during this phase. There are several ways of doing this, some are done automatically by the IT staff, and others are done by the users. The tests also reveal bugs and directions for further development. This is all very useful information for later success. It is not sufficient to test only at the end of the process, because it is only at the last moment that we realise that something is not working well. It is therefore a good idea to test continuously so that any errors can be corrected.

Once the software is ready, the company hands it over to the client and includes the development documentation. 

The follow-up phase

It's not enough to build a system, you also have to operate and maintain it. In the case of software development, the final phase is the follow-up, which lasts as long as the client requires it. In a sense, the software is never finished, it can and sometimes must be updated, modified or improved. This way, the relationship between the developer and the customer is not terminated after delivery, and the customer is not left alone when he needs IT support.

SynerinSoft is at home in the field of custom software development. We have many projects and software behind us. Contact us for more!