Initiate your custom software project with precision by establishing clear, well-aligned goals and strategies.
The cornerstone of successful development lies in the process of software discovery.
Embarking on a new and promising software project for your business may tempt you to jump in headfirst. However, without thorough preliminary research, planning, and groundwork, it becomes challenging to ensure alignment between your team and the development team, leading to potential unpleasant and costly surprises and change orders down the road. This is where the importance of discovery and prototyping comes into play.
The a3-global Discovery Process: An Overview
Before we write a single line of code, our engineers and business analysts work with your team to identify goals, create requirements, outline technical specifications, and build prototypes of the finished product. That way, we can begin development with the confidence that everyone is on the same page, set up for success in bringing your vision to life.
The discovery process allows us not only to align on goals, but also to create educated, accurate cost estimates and RFP responses, beginning the project with the car and transparency we value at every phase of our relationships with our clients.
Identify goals and
user personas
Initially, we collaborate with your leadership team to gain a precise understanding of the objectives your new software must achieve, identify the user base, and determine the optimal user interactions with the system. Simultaneously, we collect and analyze any pertinent materials or documents associated with the project.
Analyze similar software solutions
Although each a3-global software solution is tailored to the specific needs of the individual client, we apply a comprehensive and extensive perspective based on strategies that have proven successful for similar end users with analogous objectives. Equally important, we draw from our insights on strategies that have not yielded positive outcomes.
Create a prototype
Although each a3-global software solution is tailored to the specific needs of the individual client, we apply a comprehensive and extensive perspective based on strategies that have proven successful for similar end users with analogous objectives. Equally important, we draw from our insights on strategies that have not yielded positive outcomes.
Iterate based on feedback
After the initial prototype is finished, we gather any feedback your team can provide and iterate as necessary to ensure our vision aligns seamlessly with yours.
Create a project roadmap
Once we have precisely defined the desired outcome, its requirements, and its technical specifications, we formulate an action plan that illustrates to clients what we intend to accomplish at each stage of the project.
Benefits of Software Project Prototyping
Even after our teams collaboratively outline the key goals and features of the new software system, it might still be challenging for your team to envision the system in action. This challenge doesn’t arise from a lack of successful definition of your needs; rather, it stems from your expertise lying in your business, not its software.
To mitigate the risk of unveiling a finished product only to find it doesn’t align with your expectations, we employ prototyping as a gradual transition from the realm of abstract requirements to a more tangible representation of how your software will look, feel, and function. The process is akin to dipping a toe in the water before fully committing.
At a3-global, we employ two primary forms of prototyping.
We will collaborate with your team to identify the most suitable prototyping method for your product. Regardless of the chosen method, our objective in this stage of the discovery process is to guarantee that we can actualize your new system in the manner you’ve conceptualized it—prior to making substantial investments in the project.
UI Prototyping
An effective software requirements document doesn’t delve into the details of the user experience; its purpose is to cover the «whats» rather than the «hows.» Therefore, to illustrate our vision of the user interface’s appearance and feel, we generate a static visualization. While this mockup may lack the polish and detail of the final product, it serves as a foundational representation that is easily adaptable as necessary, capturing the fundamental essence of how the system will operate.
Proof of Concept Application
An effective software requirements document doesn’t delve into the details of the user experience; its purpose is to cover the «whats» rather than the «hows.» Therefore, to illustrate our vision of the user interface’s appearance and feel, we generate a static visualization. While this mockup may lack the polish and detail of the final product, it serves as a foundational representation that is easily adaptable as necessary, capturing the fundamental essence of how the system will operate.