If that statistic scares you, that’s good. It should. We know of entire companies that have been taken out by a bad software project.

Even if that doesn’t happen, bad software is a drain on energy and resources. Its sad, because compared with all those failures, great software can dramatically improve company performance.

What makes the difference between success and failure in custom software? Proper requirements gathering. Everyone involved has to be crystal clear about what each feature of the product is going to do, and why.

Most people don’t appreciate how much detail is required to fully document a project, so we facilitate this goal in every step of our process.

This level of detail also lends itself to scope creep, so we help you focus on the ROI of each feature we include.

STEP 1: Free consultation

This is where we get to know you, your company and your project. We’ll ask a number of big picture questions, and give you our insight into the viability of your project.  The goal of this session is to find out if we’re a good match for each other.

STEP 2: Project planning

This is the most critical part of the project. Great programming means nothing if it solves the wrong problem.

We start with the big picture, asking questions like, ‘What is your 5-year plan for the company and how do you see this project fitting into it?’

As we drill into the details, our understanding of your bigger goals helps frame the project. It lets us know which areas to explore further, and which ones won’t provide any benefit.

The end result of all of this is an estimate and a wireframe of the final product, complete with buttons, fields and a detailed explanation of how each of them functions.  We’ll also test the wireframe, walking a real-life example through the system with you. You’d be surprised at how much this improves the final product.

STEP 3: Development

During the development phase, we’ll provide weekly updates on the project. As we finish modules, we’ll show them to you, getting feedback on anything that needs to be changed. It’s easier to fix things as they come up instead of at the end of the project.

STEP 4: User testing

Once everything is developed and tested by our team, it’s your turn. We’ll help you put your new system through its paces, making sure each feature works as you envisioned.

STEP 5: Deployment

This is the exciting part. Moving into your new system. Here is where you start to reap the rewards of a job well done. The side-benefits are the best part: unexpected little perks, free time for employees that they can now use for more productive tasks, smiles on the faces of your customers.

STEP 6: Support

We are always available for support – either on an as needed basis, or on contract. Many clients want additional features added to their system at a later date. We’re available for that kind of work, too.