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The clients who get in touch with a software house to develop their bespoke web application, usually start with two crucial issues: how much money and time will it take? Although these issues seem to be pretty straight forward, it is not that easy to answer those questions. Why? In reality, those two issues are more complex and the answer will depend on many factors. Realistically, it will take several months to develop your application. In this article, we will explain why it is difficult to give a more precise answer and what are the factors that will shorten or extend the process of application development.
Why is it difficult to determine how long it will take to build an application?
In the Agreement signed between the client and the software house, the latter will provide an estimated time of project completion, which will be preceded by the design, the development, and the software testing. It is still impossible to set any precise deadlines during the initial meetings due to the below factors:
- Designing the application, when the documentation is gathered and the mockup created, is not a strictly controlled process and will strongly depend on successful advisor-client communication, the commitment of both parties, and the degree to which the application needs to be adjusted to meet the client's needs.
- The more complex and innovative the solution, the longer it will take for the programmers to develop it.
- During the testing period, the team will aim to find bugs and places where the solution may deviate from the mockup. It also takes extra time to fix the potential issues and repeat the test.
You will now see why the advisor on the online chat cannot give you a precise answer when you ask how long it will take to develop a custom application. You will rather get an estimated time of the project completion, which can then be determined more precisely as your solution is being designed and developed.
What extends the time required for bespoke application development?
What you do has a large impact on when the project will be completed. What can affect it negatively and prolong the process is listed below.
1. Adding modules and functions once the mockup has already been approved. You should think about the way you need your application to work when we gather documentation and create the mockup of your solution. Those describe and represent all the functions of your future solution, which are then taken over by the programmers who will develop your application. Adding extra comments once the mockup has been approved prolongs the development process. Hence, it is crucial to be very thorough when identifying your needs at the initial stage of the project as this will ensure the design is as detailed as it should be.
2. Being indecisive when it comes to the way the application looks, functions, etc. When you contact a software house, you should already know what type of solution you need. To find out, decide what tasks you want to streamline using your new system, how many users there will be, if you will require integration with external systems, what you want the application to look like. When it comes to the layout, focus on the modules you need, the data you want to have in tables, the default page you want to see when you log in to the system. Lack of clarity in these matters can cause delays in the release of the final product.
3. Too many options and functions. It is a frequent problem that a client starts to come up with multiple different functions for the solution. There are often so many of them that the client starts to be uncertain as to what they were supposed to help with. As a result, not only will the application development take longer but also the solution may become too expensive. Certainly, some companies will need very complex solutions due to the wide range of tasks they need to perform, the number of customers they have, etc. Having said that, the main principle to follow when designing a system is to make it simple and intuitive so that the application can indeed streamline the workflow and save time.
4. Communication issues. Every interaction entails the risk of misunderstanding and that between an IT advisor and a client is no different. Being unclear about the needs and requirements, making claims that have no reflection in the agreement, are only a few examples. Another problem to avoid is a situation where the software house awaits a response and the approval of a certain part of the project for too long, which also delays reaching the goal. To avoid those risks, it is important to be proactive and committed to the project, meet the deadlines and be able to provide constructive feedback.
What shortens the time required for bespoke application development?
You can actively take part in the development process to speed it up and have the web software delivered sooner. It is worth to know what you can do:
1. Clearly define your needs. If you know what you want you can have an effective conversation with the software house, which will create an application precisely tailored to your business. To aid the process try to determine the main areas, which the application is supposed to improve. Next, think what system solutions could be able to help you achieve your goals, i. e. decide what modules you need (e.g. invoices, customer database, calendar, warehouse, etc). If you struggle to do that, speak to one of our Kamee advisors, who will suggest the best solutions for your needs.
2. Commit time when the solution is designed and tested. It may seem contradictory but saving time during these two stages may cost you even more time overall. Why? If the documentation and the mockup are prepared in a cursory manner, and you skip a detailed analysis of your needs, the final solution will only fulfill some of your and your company's requirements. In the same way, a hastily implemented solution will not be used efficiently by your employees. That's why it's crucial to invest a sufficient amount of time to determine your needs and to train your workers to use the software.
3. Be precise when you communicate your thoughts to the IT advisor. It is crucial that the information exchange is detailed and supports the realization of the project. Don't feel intimidated to ask questions if any part of the application or the agreement is unclear to you. Kamee IT advisor will provide all the key information regarding the solution to ensure you can use it effectively. Provide your feedback as we go because it will enable us to work on the bespoke application that your team will continue to use for years.
More articles:
Where to outsource web app development?
FAQ about software development
How to write a request for quote for bespoke application development?
See our work:
Web application for a trading company selling cosmetics - CRM/ERP/MES - Gdansk, Poland
Web application for course management - CRM/ERP/BI - Geneva, Switzerland