52.7% of software projects will cost 189% of their original estimates. Custom software development requires a lot of effort, and many times, it doesn't transform into the desired results.
Today, digitization is a priority for all industries and companies. Custom software is the first step to digitizing an organization's operations. It improves productivity, reduces workflow management costs, and connects all stakeholders seamlessly.
However, any software development solution comes with a few risks. Enterprises may think that software solution companies can write code and their software will be complete. But there are several challenges that they forget to account for.
Creating software solutions requires complex processes and detailed orientation. There are things beyond coding that pose problems and challenges. It could be poor management, inefficient processes, or uneven team size. Overcoming such mistakes is important to build great software products.
7 Custom Software Development Mistakes to Avoid
Making mistakes in custom software development services is inevitable. But understanding the common errors and avoiding them or fixing them early on can save companies a lot of trouble.
There are obvious and not-so-obvious reasons for the failure of any software project. Hiring a full-service software development company of engineers is not a foolproof solution until certain mistakes are not made altogether.
Read more: What to know about Custom Software Development
Here are the top 7 custom software development mistakes that enterprises should avoid during the process:
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Executing an Incomplete Strategy
- Many enterprises start building software without a complete strategy for execution. Often, stakeholders know the features they want in an application and begin with the development process.
- A strategy provides the guidelines on how to approach software development. Enterprises must detail out the development stages and create a step-by-step plan of how to build the product.
- Enterprises must answer all questions before developing the product - what do they want to achieve with the software? Which benchmarks and practices should they follow? What would the outcome be? A good strategy will provide a roadmap to achieving success with the software.
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Considering Cost Over Value
- Companies make a big mistake while outsourcing software development services. They focus on price rather than value and quality. Many companies regret their decision if it is based solely on the cost of development.
- Software solutions companies must have relevant experience in building the product enterprises need. They should have a portfolio, and most of all - add value to the idea. Projects that cost cheap generally don't give the satisfaction that the stakeholders seek.
- A focus on skills and experience will take the partnership a long way. Experts in development will charge higher, but they will also build better software.
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Misunderstanding the Requirement
- Many times, software developers miss crucial steps because they don't understand the requirements clearly. Every project has unique needs, and improper comprehension leads to future errors.
- One of the most important things is to go through the software development documentation and plan as many times as possible. When the clients expect a unique outcome, the custom software development company has to deliver on it.
- Verification and validation of the customer requirement is also important. At every stage in the development cycle, regular communication of the progress is important to ensure that all the stakeholders are on the same page.
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Vague Project Estimates
- Clearly, one of the biggest mistakes in global custom software development is inaccurate and vague project estimates. Be it time or money, software development companies often provide vague estimates, and it is crucial that enterprises avoid such scenarios.
- Unreasonable expectations of time and money lead the company to forgo their relationships with even long-time partners. Therefore, it is essential to get accurate estimates from the development partner.
- Software solution companies should deliver the project within the timeframe that is given in the estimations. Agile methodology is a great way to complete projects on time and achieve efficiency.
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Excessive Focus on Designing
- A technical mistake that experts in custom software development services make is focus obsessively on the designing of the software. While the design is crucial, functionality is paramount. But in the game of attaining initial customers, enterprises forget a fully-functional application.
- The primary focus should be the functionality of the software rather than its design. Features supersede the appearance. The aim should be to build user-friendly software that has a decent design and navigation system.
- Utility is the number one factor that ensures a good user experience. Clients want software that can help solve their problems rather than look beautiful.
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Skipping Product Testing
- The absence of product testing is something that can lead to long-term damage. Developers often skip testing crucial components, which may ultimately result in complete product failure. Disregarding testing is also a poor practice in software development.
- There should be proper testing systems in place for both unit and load testing. It gives a proper idea about the various issues and errors that arise even when the product is developed perfectly according to the developers.
- Testing also ensures that the product goes to the client in a completely functional manner. Not testing the product is a sure-fire recipe for software issues.
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Unclear Communication & Feedback
- A mistake that every company is aware of - lack of proper communication can degrade the entire project. Full-cycle custom software development services require a high amount of communication to ensure that each component is working properly.
- On the other hand, feedback is critical for product improvement. The customised software development partner must understand the feedback and work upon it instead of arguing why a feature may work or may not.
- Taking feedback lightly is one of the most significant mistakes in software development. Therefore, the team must always equip itself with the right approach to implement the feedback in the software.
Conclusion
When companies outsource custom app development services, they must ensure that errors are minimal. Avoiding the above mistakes in the software development process is likely to enable enterprises to achieve the desired software outcomes.
Do you need an error-free custom software solution? Our experts at BoTree Technologies have developed 200+ software solutions with 95% project success rate.
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