Business-Centric vs. Traditional Software Development

Hey there!

It’s Alex from CodeIT.

For 16 years, I've been helping business professionals make sense of technology.

My focus is loud and clear: 'Think business, before you code it'.

I'm starting this newsletter to share how business and software development can work together.

And the key question I want to explore today is:

What sets business-centric software development apart from the traditional approach?

Let me illustrate this with an example:

Imagine you own a chain of coffee shops, and you want software to manage your operations.

Business-Centric Software Development

Approach: In a business-centric approach, the development team won't just create a basic Point of Sale (POS) system. It prioritises the business's overall goals, needs, and long-term vision.

It goes beyond just meeting technical needs. The focus is on how the software can boost business value and improve operations.

Characteristics:

• Close collaboration with stakeholders.
• Focuses on delivering business value.
• Often adapts to changing business needs.
• Prioritises user experience and business outcomes over pure technical features.

They'll consider:

• How to enhance customer loyalty (maybe integrate a rewards system).
• How to gather data on the most popular products to influence future marketing.
• Ways to optimize inventory based on sales trends.
• Integrating feedback mechanisms to continually adapt.

Traditional Software Development:

Approach: Tends to center around a set of predefined technical requirements. The primary focus is on the functionality of the software rather than its alignment with the broader business strategy.

Characteristics:

• Fixed set of requirements.
• Less adaptability to changing needs once development has started.
• Focus on technical specifications and functionalities.
• Less emphasis on user experience or business value.

Continuing with the coffee shop example:

In a traditional software development approach, the team would develop a POS system based on the requirements you provided at the start.

The system would:

• Process transactions.
• Track inventory.
• Maybe manage staff schedules.

Once the system is built, any additional features or changes would require significant time and effort.

The software serves its purpose, but it might not necessarily drive business growth or adapt to changing business needs.

In Summary:

? Business-Centric: It's like a tailor-made suit.

It's designed to fit your specific needs, looks great, and can be adjusted if you lose or gain a few pounds.

?? Traditional: It's like buying off the rack.

It fits okay, serves the purpose, but might not be perfect for all occasions or changes in size.

So that's the scoop on putting your business at the heart of software development.

Always remember, the software should serve your business needs, not the other way around.

If you're interested in seeing the businesses we've assisted with business-centric development services, take a look at our portfolio here.

Feel free to DM me if you have any questions!

All the best,

Alex