How to evaluate development before starting and not make a mistake: practical advice

Developing a new product or service can be a complex and resource-intensive process. Before investing money and time in development, it's crucial to know how to evaluate the project and minimize risks. In this article, I'll share my experience in development evaluation and discuss key aspects to consider before starting a project.

Defining project requirements and goals

The first step to successful development evaluation is clearly defining the project's requirements and goals. Develop a detailed technical specification that describes the functionality, architecture, technologies, and quality criteria. This will allow you and your team to better understand what exactly needs to be implemented and prevent unforeseen problems in the future.

Example:

Company "ABC" wants to develop a mobile app for managing home food delivery processes. The project goals include:

• Increasing the efficiency of the food ordering and delivery process.
• Improving the user experience for customers.
• Reducing order waiting time and increasing order accuracy.
• Ensuring integration with existing accounting and management systems.

To achieve these goals, the project requirements can be formulated as follows:

• Food ordering functionality with menu selection, delivery address input, and online payment.
• Real-time order status tracking system for customers and couriers.
• Integration with order management and delivery systems for process automation and courier coordination.
• Intuitive and attractive user interface, available on various mobile devices and platforms.
• Ability to leave reviews and ratings for restaurants and couriers.
• Content management system for updating menus and promotional campaigns.

Resource assessment

Evaluate available resources – time, money, and human resources. Determine how much time and resources you are willing to spend on development and create a realistic project budget. Also, consider that development may take longer than initially anticipated and be prepared for this.

Example:

Company "XYZ" wants to develop a mobile app for personal finance management. As a first step, they assess the resources needed to implement the project.

• Time: The company determines that they have six months for development and launch of the app. They break this period down into project stages, such as design, development, testing, and product release.
• Budget: Based on preliminary analysis and comparison with similar projects, the company determines that they are willing to spend $200,000 on app development. This budget should include salaries for developers, testers, designers, and other project participants, as well as the cost of infrastructure, software licenses, and marketing.
• Human resources: The company analyzes their current resources and determines that they need a team of four developers (two front-end and two back-end), a designer, a tester, and a project manager. They also decide that they need to hire an additional developer and marketer on a contract basis.

Market and competitor analysis

Study the market you plan to launch your product or service in and analyze your competitors. Evaluate how unique and relevant your offering is and what advantages it can provide to users. This will help you develop a strategy for the development and positioning of your product in the market.

Example:

Startup "EventFinder" wants to develop a portal and mobile app for searching and booking tickets for events such as concerts, sporting events, and theatrical performances. To determine their strategy and positioning in the market, they conduct a market and competitor analysis:

• Market size and dynamics: The team analyzes statistical data and reports to determine the overall volume and growth rate of the events market. They find that the market is growing at 10% annually, indicating an opportunity for the introduction of new products and services.
• Target audience: The startup identifies its target audience as young professionals aged 20 to 35 who actively attend various events and prefer to book tickets online.
• Competitive analysis: "EventFinder" studies its competitors, including their offerings, strengths and weaknesses, as well as user reviews. They find that the main competitors are "TicketMaster", "Eventbrite", and "StubHub", but none of the apps offer personalized event recommendations based on user interests.

Based on the results of the market and competitor analysis, the "EventFinder" startup defines its unique value proposition and strategy by offering an app with personalized recommendations, a simple ticket booking process, and a focus on local events.

Selecting a development team

The quality of development largely depends on the experience and competence of the development team. Evaluate their skills and experience working with similar projects. Make sure your team has all the necessary knowledge and resources to successfully complete the project.

Example:

Startup "LearnVid" wants to create a platform where users can share video tutorials on various topics, from academic subjects to hobbies and crafts. They understand that the quality of development of key platform components plays an important role in the success of the project and begin searching for a suitable development team.

• Defining team requirements: "LearnVid" analyzes their project and determines that they will need specialists in the areas of web development, user interface, video processing, analytics, and database management.
• Considering internal and external resources: The company analyzes their own resources and decides that they need to hire an external development team that can provide the necessary experience and skills.
• Searching for a development studio: "LearnVid" conducts market research and finds the development studio "Sailet", which has successful projects in the education and video technology sectors.
• Analyzing portfolio and reviews: The company reviews "Sailet's" portfolio and pays attention to the quality of their previous work as well as positive client reviews. This reinforces their confidence in choosing them as a development partner.
• Agreeing on collaboration terms: "LearnVid" and "Sailet" discuss project details, timelines, service costs, and other important aspects of cooperation. After clarifying all terms, both parties sign a contract and begin working on the project.

Risk Assessment

Identify potential risks associated with the development of the project. Risks may include technical issues, system integration problems, lack of time or budget, as well as changes in requirements or market conditions. Develop a plan to minimize these risks and determine what measures to take in case they arise.

Example:

The "TravelBuddies" company wants to create a portal and mobile application that allows users to find travel companions to share trips and expenses. Before starting development, they conduct a risk assessment to identify potential problems and develop strategies to minimize them.

• Technological risks: The startup analyzes possible issues related to the integration of various APIs, such as maps, payment systems, and messengers. They look for ways to ensure data security and application stability.
• Market risks: "TravelBuddies" identifies that the main market risks are low user conversion, limited number of trips due to seasonality and economic factors, and the threat of competition from other travel applications.
• Legal risks: The team investigates legislative aspects related to organizing shared trips and expense sharing to ensure compliance with laws and regulations in different countries.
• Team-related risks: "TravelBuddies" determines that these include potential conflicts of interest between founders, insufficient experience or competence among the team, and the risk of disagreement on key decisions.

User Feedback Consideration

Involve potential users of your product or service in the development process. Receiving feedback at early stages of development will help you determine how well your offering meets their expectations and make necessary adjustments to the project. This will also help you build a loyal audience and reduce the time spent on testing and refining the product after its launch.

Example:

The "FitLife" startup is creating a mobile app that helps users track their physical activity, nutrition, and progress in sports activities. To improve their product and meet user needs, they actively collect and consider feedback:

• Creating feedback channels: "FitLife" allows users to leave reviews and suggestions through an integrated feedback form, social networks, and email address.
• Review analysis: The team regularly reviews and analyzes the feedback received, identifying common trends, issues, and user desires.
• Prioritizing improvements: Based on feedback analysis, "FitLife" determines priority areas for app improvement, such as bug fixes, adding new features, or enhancing the user interface.
• Implementing changes: The startup makes the necessary changes to its app and releases updates for users.
• Communication with users: "FitLife" informs users about the changes made and thanks them for providing feedback, which strengthens user trust and loyalty.

Accounting for Unforeseen Circumstances

Keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances may arise during the development process, which can significantly affect the project's timeline and budget. Be prepared for this and determine in advance what measures to take in case of unexpected situations.

Example:

The "QuickBites" company is creating a platform for ordering and delivering food from various restaurants. They understand that unforeseen circumstances can impact the development and launch of their service, so they take measures in advance to minimize risks:

• Financial reserve: "QuickBites" allocates additional funds for unexpected expenses, such as changes in rates for third-party provider services or additional marketing costs.
• Flexible deadlines: The startup sets realistic development and launch timelines, leaving a buffer for unforeseen delays related to technical issues, legislative changes, or supplier problems.
• Contingency planning: The "QuickBites" team develops action plans for various unforeseen circumstances, such as the withdrawal of key partners, changes in market conditions, or data access issues.
• Monitoring and adaptation: "QuickBites" regularly tracks the development process, responds to emerging issues, and quickly adapts to changing conditions, adjusting their strategy and plans as necessary.

Assessing development before starting a project is a critically important step that helps reduce risks, optimize resources, and increase the chances of success. By following the above advice and relying on the expertise of development experts, you can create a product or service that will be in demand in the market and bring you satisfaction with the results of your work.

If you encounter problems while assessing development or are seeking consultation on this matter, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am always happy to share our experience.