How to Identify the possible custom software development needs with maximum ROI for your business
In previous episode, we talked about how to use custom software development with maximum ROI for your business.
In this week’s article, we will be talking about step 1 - Identifying the business needs.
Let's jump right into the process of identifying the possible custom software for the business:
1. Assess business processes
To start the process, assess current business processes to identify areas where custom software could improve operations. It is recommended to use a process mapping tool, such as Lucidchart or Visio, to document the processes but something like WordPad will also do the work.
2. Gather stakeholder input
Once the potential areas for improvement have been identified, gather input from stakeholders including employees, managers, and customers. It is recommended to use survey tools, such as SurveyMonkey or Typeform, to gather and analyze stakeholder feedback.
3. Identify inefficiencies
After collecting stakeholder input, identify areas where current processes are inefficient and could be improved through the use of custom software. It is recommended to use process analysis tools, such as Process Street or Bizagi to identify and document inefficiencies.
4. Define goals and objectives
Clearly define the goals and objectives of the custom software development project, such as reducing costs, increasing efficiency, or improving customer satisfaction.
5. Evaluate existing solutions
Before embarking on custom software development, evaluate existing solutions to see if they can meet your needs. It is recommended to use comparison tools, such as Capterra, G2, or Software Suggest to compare and evaluate existing solutions.
6. Prioritize needs
After evaluating existing solutions, prioritize the custom software development needs of the business to ensure that the most important needs are addressed first. It is recommended to use prioritization tools, such as kanban boards in Jira or Trello, to prioritize and track progress. See also, MoSCoW Prioritization
Example - Email Signature Generator
After performing the above steps, one of the business has identified the inefficiencies in the process of email signature generation.
It was generated by copy-pasting the signatures from the existing employees and was not consistent across the organization. There wasn't a defined process or way of changing email signature across the organization as well.
The existing email signature solutions provided for the corporate use were costly, and not providing the type of signature the design team has built.
The existing intranet site can support the feature with low complexity and high ROI.
So, we implemented a simple form pre-populated with currently logged in user's basic information available from the Azure AD login.
User can enter or adjust the details, see the preview of the signature and click on a copy button to copy the generated signature.
A link to setup an email signature in office 365 was provided in popup message once the user clicks the copy button.
Here is how the solution impacted:
Well done team!
Conclusion
A well-executed process can help a business to identify areas where custom software can improve processes, increase efficiency, and support growth.
Other articles from Facile Technolab
Other interesting articles from our reading list:
Facile Technolab Pvt Ltd?has been building custom software solutions many businesses in information technology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, education, financial services, construction, and many other industries since 2016.
Get in touch with experts?Prashant Lakhlani,?Ranmal Ratiya,?Mona L, or?Hardik (Harry) Patel?to plan your?custom software development?projects.
Other Useful links: