Ever Wonder What It Takes to Build a Custom App or Software?

Then you’re in the right place! Welcome to part 1 of our 5-part look at Proleadsoft’s app and software development process that guarantees results.

When you have reached the limits of what off-the-shelf software can do, investing in a custom software or an app gives you a strategic advantage. Software built specifically for your needs can streamline your operations, boost efficiency, unlock valuable insights from your data, and do much more. The sky is the limit for what custom software can do for your business.

But what exactly is the process that goes into building custom software?

We are glad you asked!

In part 1, we start off with a look at how we build a strong foundation for each project through requirement gathering.

Part 1 – Requirement Gathering

So what is the difference between good software and bad software?

The answer lies in the process of requirement gathering.

The goal of software development is to solve a particular problem. But before building any new software or app, it is essential to spend time to clearly understand and define the problems you intend to solve.

That is why Proleadsoft’s development cycle starts with a 3 step requirement gathering process

1. MoSCoW Matrix  ->  2. Business Requirements Document  (BRD) ->  3. User Stories

The MoSCoW Matrix

The MoSCoW matrix is the first step in communicating project requirements from the client to Proleadsoft.

It is a handy tool for prioritizing project requirements that breaks features down into 4 categories. Clients provide a list of features that the software:

• Must Have – The essential features that your software MUST have to achieve your goals. These features are non-negotiable
• Should Have – These features add value, but they are not tier 1 features
• Could Have – Nice-to-have features, but would not compromise the core functionality of the product if left out
• Will Not Have – These features may be implemented in future releases, but are not considered a priority for the initial or next release

Business Requirements Document

Next, our business analysts create a Businesses Requirements Document (BRD). A BRD is like a manual for a successful project, laying out business requirements in a detailed, yet non-technical way with flowcharts and diagrams. Our clients review the BRD and provide detailed feedback. Once approved, it becomes the project bible, helping to:

• Clearly define the issue that the businesses is trying to solve
• Identify project phases and establish requirements for each
• Ensure that all teams are on the same page with regard to project requirements
• Establish standards to ensure the quality of work needed to fulfill requirements
• Identify stakeholders, team members, and their roles

User Stories

User Stories are an invaluable tool used to keep the focus on what customers need – and why they need it.  Created by our business analysts and developers, User Stories frame a problem from the end users’ perspective, and illustrate how a software feature will solve the user’s problem. User Stories help:

• Keep the focus on solving real problems faced by users
• Clearly define the goals so that all team members can work towards finding the best solutions
• Encourage creative solutions for solving user problems
• Express a problem in a non-technical way that all team members can understand
• Make it easy to rank and prioritize problems to solve

A Strong Foundation Is Key