Be it any industry, business holders need a platform that helps to streamline their operations but are unaware of their options. Well, if you are cohorts who want to get their website or application customized but are indecisive about how you will do it, you first need to learn the “levels of customization.” 

This blog will also give you an insight into some good examples of custom software that may fit your business requirements. 

Level of Customization

The category of customized software is defined by its level of customization. 

Level of customization is a defining stage of bespoke software development that identifies the customer requirements. It is segregated into 3 types – Completely Tailored Software, Semi-customized software, Copied Software. 

The development team works meticulously to decide the category the software will fall into, considering the extent of customization it would need. Once the category is decided, the development procedure is carried forward.

Here is a brief description of those three categories – 

• Completely Tailored Software: This kind of software is completely built from scratch. Conventional methods of creating software are applied to build a solution that caters to every specification defined by the customer.

• Modern/ Semi-customized software: As the name implies, semi-customized software doesn’t change the basic code of your already existing software. It makes use of the same framework to develop or tweak the code in order to add special features to your otherwise normal software.

• Copied Software: At times, businesses who belong to the same industry often require almost the same features which other competitors are already using. In such cases, the source code of the software that the competitor is using is copied exactly as it is with some tweaks to make their own software. 

So, whether your software will be a completely customized solution or a semi-customized one totally depends on your requirements. 

Let’s look at some of the best examples of custom software solutions that cater to various industry verticals and have stood the test of time.

1. Content Management System (CMS)

Content Management System provides the basic infrastructure to build a website from scratch. One doesn’t even require to have the knowledge of coding language like HTML to create and manage the website built using CMS. 

Integrated with a framework to allow storage, retrieval, access control, format management, etc, CMS eliminates all the tedious tasks like –  creating webpages, formatting, editing, publishing or reporting the content for the entire site. All one has to do is, add the content in the easily navigable and extremely user-friendly system. 

In addition to this, the major benefit of using CMS is  its content delivery application (CDA). It is the back-end of the software, which is highly organized and ensures delivery of content exactly in the manner you want it to reflect on your website. The front-end, on the other hand, is made of a Content Management Application(CMA) that allows all the inputs smoothly.    

Apart from content management, CMS can also be used to assist online campaigns and can be integrated with the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. 

For instance, WordPress is a popular CMS that can be used to create social networking sites, e-commerce websites, portfolio management, etc. Besides this, Joomla, Magento, Drupal, Squarespace are also some Content Management System (CMS) examples that you might have heard of. 

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

As the name suggests, CRM is a bespoke software that helps in gathering vendor, prospects, or customers’ information to collate, manage and analyze their respective data. Moreover, the tool can also foster planning of marketing strategies like – bringing leads, monitoring trends, managing appointments, and drive sales to generate revenues. The application also contains a dashboard that has various analysis like – details of customers that are bringing more sales, what kind of orders are frequent, etc. Furthermore, it has reporting options integrated for maintaining customer relations. 

One must also know that the sales team and customer representatives can access the data on the run if  CRM is cloud-based. 

Salesforce is a popular example of cloud-based CRM that eliminates the need for hardware which in turn curtails the overall cost of accessing the platform as well. 

3. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

ERP is used to integrate all the verticals of the business processes into one platform to manage the entire data through a single software. It helps collaborate different departments like finance, production, sales, human resources with each other to get a peek into their status of work. Moreover, ERP platform can be customized according to the business requirements.

However, there is one pullback while using ERP –  the company should not refrain from implementing the new technology because holding on to the conventional methods can deride the whole purpose of setting up the ERP in the first place, and the outcome wouldn’t be as anticipated.

Moving forward, there are typically 3 kinds of ERP systems that cater to businesses of various sizes and types –   

• On-premise ERP – ERP system is installed on the servers of the buyer company with a charge of one-time perpetual license-fee. Since it is a capital expenditure upfront, the security, maintenance and updates are done by the enterprise itself. Nonetheless, support is granted by the vendor for any upgrades.

• Cloud-Based ERP –  These kind of ERP systems run on the servers of vendors and the company can access the platform using a secure connection. Since it is a cloud-based platform, the customer doesn’t have to worry about its maintenance. Cloud-based ERP is also cost-effective to the company as the vendor takes up all the responsibility of maintaining, updating, and safeguarding the platform. The purchaser has to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee and that is it.  Saas – Software as a service is one of the renowned examples of highly-efficient cloud-based ERP.

• Hybrid ERP – also known as a bimodal or two-tier model, hybrid ERP provides the benefits of both cloud and on-premise ERPs. It liberates the company from infrastructure costs and the cost of training the team. Certain important applications are chosen from the system to work as on-premise, and the rest are available on the server. The responsibilities are thus halved between the vendor and the buyer. 

FEDex, Blueshield are some of the best ERP platforms provided by Oracle.

4. Operations Management Software

OMS – Operation Management Software is a potential platform that streamlines all the operations of a business. Having a tailored software like OMS for your company can automate and customize many tasks. These may include –  employee onboarding, training sessions, workflow management, etc…while simultaneously tracking the productivity of your projects and the team. This platform also helps you manage the purchases, deals, logistics, pre-sales, invoicing, and all other related functions that are apparently performed in a business environment. 

It is the business owner’s prerogative to run the company in a structured way. However, if you have OMS you don’t need to worry about micro-managing every operation because it gives your operations an organized structure. OMS provides ease of business and hence must be taken into consideration when opting for a custom software solution.

ProofHub, StudioCloud are some of the best examples of OMS you might be aware of. 

5. Bespoke e-Commerce Software 

E-commerce software is one of the best solutions to uplift your business by multifold. Vendors who want to sell their products online can make use of this platform to increase revenue. Though the market is flooded with umpteen generalized softwares, the use of customized e-commerce software with exclusive features makes your operations more flexible, user-friendly and scalable. For example, unique features like live-chat with the dealer, email marketing automation, or customer history analysis can push you one step ahead of your competitors. Thus, it is advisable for B2B or B2C businesses to use bespoke e-commerce solution to augment their sales drastically.

6. Bug Tracking Software

Imagine having your site going down on the peak sales period… it’s scary, right? Well, then it is essential to have your site bug-free. A customized bug tracking software allows you to perform multiple operations simultaneously, using one-platform. It can be integrated with tools that ease agile management of projects, ticket generation as well as management or backlog organization. Such bespoke bug tracker platforms assist in capturing development or process issues with ease and help in delegating and coordinating tasks within the team. 

For instance, Jira, the top-ranking bug tracking solution is integrated with best-in-class features that makes a herculean task of project management a child’s play.  

The Bottom Line

Customized Softwares are the next-gen operation managers that can help you sail your venture exactly the way you want. 

They streamline the business processes, automize monotonous tasks, bring flexibility to the operations, and improvise connectivity by providing smooth interactions. Thus, if you own a business and have been thinking to streamline your operations, custom software is the way to go. What you only need to do is –  look for a good custom software development company that understands your requirements well and offers good quality software within your budget. Sigma Data Systems is one celebrated brand that can help realize your expectations.

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At first, custom software development sounds like an easy option. But only an IT person can understand the complexities associated with it.  Juggling between the evolving technologies and choosing the right Software Development Methodology is hard. Whereas, finding the most optimum way to reach the development goals takes time and effort. 

So, every custom software development involves some elements of risks and complexity. This is why Bruce Eckel, author of Thinking in Java and Thinking in C++, noted: 

“Programming is about managing complexity: the complexity of the problem, laid upon the complexity of the machine. Because of this complexity, most of our programming projects fail.”

In order to manage the potential risks of custom software development, we have listed six significant risks that need to be checked and mitigated by your software development company.

1. Being Overly Fervid

Getting excited about the new project is natural for any developer. So, when an idea of development pops up, it’s a common desire to start working on it and deliver a solution that can solve real-life problems.

The risk involved here is that being overly fervid can divert you from the track. Adding too many features and functionalities can extend the timeline and cost of the project. It may also sometimes result in higher complexity of the project.

To avoid this custom software development risk, developers should start with creating MVP – Minimum Viable Product. This method will keep you on track and focused on the most important features of your project. Also, adopting the MVP approach, you can align your project budget and timeline in a sorted manner, safeguarding against the risk of being overly fervid at the starting phase of any new project.

2. Undefined Goals

Not having definite goals at any phase of the development can be troublesome. You can get off track from the development process without even realizing it. Undefined Goals are crucial risks in a custom software development process that are needed to be mitigated at the beginning phase.

To manage this risk you can stick to the below given set of questions at any point in your development process:

• Which real-life problems would be solved by this software?
• Who will be the target audience for us?
• What would be the endpoint where the problem will be considered as solved?
• What benefits do you get from the software – Efficiency, Cost Saving, Productivity, Flexibility, Reliability, and so on?
• Would this software be beneficial in the long term?
• What is the MVP for this project?

These questions at any point can help you to be on track. And revisiting them from time to time will maintain project clarity.

3. Poor Team Communication

Success of custom software development is dependent on teamwork. When multiple people work on same project, it is necessary to have them united.

Software development firms generally have big teams. Such teams consist of Designers, Developers, Testers and many more peoples. Where each member of the team is interdependent on other members. 

In such a situation, lack of communication between team members could be perilous for your project. This could divert the track of the project or result in complete failure.

To mitigate this risk of custom software development, smooth communication needs to be maintained. A proper flow of communication can be defined at the beginning of the project. This will increase the involvement of each team member in overall communication. 

Moreover, it will identify the basic requirement and help in concentrating on these requirements as a team. Which would result in delivering the desired product on time. Apart from that, communication should be handled well between the software development company and the client.

4. Inaccurate Budget Estimation

As discussed above, Poor team communication can lead to Project failure. This can also lead to misidentification of requirements and defining clear goals. In the end, it would result in an inaccurate budget estimation for the project.

Apart from communication, transparency between the custom software development service provider and client is necessary. By maintaining high transparency, end goals can be determined easily. 

Stakeholders involved in the project need to have clear understanding of requirements before beginning the development.  This will help in getting clear budget estimation and define a roadmap for the whole development process. 

With accurate requirements of the project it is easy to choose the suitable custom software development methodology. As these methodologies play a vital role in cost estimation, you must be aware about them. Know more about custom software development methodologies.

5. Substandard Development Process

There are lots and lots of software development companies out there. However, not all development companies have expertise in customized software. In order to make a custom software project successful, you need to hire the firm that is best in business.  

Not all companies have an understanding of choosing the right process for development. And if the development process is not good enough then software solution wouldn’t be great either.

This Custom software development risk can be mitigated by choosing a right software development company. It would be best if you look for a company that follows best industry practices. And before moving further, you also should check the qualification of their teams to avoid any development risks.

6. Improper Implementation

A good project needs exemplary implementation. It sometimes happens that softwares are built and then abandoned without proper implementation.

You need to make sure that your employees understand and adapt to this new software. Employees’s interest needs to be maintained in software so they can utilize it well. At the end, this implementation should make the work-life of your employees better. 

Concluding Thought

You need to make sure that your custom software development project is risk free and adds value to your work. The project’s payment, process and timeline related details must be adequately discussed. Every aspect must be covered from your end so risks involved in custom software development can be handled efficiently. 

Sigma Data System is a Custom Software Development Company that offers simplified solutions to most complex problems. Before working on any project, we dive into collecting requirements, validating the idea, and planning the solution. Our simple yet quality-obsessed approach in custom software development service helps our globally diversified clients to stay ahead of their competition. Let’s connect and convert your beautiful idea into an innovative solution with us. 

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If your business has unique requirements that are not delivered by Off-The-Shelf software in the market, then developing custom software is the crux of the matter. You can customize a product for your business that suits your market needs.

Deploying custom-built software will raise the value of your organization and your business processes. Also, the increased productivity and full-time support from vendors’ end will give you a competitive edge over those who choose to stick to poorly structured readymade software.

Which is why, choosing a custom development approach for your business is beneficial in multiple ways.  Let’s take a look at some of its significant benefits.

1. Specific Solution To Business Needs

Every business has its own needs, and commercial software may not exactly fit into those requirements. Customized solutions are the best option in such cases as they are specifically designed keeping your requirements in mind. They are designed and developed  to completely align with the business model, process, and unique workflow of the organization. Deploying such a solution helps in better utilization of resources.

2. High Scalability

A complete set of features needed to run the business can be made available in custom software, which would help improve work performance without investing in a premium version of commercial software. Such IT-Solutions are developed with an architecture that allows users to scale their software on a higher note without affecting its productivity. Scalability often brings new features, designs, services, resources, and functionalities to your software. 

3. Complete Ownership

While using COTS, one must always remember that they do not have ownership of the product they are using. In fact, they are paying a handsome amount of monthly fees to use someone else’s product bound by their rules, features, functionalities, and version updates. However, in the case of custom software, a user gets complete control over the solution. Also, the source code of the customized solution is owned by the user. So if a user is looking for a long-term solution then having its complete ownership is beneficial for their business.

4. Integration With Ease

One of the main concerns in commercial software is that it may not integrate with the existing infrastructure, application, or processes. On the other hand, custom software is designed to integrate seamlessly with the organization’s existing environment. This would result in better technology adoption, easier data exchange, and improved productivity of the business. The flow of work is maintained easily as there is no communication gap between your multiple businesses ‘ software.

5. Cost-Effective

Commercial software may seem cheaper initially, but they have recurring monthly or yearly fees depending upon their subscription model. Sometimes, users need more features as their business requirements grow over time. For that, they purchase premium versions and eventually end up paying more to the vendors. This costs them a considerable amount in the long term. When considering Custom software, their upfront cost may seem high, but there are no hidden charges or fees to be paid to the custom software development companies, which results in a cost-effective way. This makes it a highly cost-effective proposition.

6. Flexibility 

As a business grows and technology advances, there would be a need for better and highly flexible software to meet user requirements. Processes in an organization may change over time and the current software may not suit those processes, whereas custom software can be easily modified according to changing business needs. One can always add and remove features, modify the interface, improve performance in their customized software. Changes in the working methods could be easily implemented to your software if it  is custom made. You don’t need to align your workflow according to your software, as your custom-made solution can be molded as per organization’s workflow.

7. Security

To make the business data highly secure, Customized software solutions are the best. External cybersecurity threats can be easily avoided in bespoke solutions as they are not publicly accessible. Users can configure the security measures and protocols as per their requirements, which helps to implement security with higher standards. With custom software development, you get the advantage of choosing the right protection for yourself. Besides that, a robust Service Level Agreement (SLA) will back you up from your software development vendor in case of any security issues. 

8. Increased Productivity

As customized software solutions are personally designed for your organization, their productivity is definitely higher than any other readymade software. This is because all the business processes are aligned most suitably to reduce employees’ workload. Also, some boring, repetitive processes can be automated in Custom software, which increases its overall productivity.

9. Privacy

Privacy is one of the main concerns for the organization in choosing custom products and software development. You get the desired hierarchy of workflow by choosing customized software. This means no one can access the database and manipulate it without authentication. And these authentications are set by the admin, which manages data and processes privacy at every particular level. User can allocate authentications based on the job role and responsibilities of an employee. So, other employees have access to resources, data and processes to a granted level only and privacy is managed easily. 

Conclusion

There are tons of benefits in using custom software development. As the trend is clearly moving towards customized solutions, these are the outlined benefits of custom software development.

Regardless of the industry you are in and your requirements, custom software is suitable to most organizations willing to have more business in the future. With the use of Bespoke, one can have a long-term strategy in place. 

If you are looking for a business solution and somehow you still have doubt then, Sigma Data Systems can help solve all of your doubts. To get in touch Click Here.

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In such a situation, one may have questions like how Custom software is different from Off-The-Shelf Software?

Which software to choose between bespoke and commercial software? Or which one is the better software? – Custom or off-the-shelf software.

However, one can find the answer to such questions through the comparison given below.

1. Bespoke And Off-the-shelf Software – what are they?

Bespoke 

Software of this type is perfectly tailored as per the needs of an individual or an organization. Such software directly reflects the unique features and processes followed by the organization.

These solutions are tailored entirely for the exact specification of yours.  The software is designed according to the specific requirements of your business.

These solutions are developed to fit into an existing work system, so you do not have to change your working model for the software. As this solution is tailored for your business and you own its source code, there is no issue in integrating it with your existing system.

Off-The-Shelf

It is a readymade solution offered by a software provider which you buy and use without customization. Such software is adjusted to client’s needs in a limited way, and its workflow may not be fully optimized.

This pre-packaged software is designed for multiple business models to target a large number of audiences. Getting an Off-The-Shelf  that perfectly fits your requirement is problematic.

Using commercial software can lead to a complicated situation where you may not use all its features or lack the necessary ones at some point in your organization.

2. Some Development Approaches Of Bespoke And Off-The-Shelf Software

The choice of the user depends on their business requirements, specifications, budget, and many other factors. People who choose commercial software look for a reputed vendor and its software simplicity. While people who choose customized software look for scalability and flexibility which can be useful in a long-term strategy.

There are tons of arguments that stand on each side, but you have to find which type of software is more beneficial to you? After going through these development approaches, you will have a clear idea about the most suitable software for your business.

Flexibility And Customizability

Bespoke  

You have full control over the process in a bespoke solution as it is designed explicitly to meet their unique requirements. Such software easily adapts to the growth of your business. Generally, bespoke is easy to use as its design is highly flexible. With the high flexibility of software, it allows processes and business to expand when necessary. Its high flexibility also efficiently manages the workload.

If the work model of the company changes at any point in time, bespoke solutions can be customized accordingly. This gives full control over the software that you are using. Changes in requirements usually happen over time, and in such cases, customizability of bespoke is helpful. One can customize their bespoke software according to their need and efficiently achieve their goals.

Off-The-Shelf

For every task and requirement, there is software available in the market. Off-The-Shelf are made for the generic audience, so they are not very flexible. Here, the control over the software and its work process is minimum. You cannot twist its workflow or procedures according to your requirements.

Sometimes, commercial application features are not useful, and a user can not customize, remove, or add the lacking ones. There is no complete ownership given in Off-the-Shelf software. This decreases the customizability and makes it complex to align with the changing process of your organization. However, In some cases, you have the authority to customize your commercial software. But, for that, you need to find a vendor and pay a handsome amount to customize it.

Execution And Integration

Bespoke

Generally, using bespoke software is easier because it is designed solely for an organization. Changes can be done in bespoke at any point to make it more comfortable to use. Also, the interface in it is designed to keep its execution simple. Your teams  will not require any specialized skills to use a Bespoke solution.

Seamless software integration with the existing system, data, and the process is the key consideration in choosing it. Bespoke can be integrated with the most complex structure of the industries. This also increases the operational efficiency of your business. Besides, database integration complexities and adding plugins are easily possible in it.

Off-The-Shelf

If one chooses Off-The-Shelf software for their organization, they may not adapt to its interface, layout, or work process. This can sometimes lead to complications. And your teams need to get used to the software as there is no other choice left for you. They may sometimes need training in understanding and operating the readymade solution.

Integrating such software with the existing solutions and procedures is very complicated. There is no surety that Off-The-Shelf would be compatible with the infrastructure of your organization. Besides that, Lack of compatibility may create resistance in your work environment. Such scenarios may cause limitations in your business or may lower the overall productivity.

Features And Functionality

Bespoke 

It is built alongside the organization’s process so all the required features are added while developing a bespoke.  Later on, if users do not like those features or their requirement changes, additional features can be easily added. This process is easy to execute as you have the source code and all rights of your solution.

One of the main advantages here is that clients can deliver their ideas and shape the functionalities to their exact needs. This allows users to have full control over its bespoke solution. You can get all the functionalities that you are looking for in software when it is personally customized.

Off-The-Shelf 

       Off-The-Shelf are designed for a majority of audience and not for an individual, so features are given accordingly. Sometimes, required elements may be lacking, while sometimes excessive features that are not useful to you are provided in it. while adding the lacking features in off-The-Shelf is very hard.

Functionalities in Off-The-Shelf are added by keeping a large audience base in mind.  This can create confusion and complexities at the time of use. Besides that, users do not have control over the functionality in the majority of cases. So, making changes with the inbuilt functionalities of software is nearly impossible.

Support And Maintenance

Bespoke

You can directly communicate with the vendor of your bespoke solution whenever needed. This allows you to solve queries faster and in an effective way. Support services offered by the vendor are personalized, which feels more reliable. You can ask for the support before and after the purchase of software from your vendor. We can say that availability of support services in Bespoke is full-time.

Maintenance of solution depends upon the vendor and the service level agreement you had with them. One can have maintenance service with ease if they require it from the vendor side. At the same time, in-house maintenance can also be done. This totally depended upon your choice.

Off-The-Shelf

Many people access this type of software, so direct communication with the vendor is not possible here. However, there are online help and support functions to answer frequently generating queries. But, if your query is not found in those online functions, then the situation can be troublesome. Support services in some commercial applications are slow, while some of them are reliable. But there are very few solutions that offer full-time or personalized support services.

While in most cases responsibility for maintenance is solely on you. If  the number of your users are high and your software database is thick then its maintenance may be troublesome. In case, if the vendor is offering maintenance, they may charge a good amount for it.

Time And Money Expenses

Bespoke

Bespoke solutions generally take a few months for designing, development, testing, and deployment. This time depends upon the complexity of the solution, its features, and size. It is also dependent on the software development company you are choosing and the team strength allocated to your project.

Bespoke’s initial cost is a little high as it is tailor-made for unique specifications. Such software is designed for the company’s long-term growth, increased operational efficiency, and productivity. There are no recurring fees to be paid for the subscription of Bespoke So, the users eventually end up saving expenses over the long run.

Off-The-Shelf

One of the benefits of Off-The-Shelf software is that users can start using it right away. They only need to choose from the multiple options available to them. Such solutions can be deployed within no time, and you can start using them immediately.

As readymade solution vendors target a large user base, their prices are kept affordable.  And the cost of such a solution may fluctuate depending upon the recurring subscription model and access to users. As you access higher subscriptions and choose additional features, its prices gradually increase. But it has recurring fees to be paid monthly or yearly, which makes it costly when used for a long term.

Security And Threats

Bespoke

Security in personalized software can be deployed as per your need. This is dependent on your business type and its requirements.  If the data you deal with is highly confidential, you can ask your vendor to set up a higher security protocol level.  Data protection given in such software is high. Besides that, you do not share your data with the vendor, which automatically increases its security.

Threat management in Bespoke is easy as hackers do not prefer to target it without any personal reason. It is usually hard to get into a software that is deployed in-house. In any case, if a security issue arises, then it could be resolved quickly by your vendor.

Off-The-Shelf

The vendor in Off-The-Shelf software sets security standards. If you opt for a solution from a reputed vendor, then its security standards are usually high. But the privacy and data confidentiality is not entirely in your hand. As the database is shared with the vendor, it downgrades overall security.

Such software is a common target of hackers as their database is enriched with lots of customer data. Threat management is not easy in such cases, and solving any security issue may take time. This may lead you to downtime of software for that period.

3. Sigma Data Systems Can Help

You can see there is a vast difference between Bespoke and Off-The-Shelf Software. Both types of software have their advantages and disadvantages considering different factors.

Generally, Bespoke is seen as a long-term benefit, while Off-the-Shelf is a short-term benefit for any organization. If an organization or an entrepreneur is looking for business growth, they should proceed with bespoke solutions.

At Sigma Data Systems, we are experts in custom software development. We can develop the software needed for your business or customize your existing software and add required features to it.

With our seamless integration service, we can help you get better work quality and high productivity. Working closely with our team will help you get satisfactory post-sales services such as full-time maintenance and support, software training, and management.

Sigma Data Systems is a perfect place to start with your bespoke solution today. If you are still unsure, you can learn more about the Importance of custom software and the methodologies involved in software development. 

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Software development outsourcing has become a culture in the IT industry, owing to the amount of time and efforts consumed in the overall development process of software which is quite overwhelming. 

Unlike in-house software development that doesn’t always promise the end-product to be as perfect as the ones rolled out by the professionals in the field, outsourcing provides you an opportunity to leverage the skills of the market experts to develop a more effective and seamless product catered to the specific business needs. 

Recently, a report revealed that the outsourcing business outgrew itself, becoming a whopping 66.5 billion dollar industry. This staggering growth of software development companies can be primarily attributed to the digitization of almost every business. However, outsourcing is certainly not risk-free. It does have its drawbacks, but they are quite feeble compared to the significant number of advantages outsourcing offers. 

Source: Deloitte’s report

But first, let’s dig deeper into this inflating business and understand what precisely outsourced software infers.

What Is Outsourced Software?

Outsourced software is a customized software tailored as per your guidelines by a third-party vendor.  These vendors are generally software outsourcing companies that have an organized platform, a streamlined process, and a set of qualified individuals to integrate or develop made-to-order products. Mostly, all the software projects these days are outsourced to save time and delegate the task in better hands. However, some businesses share only the testing process for quality assurance. Well, it’s up to your convenience as to what exactly you require. 

Organizations that have already jumped into the wagon have a positive review about outsourcing the work.  

The owner of an IT service company from Germany, Ben Magnus, says, ‘Outsourcing has provided twice the quality we would have ever expected in half the time.’

Now that you know what outsourcing is, let’s move onto the types of outsourcing. 

What Are The Types Of Outsourcing?

Outsourcing has been strategically classified based on the location to ease-out business operations.

Onshore Software Outsourcing

Onshore outsourcing, also termed ‘domestic outsourcing,’ is a process of handing over the software development to the other company that resides in the same country. Some of the major advantages of onshore outsourcing are – 

• Reduced travel expenses
• No language barrier
• Similar expectations as per the culture
• Secure and flexible services
• Time zone aligned

Offshore Software Outsourcing

Offshore as the name suggests, is the outsourcing of software development to a company from another country. An offshore software development team allows businesses to expand in other parts of the world. 

For instance, a US company looking for a good yet cost-effective software development team overseas can reach out to places like – India, Ukraine, Poland, Philippines, Argentina etc., to get good quality software at a lower cost than they would get in their own country. The benefits of offshore outsourcing definitely outweigh other types of services, which are  –

•  Meager development cost
•  Faster Development rate
•  Quality Assurance with innovation due to cultural differences
• A glimpse of the foreign market
• More time to focus on the company’s core competencies
• Flexible tradeoff

Nearshore Software Outsourcing 

In Nearshore software development, a company delegates its task to the software development team that belongs to a neighboring country.  Due to the workspaces’ similar time zones, Nearshore software outsourcing gets the upper hand over offshore software outsourcing. Moreover, it increases the possibility of visits to the development center more often.

Source: wikipedia

Why Is Software Outsourcing Important?

Outsourcing software to a vendor facilitates its deployment time without spending a fortune on the development part. It also addresses resource constraints and eliminates the need to set up a new team from scratch. In addition to this, it also provides the flexibility of work. 

Here are some principal advantages of software projects outsourcing:

Benefits Of Software Outsourcing Services 

Reduced development cost 

Setting up a team and bringing them on-board involves a lot of knowledge transfer, and organizations incur a lot of expenses on their training, insurance, and salaries. The new unit also needs to develop a thorough understanding of the project at hand. In addition to this, a company may not find a qualified resource and might have to compromise on the work quality. Outsourcing software development, on the other hand, eliminates all such overhead costs. When you delegate the task to a software outsourcing firm, they already have a dedicated team of experts. Thus, it cuts your deployment cost to half, and the time for knowledge transfer is also curtailed.    

Accelerated deployment rate

Deployment rate is directly proportional to the skill factor of the development team. Since an outsourcing company already fulfills that criteria because of its uniform talent and access to advanced development tools, the projects they take up are rolled out in the stipulated time given to the client. An in-house team may not assure such commitments. 

Streamlined Process for development

Micromanagement is tedious, however, mandatory when it comes to building an in-house team of developers. All such hurdles are easily transcended in an outsourced project because of the availability of platforms and a variety of tools to ensure effective workflow and communication within the team and the clients. Furthermore, issues related to resource replacement are resolved more quickly. They hardly require any time to train their workforce because the recruited candidates are well-versed with the technology and its implementation. 

Access to intellectual capital

The primary reason for outsourcing a development team for your software is the access to the advisory of experts in the field and their technical assets like – methodologies and tools to carry out the development process hassle-free.     

Better focus on core competencies

Taking up a new project is a time-consuming process. It involves a lot of resources which may often lead to mismanagement and digression from the primary goals and competencies of the organization. On the contrary, executing the task to a third party allows the organization to focus on the imperative projects and scale up their business rather than wasting time on tasks that can be simply outsourced.

Risks Involved In Outsourcing Software Development Services

One of the major setbacks to developing a useful outsourced software is the lack of communication between the development team and the clients due to time-zone differences, language barriers, or cultural beliefs. Moreover, miscommunication may result in scope creep where there is a considerable gap between your expectations and the team’s deliverables. If you don’t address these factors appropriately, they can significantly pull back the project’s progress, consequently impacting its on-time delivery. 

Risk Mitigation: Maintain constant communication via online meetings to achieve transparency in goals and improve the workflow. Establish one point of contact, a project manager, for instance, to relay the alterations in the developments. Doing so will not only address issues timely but will also help get an insight into the way forward. 

Compromising Quality For Cheap Labor

It is always tempting to settle for a low development cost regardless of the budget of your business. However, it is not advisable to opt for such low-cost operations as they are mostly unreliable for the quality they deliver. On the other hand, if the vendor is an influential party and has multiple projects running concurrently, they may not prioritize your deliverables as intended. Hence, it is imperative to choose your vendor diligently to achieve the focus, quality, and commitment you require from their end.

Risk Mitigation: While zeroing in on the vendor, it is crucial to gain a proper understanding of their team strength(whether they have in-house experts or outsource coders), methodologies they use to carry out the operations, the level of communication they maintain with the clients, and most importantly – detailed documentation or a contract of the developments and support services they will cover within the finalized cost. 

Security Breach

Company data is confidential and must be held with utmost sensibility. Any leak in this intellectual property of your organization may cost an innumerable amount of damage. 

Risk Mitigation: Choose a vendor that prioritizes the security of the data over any other aspects. 

Effective Ways To Outsource Software Development / Outsourcing Strategy 

 Once you have made up your mind to get your software outsourced, it’s essential to follow the right strategy that fits your requirements. 

• Understand the kind of software you require
• What must be the outcome of the development
• Decide on your priority – reduced cost or time-saving. 
• Does the project require one resource or a complete team?
• Does it require in-house development or full outsourcing?
• Decide which outsourcing model fits your needs better – single outsourcing model or multi-outsourcing model
• Set KPIs that are realistic 
• Execute your plan

Reasons To Outsource Your Software

Most companies are indecisive when they have to choose between an in-house resource and an offshore team for software development. If you are among those, who want an answer to what they should go with, read on – 

 Lack Of Required Skills In the Region

The skillset you are getting in your region isn’t sufficient enough to carry out your demands. 

In-house resources are completely packed 

Despite having a team of experts, the organization doesn’t have enough time to delegate them to another task.

Have limited time and budget

Seeking for low investment and quick deployment of demands? You must try outsourcing your software.  

Where To Find Best Software Outsourcing Professionals?

 India is one of the most renowned countries for outsourcing your software. With a population of 1.56 billion, the country houses about 5.2 million software professionals that dedicatedly work to provide services to the US, UK, and most parts of the world. 

Its inexpensive labor cuts the development cost remarkably, and most of the support services in this country are time-zone aligned which makes the collaboration sustainable. 

Moreover, India is the second-largest English-speaking nation in the world that makes it a perfect location to outsource your business requirements without worrying about language barriers. 

So, have you made up your mind yet? Reach out to us!

Why Choose Sigma Data Systems For Outsourcing Software?

Sigma data systems has a vast client base and is leading the market with its excellent services and on-time deliveries. With a workforce of more than 400 employees and a dedicated team of trained professionals, we have a knack in software outsourcing with guaranteed quality assurance. To know more about Software Outsourcing click here.

The post A Complete Guide To Successfully Outsourcing Software Development appeared first on Sigma Data Systems.

Moreover, customization of software provides a tremendously organized workflow making the companies’ operations conducive to natural efficiency. Then be it for an online banking sector, healthcare professional, or any other business vertical. 

But, as a matter of fact, software that is customized to incorporate specific features certainly requires thorough planning and a set of protocols to follow. This entire process is termed as Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). A custom software development company that skimps on any of these life cycle steps unintentionally invites bugs in the software. 

Hence, if you are one such customer looking for a reliable vendor, it is imperative for you to have a deeper understanding of the complete process that encompasses software development. 

Read on to understand everything about SDLC. 

What is the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)?

Software development life cycle is a collation of 7 steps that helps an organization to sail hassle-free through the various stages of development. This step-by-step process aligns the project’s demands, budget, deployment time, and quality assurance to ensure the delivery of a robust product. Each of these stages is, however, dependent on the type of development model (Agile, V-model, Waterfall, RAD ) a company chooses for its operations. 

What are the 7 stages of SDLC?

Ideation and Planning

As Earl Nightingale rightly said – “Everything begins with an idea.” 

A well-thought idea becomes the cornerstone of every project and it requires a lot of brainstorming to implement that idea in an effective way. Thus, strategic planning forms the primary phase of SDLC which includes determining the availability of resources, type of methodologies to be followed, the scope of the project, development challenges, and its cost. Besides that, the planning stage also helps in anticipating the possible impediments in the project and in taking necessary measures to surmount them. 

Furthermore, during this initial phase, a software development company gleans information from their customers to recognize their expectations and problem points. This in turn helps the development company to optimize the flow of their operations.

Requirement Analysis 

Also known as feasibility analysis or defining stage, this step involves 3 stages. 

•  Requirement gathering – It is one of the most crucial steps in requirement analysis to deliver the end product exactly as expected by the customer. In this step, the business analyst garners the minutest details of the requirements from the client in the exact form they need. It is also a common practice to involve stakeholders in this step to avoid any discrepancies between the client’s expectations and the end product. These stakeholders could be software programmers or quality control engineers, etc. 

Example of requirement gathering – Suppose a user asks a company to develop software so he can view his staff’s presence, then the business analyst must ask him whether it is for calculating salary or merely for checking if the employee is on leave. Or, for both.

• Requirement analysis –  Now that the information is collected, the next step is to analyze the gathered data. Various stakeholders or people delegated for the task then sit together to brainstorm the functional and technical aspects of the project. The feasibility of the requirements put forward is then measured to eliminate any sort of ambiguity in the plan. 

Example of requirement analysis – the customer, in addition, may ask for a feature that allows him to gauge the performance of each employee and the number of hours he/she spent in the office.

• Documentation – After a complete analysis of the functionality of the project, the finalized plan is documented into a contract known as Software Requirement Specifications (SRS). This document contains the risk mitigation solutions and quality assurance plans. 

Design 

Once the SRS is prepared, software architects refer to this guide in order to prepare two types of design documents: 

• System Design Specification (SDS) – has logical design, and 
• Design Document Specification (DDS) – has a physical design.

Some of the design examples which these documents contain include –  data-flow diagrams, meta-data, pseudo-codes. SDS and DDS are then reviewed by the stake-holders for – assessing the risks, flexibility of the design, product strength, time, and budget constraints. The design that satiates all the conditions is finalized and propelled forward for the programming phase.

Coding/Implementation

The coding phase forms the foundation of the entire software development and is typically the lengthiest process. Software developers meticulously produce source code to meet the design requirements specified in SDS and DDS. It is also imperative for the programmers to align to the demands of the stakeholders. Once the design is produced and the functionality of the solution is established, the product (software) then enters the testing phase.

Testing 

After the source code is ready, the next phase of testing those codes starts. Testing is usually a cycle. When a code is prepared, the developers test the code for its functionality. Then that code goes through the testers who use various frameworks and white/black box methodologies to check the code at multiple levels. Program testing, in-house testing, module testing, user-end testing are some types of testing conducted by experts that ensure the software is bug-free and has a smooth flow. If the source code has errors, the software goes back to the development mode. Thus, testing and development work in loops. 

Deployment

The newly created software is now installed on the cloud for the client to use. At this stage, the software components are integrated to achieve a functional solution. Oftentimes, the deployment is staggered in case the software is quite complex. Once the software is deployed, it is available for the end-users and analysts. 

Operations and maintenance

Operations and maintenance is the final phase in the software development lifecycle where the end solution is at the user’s discretion. Feedback obtained from the end-users is then used to upgrade the software with enhanced features or improved performance. This stage is also used to procure new requirements from the customer. 

Software Development Models 

Software development models are a set of frameworks that aid in structuring, planning, and managing the, otherwise, tedious development process. These models not only help developers to carry out the development process strategically but makes it effortless as well.

Significance of Software Development Methodologies:

• Provides a roadmap to manage the scope creep properly
• Eliminates customary development issues
• Engages the customers by keeping them informed 
• Gives clarity and enough time for alterations 

Here is an overview of some of the most popular and reliable models that drive the complete development procedure.

Waterfall Model

It was one of the first models introduced by Winston Royce in 1970. This model is segregated into sequential stages that work as a cascade. With no overlap between any of the phases, this model proceeds with step-by-step documentation and deliveries. Furthermore, this method ensures quality assurance at each stage. The project doesn’t move further unless the previous stage is developed completely and tested thoroughly.

However, this model does have its downside. One cannot evaluate the end results which risks the efficacy of the entire project.

V-Model

V-model is an augmented waterfall model where each coding stage is synchronized with the testing phase. Each phase is verified and validated by means of test cases and test plans are generated at every stage. Due to this, bugs in code, architecture, and documented requirements are minimized which makes the V-model more robust.  

The only drawback of this model is that developmental changes and their implementation prove to be heavy on pockets.  

Iterative Model

Iterative model, as the name suggests, works in iterations. The development is carried out in parts and the changes can be incorporated within the development course. However, the model restricts any major alterations to avoid complexity and wastage of time. It is, therefore, important to proceed meticulously with the specified requirements.  

Spiral Model

This model works in a cycle and deeply assesses the risks. Hence, for this kind of a project, it is imperative to have good risk evaluation analysts. The process in this kind of model starts with defining the objectives and limitations of the software. It is followed by the creation of prototype and risk evaluation and the development continues in a spiral manner. Hence the name. 

Agile Model

Agile model is a collation of Scrum and Kanban methodologies that revolves around iterative development. This model focuses more on software development and testing to deliver the functional part quickly, which in turn, ensures quality. Additionally, in Agile development, the teams work in collaboration with each other and there is frequent interaction with the clients. Due to this constant involvement of customers with the development team, the product bugs are fixed simultaneously and it becomes easy to incorporate additional features if need be. On the flip side, due to multiple iterations and people involvement, it becomes difficult to gauge the budget of the overall project. Moreover, it also consumes a lot of time to provide the final software. 

A Comparison Of Agile Methodologies

Frequently Asked Questions About SDLC

1. Why is SDLC important?

• SDLC is important in software development to disintegrate the whole process into parts in order to make it more workable and deliver results faster.  Apart from that, SDLC provides structure to the process to make it operational and efficient. It lays the foundation for determining the project goals, eases iteration management, and simultaneously helps measure project performance. Checkpoints and consequent validations at each stage make this process all the more quality-driven.

2. What are the problems you can face in the SDLC process?

•  Project’s time management can be the biggest issue in SDLC.  An approaching deadline can often cause the phases to be overlooked.
•  Poor requirement analysis and vague goals can drag down the entire process due to failure of delivering the expected results.
• Improper allocation of resources and their responsibilities can lead to complexity and may adversely affect the productivity of the team. 
• Lack of risk assessment and problem anticipation can impede the progress, hampering the scheduled activities and discouraging the team as a whole. 

3. Which phase in SDLC is the most important?

• Planning phase is the most significant stage in the software development life cycle as it forms the foundation for the rest of the stages. It is at this stage the feasibility of the project is determined and the plan for process management is laid out. 

4. Which SDLC model is the best?

• Agile is so far the best model in SDLC because it is quite flexible to change management and combines incremental and iterative approaches. Moreover, the agile development process requires less resources compared to other stages in SDLC.

5. Which stage of the software development is the most expensive?

• Implementation is unequivocally the most expensive phase in a development cycle because of the excessive consumption of resources and time for coding and testing which leads to increased cost of production. 

Conclusion

As Mitt Romney rightly said – “Starving research and development is like eating seed corn”, when we fail to put enough work into our research and  analysis, we fail to deliver the right product.  As a result, impediments come wrapped in a parcel.  

Hence, it is imperative to make the foundation strong and follow the cycle with a holistic plan. All the stages in the SDLC are equally important and must not be neglected at any point in time to ensure high-quality product. Also, a good software company will certainly know which model will suit their clients the best. So, make your choice carefully.

Select Sigma Data Systems for Software Development

We at Sigma Data Systems, ensure high-standards of development, organization and strict adherence to quality, to all our prospective clients because we like to champion our challenges and deliver what you imagine!

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Introduction to the software development methodology

The software development methodology is a sequence of processes used in software development. We can say that it is a kind of framework where you structure, plan and control the whole development process. It includes standard processes like design, development, and implementation.

Methodologies play a significant role in developing customized software. The style of development and the system we put to use does impact the success of the project. Selection of development methodology largely depends on the team size, organization or product goals, and other factors. Each methodology has advantages and disadvantages associated with it. But the primary purpose of these methodologies is to have a smooth and effective software development process depending upon the project requirements. After reviewing the methodologies given below, you will easily be able to choose the suitable one for your project.

1. Big Bang Methodology

This methodology is usually used for small and simple projects where the client is unsure about their project requirements and how it would take shape during deployment. Pre-planning is not required as there are no rigid or formal protocols in this methodology.

Pros of Big Bang Methodology

• This model is straightforward to use.
• Doesn’t need proactive planning.
• Minimal resource requirement.
• Very easy to manage at every stage.
• Offers high flexibility to developers.
• Suitable for beginners, learners, and students.

Cons of Big Bang Methodology

• It has very high risks and uncertainty.
• Not at all suitable for complex and object-oriented projects.
• It is a weak model for long-term or ongoing projects.
• There are chances of the project getting scrapped.
• It can be costly if requirements are misunderstood.

2. Agile Software Development Methodology

Agile software development or agile development methodology is one of the popular methods adopted by software development companies and usually preferred by developers. It allows developers and clients to make continuous changes at any phase in a custom software development process.

 The agile method is one of the most flexible development models and reduces the risk by separating the process into small time intervals. 

The agile methodology follows a sequence of unique procedures and practices. This allows developers to implement the best fitting solution in the custom software development process.

Pros of Agile Software Development Methodology

• Rapid and continuous delivery of software.
• High client satisfaction.
• People and interactions are essential rather than processes or tools.
• Its adaptive approach can quickly meet changing requirements.
• Two-way communication between client and vendor reduces the error margins.
• The development process divided into parts helps to manage, test, and deliver the best quality software.

Cons of Agile Software Development Methodology

• Lack of proper documentation
• Need precise requirements regarding the final outcome or project may divert from the track.
• Requires a highly experienced team.
• It does not have a definite structure, so some projects may face difficulty at the starting phase.

3. Waterfall Model

The waterfall model is one of the oldest and most popular methodologies in custom software development. It is also known as a linear sequential life cycle model. A majority of businesses consider it as a classic life cycle approach to software development.

 It is a stiff model that follows a definite pattern and has some preconditions. Every phase has to be followed before moving to another, and overlapping among them is not possible.

The Waterfall Model has sequential phases namely: 

1.    Requirement Gathering and Analysis

2.    System Design

3.    Implementation (Coding)

4.     Integration and testing

5.    Deployment

6.    Maintenance

Pros of Waterfall Model

• Simple to understand and use.
• Easy to manage projects due to rigidity.
• Suitable for small as well as big projects.
• Clearly defined stages.
• Milestones are well-understood.
• Tasks can be arranged easily.
• Timeline for every phase and whole project can be determined precisely, and it is very time-saving.

Cons of Waterfall Model

• Deployment is possible in only the last stage of the model.
• It has very high risks and uncertainty involved in it.
• Not a good model for complex and object-oriented projects.
• Not suitable for long-term and ongoing projects.
• Measuring the progress of an ongoing project at any stage is not possible.
• This model is not for the projects where there are chances of requirements being changed.
• We could not accommodate the project with the changing requirement.
• Client’s feedback cannot be included in the ongoing development phase.
• This model is not applicable to projects that demand continuous maintenance.
• Documentation process takes a lot of time.

4. Spiral Model

Spiral Model starts with the smaller aspect of the project and then moves to larger sections to identify and eliminate risks at an earlier development stage. Software development companies start with the smaller modules and then proceed to bigger ones to carry forward a systematic flow. Risks at every stage are handled, and the next step or iteration is taken. The project’s movement is a spiral shape from one module to another, eliminating risks and injecting feedback.

Pros of Spiral Model

• Changing requirements can be easily accommodated.
• Cost estimation is straightforward.
• Risks are eliminated at the early stages.
• Highly disciplined development procedure.
• Suitable for large size and critical projects.
• Faster development and symmetrical addition of features.
• Suitable for high risks and requirement fluctuating projects.
• Development process is divided into smaller parts that help in better risk management and project deployment.

Cons of Spiral Model

• It is a costly development model.
• Success is highly dependent on risk analysis.
• Not suitable for low-risk projects.
• Continuous implementation of changes stretches the project deadline.
• Lengthy documentation due to multiple phases.
• Management of custom software development processes is complex.
• Chances of going over the timeframe and budget.

5. Scrum Development Methodology

Scrum Methodology divides projects into smaller modules and decides work for every module simultaneously with a different strategy. Like Agile development, Scrum development is also a popular methodology. It can be applied to any project, especially where there is a requirement for rapid change. Software development is done rapidly through Scrum as it allows a series of iterations in a single go. It can easily bring the slowest moving projects on track.

Scrum has three sequential phases :

1.    Planning

2.    Meeting

3.    Conclusion

Pros of Scrum Development Methodology

• Entire decision-making responsibility is on the development team.
• Project development can be tracked, and frequent updates on the progress are received.
• Short sprints and feedback make the process changes easier.
• Developers could deliver a high-quality product on time.

Cons of Scrum Development Methodology

• Getting the project to an end is difficult as clients demand new functionality and changes.
• Need highly accurate time and cost estimation.
• It is not suitable for large-size and long-term projects.
• This methodology requires a highly experienced team.
• Need trust and flexibility in the relationship between scrum masters and their teams.
• Regression testing is required at every phase.

6. Prototype Model / Prototype Methodology

Prototype Model involves different processes to go through stage by stage evolution. Before making a prototype, software requirements are needed to be understood clearly, and proper market research is required to be done. Prototype Methodology allows developers to create only a prototype of solutions and represent it to the client. Then necessary changes can be made according to the feedback of the client. The best feature of Prototype is that it solves the issues occurring in Waterfall Model.

Pros of Prototype Model / Prototype Methodology

• Instant prototype shown to the client helps in a clear understanding of the project.
• High customer satisfaction.
• Analysis and feedback from client help in accurate delivery of the project.
• Potential risks are identified at early stages, and mitigation steps are taken quickly.
• Reduced time and costs as risks are mitigated at an early stage.
• Missing functions can be added easily.
• Up to date documentation is easily possible.

Cons of Prototype Model / prototype Methodology

• Development of a prototype is needed to be done with minimal cost and resources, or it may affect the budget.
• Multiple changes from the client can disturb the project’s flow.
• As the scope of a project expands, its complexities also broaden.
• Efforts invested in the prototype are high.

7. Joint Application Development Methodology (JAD Model)

There is a continuous interaction between developers, designers, and clients in joint Application Development Methodology or JAD Model. During the development process, several off-site meetings and conferences are conducted to finalize the software system. JAD Methodology involves the client in the design and development of an application. The primary purpose of the JAD Model is to eliminate business errors in the earlier stages of development.

Pros of Joint Application Development (JAD Model)

• Errors are eliminated at the early stage of development.
• Large amount of information is gathered from the meetings.
• Due to Information, the Cost and time required for project development are less.
• Well defined requirements improve development quality.

Cons of Joint Application Development (JAD Model)

• Scheduling and planning phase requires a lot of time from the developer’s team.
• Required highly trained and experienced personals to run the project.
• Difference in the opinion of internal team members makes it complicated.

8. Feature Driven Development (FDD Model)

Feature Driven Development also known as the FDD Model, is an iterative software development methodology for object-oriented programming specially used by large teams. In FDD Methodology, features are added on the feedback of the client. The entire process from designing to development and implementation, is feature-based.

Pros of Feature Driven Development (FDD Model)

• Multiple teams can work simultaneously, and that reduces the time
• It is suitable for larger-size projects.
• Development process is highly standardized and simplified.
• Tracking progress through different phases is elementary.

Cons of Feature Driven Development (FDD Model)

• It is not suitable for smaller projects and a small team.
• High dependency on the lead developer.
• Deadlines cannot be strictly determined.
• Lack of proper documentation.

9. Rapid Application Development (RAD Model)

Rapid Application Development Methodology focuses on faster development and high-quality results compared to other methodologies. RAD Model is a combined approach of prototype Model and Agile Software Development Methodology to create more rapid iteration and faster release of prototypes. The main aim of RAD Methodology is to accelerate the entire development process. Achieving end goals is made easier and quicker due to feedback, faster corrections, and client participation in the development process.

Pros of Rapid Application Development (RAD Model)

• It reduces risks and efforts from the developer side.

• It helps the client to take a review of the project.
• Through continuous feedback, software development is improved.
• Due to the building of the prototype, there are lesser errors.
• The system is transparent so progress can be tracked easily.
• Changes in requirements are easily accommodated.
• Integration from the beginning solves end integration issues.

Cons of Rapid Application Development (RAD Model)

• Requires highly skilled developers and designers.
• Not suitable for small and low-budget projects.
• Documentation is tough to maintain.
• Dependency on technically strong team members.
• Management complexity is high.

10. Dynamic Systems Development Methodology (DSDM Model)

Dynamic Systems Development Methodology or DSDM Model is based on Rapid Application Development Model and Agile Development Model’s combined approach. This is an incremental and iterative approach that encourages the involvement of the client. The main aim of DSDM is to develop Custom Software on time and within a specific budget.

Pros of Dynamic Systems Development Methodology (DSDM Model)

• Basic functionality is delivered in less time.
• Projects are usually completed on time and within the budget.
• DSDM allows easy access to developers and clients.

Cons of Dynamic Systems Development Methodology (DSDM Model)

• Not suitable for small organizations or small projects.
• Implementation cost is usually high.
• It is a new concept in the market and is a bit complex to understand.
• It demands continuous client involvement.

11. Extreme Programming (XP) Methodology / XP model

Extreme Programming (XP) is a part of agile software engineering methodology. And this model is generally used to develop software within a volatile environment. The flexibility in the modeling process is high in XP. At the same time, this methodology aims to reduce the cost of development.

Pros of Extreme Programming (XP) Methodology / XP Model

• Project realization time and cost are saved.
• Timely delivery of final software.
• Simple documentation is done here.
• Emphasizes client involvement.
• Plans and schedules are built, and software developers remain committed to it.
• XP Model is consistent with modern software development, which results in high-quality products.

Cons of Extreme Programming (XP) Methodology / XP model

• Requires meetings at frequent intervals.
• Requires too many development changes, which makes the process complicated for a developer.
• Focuses more on code and less on design.
• Lack of documentation often leads to the occurrence of bugs in the future.

12. Lean Development Methodology

Lean development, also sometimes referred to as the LD Model, is an agile framework that focuses on optimizing development time and resources, eliminating waste, and creating easily changeable software. The goal of Lean Development is to build software in less time with less cost. A small version is released in the market and based on the user feedback, more functionalities are added.

Pros of Lean Development

• Streamlined processes deliver more functionality in less time.
• Time and cost are reduced through the elimination of unnecessary activity.
• Decision making is on the development team, which empowers them and boosts their morale.

Cons of Lean Development

• Success is highly dependent on team members and their skill sets.
• Requires expert business analysis to implement the LD model.
• Can lead to development mistakes if the documentation is not robust.

Conclusion

All of the listed methodologies work well depending upon the requirement and type of the project. It is not necessary that a methodology suited for one project must work for another project. None of these methodologies are entirely perfect, as each has its pros and cons. And to get the desired level of product within your criteria, it is necessary to go with the most suitable software methodology. Hence, I would suggest consulting a good software development company for effective outcomes.

Sigma Data Systems offers a helping hand in choosing the most appropriate methodology for your custom software development. We spend quality time on defining goals, analysis of product requirements, cost and time estimation, and expert team bundling for your project. Our experienced team with the required industrial skillset can implement the most complex methodologies and deliver quality end products on time.

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