The 5 Simple Steps of Software Product Development That Wins Customers

Software product development can sometimes be more complicated than expected. The steps involved in developing the software product are to help create a product that can survive, adapt to new market changes, and bring value to both the client and end-user.

Each step in product development is crucial in making the final product.

Various methodologies are used in product development depending on your needs, such as the Waterfall approach, Rapid Application Development (RAD), and Agile, among others.

This article will take you through the four simple steps of software product development that will win you customers. Each of these steps is detailed below.

1. 1. Research
2. 2. Planning and designing
3. 3. Execution
4. 4. Testing
5. 5. Maintenance and support

Step 1: Research

This is the first thing you do before developing a software product. Conduct market research and identify the gap that needs to be filled.

The research will help you to come up with a product that addresses a problem and also be able to create a solution.

You don’t have to create a new product. You can decide to substitute the existing products by improving your product and making it unique. This approach will help you to win customers in the market.

You can also get ideas from your employees or potential customers. Ask for their suggestions and what they think about what you’re about to introduce. You’ll come across excellent and unique ideas.

Select the ideas that stand out and identify the best one that suits your needs.

Decide on a target audience you’re aiming to create the product for and how it will help solve their problems. It will also help to come up with the right product features that help serve its purpose to the customers.

Step 2: Planning and Designing

Creating a software product require good planning and the best design to attract customers. Come up with a roadmap that will help guide you during the software development process.

You should correctly analyse the product requirements and be able to access the necessary resources that will help in developing your product.

Evaluate the financial needs throughout the process, the cost and the overall profit the final product is supposed to bring.

Decide on the best methodology and technology that will best suit your product. You should also set a time frame for the product to be completed and delivered.

Understand the product functionality and develop the best design that matches the final product’s specific requirements.

In the design process, the software developers create an architecture prototype and the user experience design. The design process includes the following:

• ● Software architecture – This is where the team’s blueprint is developed. It means developing a fundamental structure that will enable easy control, accessibility, and readability.
• ● The prototype design – is where the software User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) designers fully develop the program structure.

The final product should look attractive and offer quality and convenience to the end user.

Step 3: Execution

This step takes the longest to complete because it holds the entire software development process together.

The execution step includes putting in the codes, observing how they work, and ensuring they are well-synced with the product requirement specifications.

The front-end and back-end developers work hand-in-hand to bring the product into reality.

Below is a table showing what front-end and back-end software developers do. Good communication is critical during this process, as you may need to make changes to ensure that the best quality software is produced.

Front-end Software Developers	Back-end Software Developers
They focus on the user-face side of a website by creating the designs, drop-down menus, and the general layout of the website	They focus on the server side of a website by creating an Application Program Interface (API) and the databases of a website
They design websites using programming languages such as JavaScript and HyperText Markup Language (HTML), and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)	They build applications using programming languages such as Php, Java, Python, Ruby etc…
They use frameworks and libraries such as jQuery, Bootstrap, AngularJS, and EmberJS	They use frameworks and libraries such as Laravel, Django, Symfony, Spring, Zend, and CakePHP
They require creative skills to improve the look and usability of websites	They require problem-solving skills to fix technical problems during or after website creation

Step 4: Testing

It is best if the quality assurance specialist and software testers join the project early to ensure quality.

Four stages occur during the testing phase. They include:

1. 1. Unit Testing – This is the first testing stage. Each product component is separated and tested to check if it can fully function independently. The software developers usually do the testing.
2. 2. Integration testing – The software testers conduct this stage. The different components are combined and then tested as a group to ensure that the individual features can function well and to identify any problems that may arise that can affect the product’s overall performance.
3. 3. System testing – This stage is crucial because it helps check the product’s performance, reliability, and compliance per its requirements. It ensures that the final product offers quality and meets the end user’s requirements.
4. 4. Acceptance testing – The customer or the user conducts this stage. It helps to evaluate if the product is ready for delivery to other users.

Step 5: Maintenance and Support

The product becomes outdated and will often require constant monitoring and improvements as time goes by. You should be able to update the product according to the market needs, such as adding new features or changing the design.
You should be able to listen to customers, follow market trends, and collect feedback. Be able to offer support to ensure smooth operations.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will get the correct information and guide to software product development. You will also avoid product failures by choosing the right processes.

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