Custom software development

The Ultimate Checklist for Custom Software Development

Alejandro Córdoba Borja
CEO
-
Tres Astronautas
April 1, 2024
5 min
Key Points:
  1. Clear Business Objectives: Define problem, vision, objectives, ROI, and KPIs.
  2. User-Centered Design: Construction, prototyping, and testing with real users.
  3. Market Adoption Strategy: Communication, training, acquisition, retention, and analytics.
  4. Alignment with Business Strategy: Technical requirements, roadmap, risks, and solution goals.
  5. Continuous Improvement: Feedback integration, adjustment of project direction, and competitive alignment.

Custom software development is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. Without a clear understanding of it, it's easy to overlook important details and end up with a product that doesn't meet user or business needs. For this reason, we've created a quick and easy-to-use checklist to cover all the necessary aspects that will help you create the highest quality custom software.

⚠️ Before we begin, it's important to remember that developing software involves much more than simply creating an application. In fact, 94% of software development success factors are non-technical. That's why we've divided the software development process into three phases: Definition, Creation, and Adoption, which we'll explain below.

Definition

In this phase, the goal is to establish clear business objectives and align your development team with your organization's strategy to ensure the project's viability and scalability.

Checklist in Definition

  • Definition of the problem, vision, and business objectives
  • Definition of expected return on investment (ROI) and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Definition of stakeholders and user personas
  • Roadmap, risks, and solution goals
  • Prioritization of features based on their ROI
  • Alignment of technical requirements with business strategy and objectives
  • Planning for MVP, MLP, and PMF

Creation

In this phase, the goal is to create a usable increment (that your users can use) of the software solution quickly and efficiently, preferably within 2 weeks. During this process, the software is tested with real users to collect feedback and make necessary changes to the solution.

Checklist in Creation

  • Construction and development of the solution
  • User-centered design
  • Design prototypes and testing with real users
  • Generation of insights from the needs and motivations of end users
  • Design of small, reusable components
  • Plans for delivery and continuous integration
  • Adjustment of project direction based on new information

Adoption

In this phase, the goal is to create a product that effectively meets market demands, leading to sustainable growth and customer satisfaction.

Checklist in Adoption

  • Manage communication processes to minimize resistance to change
  • Plans for employee training
  • Plans for user acquisition and retention
  • Distribution plans
  • Metrics and analytics for decision-making
  • Align competitive advantage with customer needs and market dynamics

How does this 3A approach compare to other options?

3A Matrix

Conclusion

Custom software development is a complex process that requires careful planning, design, development, and testing. This checklist provides a comprehensive guide to ensuring that all aspects of software development are covered. By following this list, you can create high-quality software that meets the needs of your users and delivers the expected return on your investment.

Related insights
Houston, we have a new mission!

Ready to discuss your project with us?

T-minus 2

One step closer to the stars!

We can't wait to dive into the details of your project and explore the ways we can contribute to its success.  Expect a member of our team to contact you within 2 business days.If you prefer to have a non-disclosure agreement in place before we delve into the specifics, feel free to download and fill out ours. Once completed, you can send it back to us at admin@tresastroanutas.com
There was an error! Please try again.