How our bespoke software development process works

The Software Proposal

A bespoke software system usually involves a significant investment, and we don't expect our clients to take the decision in the dark. Therefore, we create a detailed proposal, outlining the system we believe will best meet the requirements, a breakdown of work, the experts required, and the costs and timescales involved.

The Software Requirements Specification

If the client likes the cut of our proposal, we'll start to get intrusive - but in a good way. We normally insist on visiting the premises and questioning the client about all relevant aspects of the business in-depth, then watching the relevant workflow, peering over the shoulders of the staff that will be using the new system and asking them questions about how they currently do things, and why*.

Once we've gathered together as much knowledge as we can, we'll create the Requirements Specification. This is a highly detailed document that will specify exactly what the system will do, and how. It will contain information about the business context, lists of functional and non-functional requirements, wireframes of the graphic interface, user journeys, data structure, attributes and even a glossary.

*This kind of Business Analysis can often result in extra benefits of efficiency, unrelated to the software.

The Data Structure

Once it's complete and signed off by the client, the Req Spec is handed over to our software architect, who builds the data structure - the core of the system, probably the most important and least exciting to describe.

The Graphic User Interface (GUI)

Once the data structure is in place, our GUI expert will start creating the user interfaces - the bit that you'll see. All the buttons, text fields, data displays and tables must be carefully arranged and hooked up to the data.

User Testing

Most bespoke software systems are far too complicated to be able to predict every user behaviour - so as soon as we have something rough and ready, we hand it over for some testing by the most important people - those who will be using it. And we challenge you to break it.

Fine Tuning

Once we've had feedback on anything that needs attention, from moving a button so it can be accessed .3 of a second faster, to adding a data filter that wasn't originally required we roll up our sleeves and dig into the nitty gritty.

Deployment

We can deploy systems on our own dedicated servers or on the client's in-house machines, and we hang around for the first few weeks of use, continuing to bug fix and tweak elements.

Support

We're in it for the long haul. Our support team remains on hand to all our customers, giving advice and further training and adding features as they become needed.