Developing software: process, advantages and costs

We explain the structured software development process in seven steps, starting with the selection of the right development partner through to the continuous further development of the software. You'll also learn which factors influence the cost of software development and how to find the right partner for your project. Read on to discover how customised software can increase your efficiency and help you position yourself strategically for the future!

⁤As a company, you are faced with the challenge of finding suitable software that is tailored to your needs. ⁤⁤Standard solutions are often not sufficient to meet your individual requirements.

⁤⁤But it doesn’t always have to be an off-the-shelf solution. ⁤⁤You can have software developed that solves your challenges and also fits perfectly into your company’s processes. ⁤

In the following, we will explain how professional software development works and how you can find the right partner for your project, as well as what the costs depend on when you have software programmed.

This is how it works:
Software development in 7 steps

Having customized software developed that is tailored to the needs of your company may sound like a lot of effort at various levels. This makes it all the more important to proceed in a structured manner. The process of custom software development may look like this, for example:

Step 1: Select a development partner

Selecting the right development partner is crucial if you want to have software developed. We recommend that you not only look at obvious criteria such as ratings. You should check whether the service provider can provide sufficient resources, is proficient in the required technologies and can provide references that are relevant to your industry. Human factors are also important: the partner must be approachable, communicative and a good fit with your own corporate culture.

Step 2: Clarify requirements

Before you have your software developed, all requirements must first be clarified. What challenges do you want to solve with the software? Which functions should definitely be included?

Only on the basis of this information can a competent service provider create a concept including a budget and time frame. In doing so, it may also become apparent, for example, that your requirements can be implemented more efficiently than initially thought in order to make your business case work.

For complex projects, we conduct a workshop in the foundation phase to systematically define the project scope and requirements and prepare for implementation. We then define the design and planning as well as the criteria for the upcoming test phase.

Step 3: Software design and planning

The next step is the implementation or, initially, the detailed planning of the software and its functionalities. We define the prioritization of the functions and put together the development team for your project so that all relevant roles are covered.

Step 4: Development & testing

After the planning phase, the actual software development begins. Our approach is iterative: we develop the software in cycles to continuously optimize it and set new priorities. Of course, this also applies to the test phase, during which we also check for seamless integration with your existing systems.

Step 5: Implementation

We roll out the MVP approach as soon as we have a market-ready design, so it can be used and generate revenue while we continue to expand its functionality. This has the great advantage that we can use insights from the MVP or further releases on an ongoing basis for optimization.

Step 6: Maintenance

Even after implementation, we are at your side as a partner. If necessary, we will maintain your software at regular intervals to ensure continuous and smooth operation.

Step 7: Continuous further development

Good solutions are constantly evolving. Product developments in particular should be controlled and driven by new insights in the market.

Your benefits:
Custom software solutions & external support

Custom software increases efficiency and digitizes complex processes. If you have this software developed by an external partner, you benefit from a number of advantages:

• Custom software: In contrast to most standard solutions, custom software integrates all the functions you need and can be tailored precisely to your business processes and strategies.
• Scalability & future-proof: Do you want to grow? Customized software can be developed in such a way that it is easily scalable and can be flexibly expanded to meet future requirements.
• Integration into existing systems: Individual software is seamlessly integrated into your existing IT systems. This ensures a smooth data exchange and you do not have to completely redesign your IT landscape for a new software.
• External expertise: Having software developed means outsourcing software development. And that makes sense, because external software development partners know how to develop a product from the ground up, are familiar with the stumbling blocks, and take into account all the crucial aspects, right up to a flexible and scalable solution.
• High flexibility: This advantage applies on many levels. On the one hand, you have individual software developed that is flexibly adapted to your requirements. On the other hand, iterative software development using agile methods such as Scrum ensures that you also remain flexible during the process.

Important criteria:
Having software programmed with the right partner

We have already mentioned it above: The first and most important step when you have software developed is to choose the right software development company. You should pay attention to the following criteria, for example:

• Technologies: Modern and future-proof technologies should be the standard. A glance at the partner’s portfolio gives you an initial overview of whether they use the technologies you need for your project.
• Development methods: Your partner should use agile methods such as Scrum. This allows you to provide step-by-step feedback so that changes can be flexibly integrated and the project runs efficiently.
• Business management: In addition to technical skills, your partner should also have an understanding of planning and controlling so that “hard” factors such as requirements, budget and deadlines are met.
• Trends & AI: Nobody can afford to ignore AI anymore. Your partner should have this and other industry-relevant trends on the screen and use them in software projects in a meaningful and moderate way. In any case, ask for appropriate references.

Our services:
Develop with Riwers software

As a software development partner, we offer you individual software development that is efficient, scalable and tailored to your company. If you don’t want to have the software developed completely externally, you can also rely on our software teams or even on an entire software department as a service.

What does software development cost?

The costs of having software developed vary greatly and depend in particular on the following factors:

• the complexity of the project,
• the desired functions,
• the urgency of the project and
• the project duration.

A reputable provider will only give you a binding cost estimate if they can adequately assess these criteria. Especially for complex projects, the budget can be split across different phases.

Apart from these project-specific costs that arise when you have software programmed, personnel costs are a significant item. To efficiently reduce these, we rely on nearshoring, for example.

Developing software is a strategic business decision

The decision whether to develop your own software has a significant impact on the future of your business. Used correctly, software helps you to scale your business, secure a competitive advantage over your competitors and strategically future-proof yourself.