Utilize Discovery Phase
in Software Development with Erbis
Let’s talkAre you ready to take your business idea to the next level? Before diving into software development, it's crucial to validate your concept and ensure you have a solid plan in place. That's where the discovery phase comes in.
At Erbis, we're all about helping you turn your vision into reality. Our team of experts will conduct a thorough business analysis and perform in-depth engineering scans to identify any potential roadblocks and estimate the resources needed for your project. This ensures that we shape the final work scope for your project, giving you a coherent and comprehensive development plan that sets you up for success.
Discovery phase steps
The discovery phase is a step-by-step process of gathering relevant information about a project and developing a plan to execute it. This phase usually lasts for a month, and we follow a structured approach to ensure the best possible outcome. Here's a weekly breakdown of a typical month:
Week 1
The business analyst conducts market research, examining the competitive landscape and analyzing related products. They establish the target audience, recognize current business needs, and detail what issues their product would solve. During the discovery phase, the business analyst also outlines risks that a business may encounter when launching a software product.
Week 2
A UI/UX designer creates a wireframe - a black and white sketch that shows the future product structure. Then comes a prototype - an interactive model that focuses on the user experience and shows how the user will interact with the future product. As a part of the discovery phase, the UI/UX designer may also develop a style guide that outlines the visual, interaction, and content guidelines specific to a digital product.
Discovery phase benefits
The discovery phase ensures that the project begins smoothly and minimizes the risk of potential problems down the line. Here are the key benefits of the discovery phase:
Clear project vision
The discovery phase defines the project goals and explains how those goals will be achieved. It shows what will be implemented, and when and how it will be implemented, and creates a shared vision among stakeholders about the end result.
Informed decision-making
The discovery phase provides comprehensive insights into the market, competitors, and industry trends. This knowledge empowers the team to choose the right development strategy and create a product that fully meets customers' needs.
Risk mitigation
The discovery phase identifies potential challenges, risks, and constraints early in the project. This allows the team to take the necessary actions in advance and minimize unpleasant surprises and setbacks during the development phase.
Discovery phase deliverables
Upon completion of the discovery phase, you will receive a documented description of the project flow represented by the following artifacts:
SRS (Software Requirements Specification)
Functional and non-functional product requirements, product features, IT infrastructure, technologies, system performance indicators, and use cases.
Software Requirements Specification will help you understand what a software system will do and how the users will interact with it.
Architecture diagram
A visual representation of all system elements that convey product logic, structure, and interaction with third-party services.
The architecture diagram provides a comprehensive grasp of how the system is organized and how each of its components works.
Technology stack detailed description
Programming languages, frameworks, libraries, tools, and technologies used to build and run a software system.
After the project discovery phase, you'll have a rundown of technologies for frontend and backend development, API implementation, cloud services utilization, and CI/CD setup.
Prototype
A clickable model mimicking the product's look and feel and showcasing how a user interacts with the software.
The prototype will help you track the user journey, from launching the app or website to exiting it, and gain insight into users' impressions from interacting with your product.
Project plan
A comprehensive overview of project work scope, milestones, technology stack, team members, and deadlines.
The project plan will serve as a guide for the software implementation process ensuring that all team members are aligned and work towards the same goals.
Cost and time estimates
A breakdown of costs by developers’ salaries, software licenses, development tools, infrastructure setups, staff training, and product maintenance.
At the end of the product discovery phase, you will know how long it will take to implement certain features and what budget is needed for the project.
Who is involved in the discovery process
A typical discovery phase team consists of three specialists: a business analyst, a solution architect, and a UI/UX designer.
01.
Business Analyst
The business analyst researches the market, competitors, and users. They provide a solid business case for launching a product and create a winning strategy that empowers your software to beat the competition.
02.
Solution Architect
The solution architect develops a product concept that perfectly aligns with your needs and goals. Once the product concept is complete, the development team turns it into a technical reality using cutting-edge technologies and tools.
03.
UI/UX Designer
The UI/UX designer creates engaging experiences and visually appealing interfaces. By understanding users’ expectations, competitors’ gaps, and design trends, they provide solutions that make customers fall in love with the brand.
FAQ
The discovery phase mainly focuses on gathering requirements and understanding project goals, while the planning phase results in creating a detailed roadmap for the project's execution. Although the discovery phase provides a high-level project plan, a more granular breakdown of the project stages will be developed at the planning stage.
Yes, it can be skipped if the client already has well-defined project requirements or if they have a long-term project with an assigned dedicated team. Long-term projects usually skip the discovery phase because it is impossible to determine the entire scope of work several years ahead.
If new project requirements are identified during the discovery phase, then we:
- document the new requirements
- analyze the impact of the new requirements on the project
- communicate with stakeholders
- prioritize requirements
- update the project plan
- get approval for the updated project plan from the product owners
Of course! In most cases, clients first order a discovery phase and then decide whether the software development provider suits their needs and if they want to cooperate with them.
The discovery phase in software development is usually completed within a month, but may take longer, depending on the details of the project and the client's requirements.