Digital Transformation development projects can be extremely complex, spanning many months and even years. This can leave many wondering what to expect of the project that will be part of their professional life for a significant period of time.
While each Digital Transformation process is unique to some degree, there are commonalities that typically span all of these development projects. Understanding what to expect for a Digital Transformation project positions a client for success, as they’ll have the insights they need to provide critical information exactly when it’s needed.
Discovery as the First Stage of the Digital Transformation Process
The Digital Transformation process typically begins with an in-depth discovery process. This very collaborative phase of the development process involves a comprehensive examination of the client’s needs and professional processes.
The discovery phase of a Digital Transformation project entails an exploration of several key questions, which include the following.
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- Who is the client and what does the company / organization do?
- What are the client’s key challenges or pain points?
- How can these challenges or pain points be addressed with a Digital Transformation development project?
- What features and functionalities does the client want to include in their software platform, mobile app or other technology?
- How will this technology be used?
- Who are the primary users for this new technology?
- What software, apps and other technology is the client currently using?
- What platforms does the client intend to keep using?
- Will integrations be required for these platforms?
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These are some of the key questions that must be addressed during the discovery phase. This part of the Digital Transformation process is intended to gather all of the information that the development team needs in order to create a solid plan to move forward.
Innovative Project Strategy Development as the Second Stage of the Digital Transformation Process
After discovery, the Digital Transformation process continues with the development of an innovative project strategy. This strategy encompasses the actual development of a new technology, including the UI/UX and the platform’s various features / functionalities.
This second phase of the project is extremely important and it’s typically based upon a key document: a software requirements document. This document provides the Digital Transformation development team with all of the information they need to architect a platform that meets the client’s exact needs and requirements.
A requirements document expands upon the information explored in the discovery phase, detailing all features, functionalities and design aspects for the Digital Transformation project. This document serves as a detailed road map, outlining the project scope and providing developers with the guidance they need to build a technology that aligns with the client’s needs and expectations.
Development as the Third Stage of the Digital Transformation Process
The development process can span many months, with the Digital Transformation team working to gather client feedback and input throughout the process. This may include the use of wireframes and beta versions of a new software platform or mobile application. The exact approach will depend upon the exact technology that’s being developed as part of the Digital Transformation project.
Agile development projects typically involve sprints. These sprints are phases or periods intended to achieve a specific development goal in a set period of time. When viewed as a whole, agile sprints comprise the entire Digital Transformation project. Each sprint is focused on developing a specific portion or aspect of the technology that’s at the center of your project.
Development will also include testing, such as QA testing and user testing. Testing is designed to root out inefficiencies in UI/UX and identify bugs and flaws. Once identified by testers, these issues can then be addressed and remedied by the developers.
Deployment as the Final Stage of the Digital Transformation Process
Implementation and deployment will mark the conclusion of the Digital Transformation development process. Implementation involves installing the new technology, finalizing integrations and preparing for deployment.
Deployment marks the actual rollout of a new platform or other technology. In some cases, deployment occurs all at once, while in other cases, a company may opt for a phased deployment.
The most successful Digital Transformations continue beyond deployment, with periodic software updates and app maintenance, amongst other measures. The best technologies evolve over time, with development continuing in a way that aligns with a client’s changing needs and requirements. In this way, many Digital Transformation projects are continuous, with changes, new features and updates occurring over the span of many months and years.
Gaining a Competitive Advantage With Digital Transformation
Continuous Digital Transformation positions your business to gain a significant competitive edge, as you’ll be leveraging the latest, most innovative technologies to your advantage. At 7T, we use a collaborative development process that engages the client from the discovery phase to deployment. Our many Digital Transformation service offerings include process automation solutions, enterprise software development for ERP and CRM systems (among others), along with SaaS development for web apps and mobile apps, amongst others. We have extensive experience working with cutting-edge technologies and we help our clients to achieve goals, from scaling to regulatory compliance and beyond.
We’re guided by the approach of “Digital Transformation Driven by Business Strategy.” As such, the 7T development team works with company leaders who are seeking to solve problems and drive ROI through Digital Transformation and innovation. We then provide collaborative, multi-phased and impactful Digital Transformation solutions.
7T has offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin, but our clientele spans the globe. If you’re ready to learn more about Digital Transformation and what we can do for your business, contact 7T today.
