So.Fa., which stands for Software Factory, is SORINT.lab’s approach used to deliver customized software products efficiently. Born out of the need to delve deeper into market needs and in line with customers’ business requirements, So.Fa. has become a benchmark for those seeking customized software solutions.
In today’s corporate world, characterized by the advent of Industry 5.0, artificial intelligence and omnichannel strategies, efficiency and customization are the keys to success. For these reasons, standard software solutions often fail to meet the specific needs of enterprises. This is why many companies turn to custom software development, reaping numerous benefits.
In this article, we will find out how SORINT.LAB can help you create tailored solutions that exactly meet the needs of each individual company, ensuring a competitive advantage and optimized operations.
To understand how to arrive at custom software development, we will examine how project managers, business analysts, and product owners work closely with the customer to understand, document, and diagram the smallest functional and nonfunctional requirements needed for the solution. The result is not only having a complete, coding-ready architecture and diagrams, but understanding whether this solution needs customization, coding from scratch, or whether there is already a suitable solution on the market.
By the way, if you want to learn more about the software development trends of 2024, we talked about themin this article.
So.Fa.’s SORINT.LAB team, dedicated to the development of custom software
To meet customization needs, SORINT.LAB created So.Fa, which stands for Software Factory. The So.Fa. team consists of several professionals with in-depth knowledge of a variety of technologies and development methodologies:
- UX / UI researcher
- Product owner, Scrum master, Business analyst
- Product manager
- Solution architect
- Developer
We know that the key to the success of any project is understanding the needs and problems of customers. . PFor this reason, we work closely with them at every stage of the development process, especially at the initial stage when requirements are defined.
Custom software development with So.Fa. : our nine-step approach
At So.Fa. we use an innovative approach called 9D, consisting of these nine phases
- Dream
- Discovery
- Describe
- Deliberate
- Design
- Develop
- Deliver
- Debrief
- Derive
The phases are laid out sequentially, but each can be cyclical and adaptive: due to information gathered during the course of the project, dialogue among the stakeholders involved, or because of any changes to the initial requirements, it is in fact possible that each one will be modified and repeated several times.
Dream
This is the actual birth phase of an idea.
t could be a client requesting to develop a product, or an opportunity identified by our business developers. During this phase, we understand the initial need, take contact information from the person who proposed the idea, , hold meetings with the requester, and explore the request, identifying and estimating the next steps in terms of time and cost.
Discovery
In the Discovery phase, the focus shifts to the users and activities are carried out to test the assumptions of the client (or the person who proposed the opportunity): does the problem exist? How much is it felt? How many people does it impact? Are there other more important issues to be addressed ?
During this phase, the needs of users, the market, and business opportunities must be understood. Therefore, it is crucial to gather information through market research, user interviews, competitive analysis, and industry trend assessments.
This can be done through the following steps:
- Context Analysis: understand the context in which the product will be used. Who are the users? What are their goals? What challenges do they currently face?
- Data Collection: collect quantitative and qualitative data on current usage. This could include user feedback, usage metrics, and performance data
- Identifying Issues: analyze data to identify pain points and key issues affecting usage, or potential usage.
- Stakeholder Engagement: engage stakeholders, including end users, to gain different perspectives and better understand their needs and expectations.
Description
In this phase, you begin to outline a solution, thinking about how to solve the problems validated in the previous phase. One or more different solutions can be generated. Process flow charts, C4 models, epics and inspiration boards begin to come to life.
If more than one solution has been identified, a solution comparison grid is prepared: for each proposal, an outline cost, time required is calculated and a proposed roadmap is outlined, thus evaluating its positive and negative aspects
The Describe phase culminates with a formal presentation, in which the work done is explained, the client is encouraged to ask questions, express concerns, and provide feedback on the different solutions presented. The client is actively involved in the decision-making process, ensuring a better understanding of the proposed solutions.
Through the solutions presentation in-depth analysis of pros and cons, and active involvement of the client, his phase ensures that the most suitable solution is chosen to solve the identified problems.
At the end of the process, the solution that best meets the client’s needs and the most beneficial for the project is chosen.
This kickoff homework, or to-do list, has ensured that our clients have reduced costs for all activities to be performed and reduced risks by meeting timelines, feasibility of the proposed solution, and a detailed understanding of the value and expectations associated with the solution.
n summary, the customized software development offered by SORINT.lab, through the So.Fa. method, ensures tailored solutions that precisely meet the customer’s needs, reducing costs and minimizing risks.