Best Practices for Managing Custom Digital Solution Development

Author: Scott Lutz 

Often, Digital Solution projects are required to address the specific needs of your business. Once the decision to invest in a custom-tailored digital solution has been made, the real challenges start. Successfully navigating these projects requires dedication and structure.

At RevGen Partners, we recognize the crucial role we play in transforming our clients’ ideas into real software that gives them a competitive edge and generates tangible value. To achieve this, we have developed a deliberate approach that strikes a careful balance between the necessary rigor and discipline for building a viable solution and the creative thinking required for its success.

Previously, we have discussed the Envision, Plan, Design, and Develop phases of building custom solutions. In this article, we will delve into the key insights and best practices for effectively managing custom development projects.

The following are some of the critical steps to manage your Digital Solution project:

Release Management

Implementing an efficient release management process is essential for custom development projects. It involves planning, scheduling, and deploying software updates and new features. Key considerations include:

• Clearly defining release objectives and scope
• Establishing a well-structured release calendar
• Conducting thorough testing and quality assurance
• Documenting release procedures and communication plans
• Providing training and support to stakeholders
• Leveraging version control systems and automated deployment tools

Solution Maintenance

Continued maintenance is crucial for sustaining the functionality and performance of custom development solutions. Effective solution maintenance involves:

• Establishing a dedicated team responsible for maintenance activities
• Regular monitoring and addressing any bugs and issues
• Keeping software dependencies up to date
• Conducting periodic code reviews and refactoring
• Prioritizing maintenance tasks based on impact and urgency
• Maintaining comprehensive documentation for future reference

Monitor Compliance and Security

Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and maintaining robust security measures are essential for custom development projects. Consider the following practices:

• Regularly assessing and addressing compliance requirements
• Implementing secure coding practices and security testing
• Conducting periodic security audits and vulnerability scans
• Enforcing access controls and data encryption
• Monitoring and responding promptly to security incidents
• Staying informed about emerging security threats and updates

Collect and Manage User Feedback

Engaging with users and gathering their feedback is vital for improving the usability and effectiveness of custom solutions. Key steps include:

• Establishing channels for users to provide feedback (e.g., surveys, feedback forms, etc.)
• Analyzing and categorizing user feedback for actionable insights
• Prioritizing feedback based on impact and alignment with business goals
• Incorporating user feedback into future development iterations
• Communicating updates and improvements based on user feedback
• Building a culture of continuous feedback and user-centricity

Measure Business Outcomes and KPIs

To gauge the success of custom development projects, it is important to establish measurable business outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs) early. We follow these best practices:

• Identifying and aligning project objectives with overall business goals
• Defining relevant KPIs and success metrics
• Implementing analytics and tracking systems
• Regularly analyzing and reporting on KPIs
• Adjusting development strategies based on performance insights
• Incorporating feedback from stakeholders to refine metrics and targets

Quantify and Track User Adoption

Understanding user adoption and engagement with custom solutions is crucial for evaluating their effectiveness. Consider the following approaches:

• Setting up analytics tools to track user interactions and usage patterns
• Defining metrics to measure adoption rates and user engagement
• Conducting user surveys or interviews to gather qualitative feedback
• Identifying barriers to adoption and proactively addressing them
• Providing training and support resources to facilitate user onboarding
• Continuously monitoring and optimizing user adoption strategies

Managing custom development projects requires a comprehensive approach that addresses each of the areas above. Without effectively implementing these best practices, it’s difficult to fully realize the value of custom development initiatives and achieve your desired goals.

At RevGen, we have developed an approach to application design that takes all these factors into account, resulting in digital solutions that meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations. To learn more, visit our Digital Enablement site.

Scott Lutz is a manager in RevGen’s Digital Enablement practice. He specializes in program and project management and overseeing software implementations for his clients.