Our business world has grown and evolved in many ways over the past few years. Digital transformation is now a sticking point for companies looking to stay relevant today. These companies must integrate technology into their existing infrastructure. The size of the company determines the difficulty in integrating this new technology without disrupting the existing processes. Enterprise companies have it especially hard when you look at their staff and the resources they have with them. That’s where enterprise software development comes in. This article covers the enterprise software development best practices so that you benefit in the long run.
What is an enterprise app?
Enterprise applications, often called enterprise software or enterprise application software (EAS), are the workhorses of the business world. Unlike consumer apps designed for individual users, enterprise apps are built for large organizations. These complex software systems tackle various aspects of a company’s operations, aiming to automate tasks, improve data management, and facilitate collaboration across departments.
The benefits of enterprise software development
The exact benefits of enterprise software development vary based on each company’s unique needs and wants. These solutions solve a particular problem and their benefits are unique to that organization. However, some benefits are universal, regardless of the software the company develops. They are:
Digitization
Going digital is key for today’s businesses to remain afloat or stay relevant. Enterprise software development helps them achieve that. Companies that typically rely on outdated methods use enterprise software to take that first step to digitization. Going digital makes it easier to store essential data, manage resources, and maintain client relationships.
Optimizing processes
The core purpose of any enterprise software is optimization. That is why it exists in the first place. Any app or software built for an enterprise must optimize a process. The process can improve communication, automate tasks, simplify project management, or integrate work with multiple departments. There is no limit to what enterprise software can do, as long as it optimizes a process above all else.
Time management
Robust enterprise software is a standardized system that handles most of the mundane or time-consuming processes in an organization. This solution reduces the chaos employees normally face and goes a long way to save time. Companies should invest in enterprise software that streamlines processes for a specific division or multiple ones. Consider enterprise software development for marketing, sales, manufacturing, or HR departments as here, the app will have a noticeable effect.
Flexibility
Enterprise software development requires an organization or company to build a solution unique to their needs alone. As the company grows, it can scale up or grow the enterprise software alongside and add new features to deal with present or future problems. That software’s flexibility makes it so that the company isn’t forced to create a new solution to replace the existing one.
The most common roadblocks to enterprise software development
Emphasis on scalability
The world of Enterprise software development is unfortunately one where scalability becomes important only when it is too late. Many companies do not focus on scalability during enterprise software development and pay for it later. The results take the form of increased costs, downtime, and regular bottlenecks. That said, companies who approach enterprise software development with scalability in mind benefit. These companies find themselves in a good position whenever a new challenge or opportunity presents itself.
Changing business requirements
The business world is one where the only certainty is uncertainty. Here, business requirements change constantly. The biggest challenge to enterprise software development is its ability to thrive within this changing ecosystem. Adapting software has a noticeable impact on aspects like budgets, team motivations, projects, deadlines, and efficiency. Navigating this landscape requires the organization to embrace agility, be flexible with project management, and foster effective communication protocols.
Security and data storage
Enterprises today produce data at incredible speed. The data covers anything from customer interactions to data analytics and more. The rapid data growth we see daily makes it hard for companies to store them. This problem leads to issues of data redundancy and increased infrastructure costs. Facing these challenges requires having a holistic data management strategy. This process involves choosing the correct data storage options, settling data policies, and having robust security measures in place. Also, bonus points for companies that do all this with scalability in mind.
UX and UI design
UX and UI in enterprise software development is more than simply making the product look good. It revolves around creating an interface that empowers users. There is an emphasis on helping the user navigate through a complex layout with minimal difficulty. The challenge lies in striking the right balance between functionality and good looks. This problem only gets worse at an enterprise level as software users come from a varied range of skill levels and roles. The solution may be used by IT admins, customer service agents, executives, sales teams, and more. Each group has its unique requirements and expectations about the software. Hence, providing an interface that addresses all that is an uphill task.
Best practices for enterprise software development
This article has so far shown the perks and challenges that come up during enterprise software development. Now, let’s take a look at the best practices or strategies to keep in mind before starting development.
Define a set of goals
All projects start with having a clear plan in mind and enterprise software development is no exception. The first step here is to define your goals or outline exactly what the software will do. This might seem obvious at first, but remember, the priorities will change as development progresses.
Instead, consider asking the following questions to help gain clarity on the project
👉What problem does the software solve?
👉Will this software improve the current workflow?
👉In what way does the software improve things?
👉Is this software necessary for the company?
👉How do you integrate it with the existing infrastructure?
Having specific goals in mind makes it easy to build a solution that addresses those goals. Always keep these goals in mind throughout the whole development process. These goals are critical during times when you make changes to the software.
Choose the right tech stack
This move is something that often requires consulting with the development team, as they know better. Here, you think about whether the app should be limited to desktop or mobile. In case of the latter, consider going for cross-platform solutions. Many companies specialize in cross-platform development and are highly beneficial for your company. Cross-platform solutions are often cheaper to build and easier to maintain.
One solution worth considering whenever building enterprise software is cloud computing. Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computing resources found on the internet. This solution is very popular in today’s world and with good reason. Cloud computing is cost-effective compared to other solutions, it takes minimal time to implement, is highly scalable, has robust security in place, and is accessible from anywhere with internet access.
List out the functionalities
Consider and list out the essential functionalities your enterprise software will have. That way, you save a lot of time during the development process. It also ensures that everyone is on the same page. The best way to achieve this is by providing a general overview of the app. Here, you specify the features, what is expected, and other expectations in mind about the project.
Typically, most enterprise software briefings provide an overview of the software. However, providing details about a specific function or function is only a good thing. The additional knowledge helps the team translate your vision into something tangible.
Also, this is the point in the development process where you must have a product roadmap in place. The map helps you manage the project and meet the necessary milestones.
Be mindful of business growth
Another thing to keep in mind during the development process is how the business will be in the future. Businesses change and evolve over the years, that is not something new. However, as the business changes, what functionalities or features should the software have to meet those needs?
Consider the possibilities for a moment before starting development in earnest. There’s nothing wrong with building an app that takes rapid growth into account. As discussed earlier, software developed without scalability in mind hurts the company later. Hence, ensure your app is scalable in the future. That way, there’s no drop in performance or roadblocks to overcome when the company grows.
Emphasize security
Security is crucial for software, especially one built for an enterprise. Here, the application deals with a large amount of vulnerable data. In the wrong hands, that data could be disastrous for the company.
App testing can be a time-consuming process but it is an unavoidable one for anyone looking to develop a robust and secure solution. Testing exposes risks or vulnerabilities in the software that others could exploit. Also, ensure the data gathered here on the app is protected and accessible to a limited number of people. The last possible thing to do is regularly check and audit the security systems. That way, you expose and remove any risks before someone else does.
Choosing a reliable solutions provider
Companies often outsource the development work as it is difficult to organize an internal team to do the same. There are plenty of companies in the industry that do exactly that. When choosing the right provider, check their portfolio to see how many projects they worked on and the type of projects. Also, check the testimonials provided by earlier clients. This approach helps you gather the necessary information before committing to a single company.
Conclusion
Enterprise software development requires a combination of knowledgeable people and cutting-edge technologies. The solution aims to solve complex business problems and unlock new possibilities. Following the practices posted here helps team leaders craft a solution that delivers incredible outcomes.
Emerging technologies like ML and AI are geared to drastically change the world as we know it. Companies looking to streamline their solution development process while following the best practices can always rely on Ruah Tech. Our company can help you develop and launch enterprise apps that suit your specific needs and requirements.
