Do you want to launch a business application, but have no idea how long it will take to move your idea from concept to reality? The development time for a business solution is not uniform. It can vary greatly depending on different criteria, such as the type of solution chosen, for example. Let's take a look at it with MobileThinking.
How long does it take
to develop a business solution?
19/01/2022
The 3 main criteria influencing the development time
The time it takes to develop a business solution depends on many factors. Not surprisingly, the type of project developed is the number one criterion for estimating development time. We will also think about the complexity of the developed solution, the way the project is managed... without forgetting to take into account the allocated budget!
Mobile or web application, intranet solution... to each solution its development time
If it is a mobile application, remember that it can be native or hybrid. In the first case, the development is done several times in the language specific to each platform (Apple, Android, Windows Phone ...). In the second case, a single development is necessary before deployment on all platforms.
➔ Here is an example of native mobile application development with : H2020 Avenue.
A web application is a web solution hosted on a server and can be accessed via a simple web browser.
➔ An example? BenefitMe is an ecosystem that includes a web application for employees and one for human resources.
While an intranet is an internal network within a company, reserved for employees, an extranet is an internal network accessible to a group of users outside the company.
➔ The Moser School's family portal project is a perfect example.
Business software meets the specific needs of a company, whose business specificities exceed the software packages on the market. It is therefore necessary to customize the business-oriented software solution that will improve the company's processes. This can be a medical software or a software for car professionals, for example.
➔ Here is an example of native mobile application development with : H2020 Avenue.
A web application is a web solution hosted on a server and can be accessed via a simple web browser.
➔ An example? BenefitMe is an ecosystem that includes a web application for employees and one for human resources.
While an intranet is an internal network within a company, reserved for employees, an extranet is an internal network accessible to a group of users outside the company.
➔ The Moser School's family portal project is a perfect example.
Business software meets the specific needs of a company, whose business specificities exceed the software packages on the market. It is therefore necessary to customize the business-oriented software solution that will improve the company's processes. This can be a medical software or a software for car professionals, for example.
The complexity of the project and in particular the number of features required
Here are some examples of functionalities that bring a certain complexity to the development of a software solution.
- Authentication and account management: Vital in the management of the security of an information system, the management of accesses and accounts is time consuming, because it requires to be very meticulous.
- Payment system: The same applies to the implementation of an electronic payment system, for which the security of transactions is obviously crucial.
- Complex business algorithms: The development of a complex algorithm requires the implementation of many specific business rules that must be translated into code and rigorously tested.
Project management
The way the project is managed also has a strong impact on its completion time.
At MobileThinking, we have chosen to focus on strong and regular team/client communication (once a week is ideal, in our experience). At each weekly update, the client has access to the progress made. This way, if needed, the shot can be quickly corrected, and changes can be made "on the fly", which is much less costly than going back on a development at the very end of the project.
At MobileThinking, we have chosen to focus on strong and regular team/client communication (once a week is ideal, in our experience). At each weekly update, the client has access to the progress made. This way, if needed, the shot can be quickly corrected, and changes can be made "on the fly", which is much less costly than going back on a development at the very end of the project.
An estimate... is just an estimate!
The estimated figures are obviously not written in stone. Each project has its own specificities, so the time range remains relatively rough. In any case, it must be discussed.
Examples: H2020 and BenefitMe
1. The H2020 Avenue project (mobile application) lasted 2 years. Indeed, the fact of being submitted to the validation of a European consortium proved to be a very impactful factor.
2. Our development of the BenefitMe web application took 1 year, which is about the same time as the complete Moser extranet was developed.
2. Our development of the BenefitMe web application took 1 year, which is about the same time as the complete Moser extranet was developed.
MVP and Design Sprint to accelerate movement
For example, the implementation time may vary depending on the available budget. In fact, a possible solution to shorten the implementation time is to quickly develop an MVP and test your solution before an in-depth development!
Good to know: what is the MVP?
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a first version of a product, in this case a digital application. It is presented to a very targeted audience, thanks to which a large number of customer feedbacks are obtained while providing a minimum effort. This is a good way to reduce risks and improve the final product.
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a first version of a product, in this case a digital application. It is presented to a very targeted audience, thanks to which a large number of customer feedbacks are obtained while providing a minimum effort. This is a good way to reduce risks and improve the final product.
Our approach (if applicable to your project) is to divide the whole project in several batches. This allows us to put a first quality version online very quickly and to continue the development over a longer period of time.
Good to know: what is the Design Sprint?
It helps to determine the specifications and the main features of a solution. This allows you to save time on the launch and to quickly test a viable solution with its users.
It helps to determine the specifications and the main features of a solution. This allows you to save time on the launch and to quickly test a viable solution with its users.
Conclusion
Thus, the time required to complete a project varies depending on the need. Going live can take a long time if you consider the project as a whole. However, the release of an MVP can be done much faster. This allows you to use an "alpha" version and to collect valuable user information. In order to start a discussion on this subject, do not hesitate to use this small form provided for free. It will allow us to give you an estimate of time specific to your project!
