Get Ready to Deploy!
Congratulations! You have just finished the first release-ready version of your brand new software. The bugs are fixed (mostly), the UI is clean (you’re pretty sure), and you even have some potentially interested customers (maybe). You’re a real, bonafide developer!
…What now?
For many fledgling companies, the first step is to secure and satisfy a beginner set of customers that will help launch you to a larger market. Most successful software systems start off with a very small test market. Often one client, or a very limited number of clients, finance the development of very mission-specific tools. Throughout the process, the product is further refined and augmented to help it appeal mainly to the current stakeholders (though potential future customers are always kept in mind). Some companies spend years just enhancing value to this handful of clients before trying to expand outwards.
In today’s computing environment, IT managers and decision makers want to have control of their systems. They want to be able to have their own personnel install and maintain the software that runs their business, and they don’t want any part of their process to rely on reaching out to a third-party vendor, especially one that is small enough that they perceive a significant risk of the vendor folding within the lifecycle of the product. Because of this, newer systems usually have very specialized maintenance personnel: people who install new instances of the software for clients, or maintain and administer the systems while they’re in place. Unfortunately, these specialized roles not only increase the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for the software, but also radically complicate selling the software to new businesses.
Before you deploy, did you:
- Test everything?
- Create thorough documentation?
- Get the appropriate licenses?
- Plan for future versions?
- Create an installer or setup protocol?
- Build a support base, including knowledgeable staff?
To sell to a larger market, small software companies need to meet the expectations of the marketplace. That means having the documentation and installation software that allows any IT professional to deploy and configure your software. It means having a support system that responds to customers quickly and creates a bank of institutional knowledge they can easily access. It also means certifying that your software works in every supported environment before a new version or patch leaves your office.
Most of these processes require skill sets and employee interests that simply aren’t aligned with the needs and drives of a small software company. Innovative developers don’t want to be spending dozens of hours on QA or writing installation manuals when they could be adding features to make their product better. Business managers don’t want to build an entire documentation group that is only going to see full utilization when a new version is released.
At Deep Core Data, we provide those services that transform your organization from a single- or small-client business into a vendor that can capably and confidently market to anyone from corner bakery to a Fortune 500. We make sure your products do what they claim, and we’ll work with your development team to fix issues that will affect client acceptance. We’ll write, edit, brand, and release documentation, provide technical support services to you customers, and ensure that your product is as well supported as any competitor in your market space.
In a market with so many firms competing for even the smallest software niches, customers can afford to be choosy about who they do business with. Make sure you have every base covered with Deep Core Data Deployment Services.
Leave A Comment