Why does custom software become misaligned over time?
Experienced teams have the knowledge and skills necessary to create custom software solutions that address both internal and external requirements and objectives. However, satisfying users' expectations and needs is an ongoing process that demands constant adjustment. Even if everything was aligned perfectly during the initial building process, the time in production and unforeseen circumstances will inevitably steer you off track.
That is why change management is an inevitable aspect of all software solutions. As you may already be aware, implementing significant modifications to intricate software products is a time-consuming and costly process. When design or architectural changes are planned, resistance from all parties involved often arises, leading to misalignments.
Why should you care?
These misalignments typically start with minor discrepancies, but over time, they tend to evolve and become more significant gaps.
Technological advancements, business requirements, customer expectations, licensing and patent agreements, regulations, and more can cause software systems to become misaligned.
These misalignments can occur on a spectrum, ranging from minor issues that can be tolerated indefinitely to major problems that may ultimately lead to the company's failure.
What to do about it?
A few minor color or alignment inconsistencies in your UI won't ruin your company. However, more severe misalignments, such as those that affect regulatory compliance or prevent you from meeting customers' needs, can have serious consequences. It is crucial to identify misalignments in your custom software as they can occur in many areas.
The first step is to conduct diagnostics to identify gaps and determine their size.
Misalignment — The Big 10 Checklist
The custom software field can be tricky. It's hard for us to guess exactly what problems you might encounter. So here's a list of general areas where software might not perform as intended, along with a few examples of these misalignments and their outcomes.
Financial Efficiency and Cost Management
Minor: Your custom software might require an additional $2,000 per year for supplementary cloud storage due to inefficient data handling.
Critical: Inefficiencies lead to a $100,000 overhaul because the software cannot integrate with modern, cost-effective cloud services, significantly draining operational budgets.
User Experience and Customer Engagement
Minor: Minor bugs in the user interface might frustrate users but don't deter overall usage.
Critical: A confusing and error-prone checkout process could drastically increase shopping cart abandonment rates, significantly affecting online sales
Operational Efficiency and Team Satisfaction
Minor: Manual data syncing between departments might take a few extra hours each week, slightly lowering productivity.
Critical: A lack of integration between the CRM and sales platforms could lead to significant customer service failures, causing major client dissatisfaction and potential loss of business.
Compliance, Security, and Data Protection
Minor: Missing a new minor regulatory requirement might result in a small fine and a quick fix.
Critical: Failure to meet major data protection standards, like GDPR for European customers, could result in multi-million dollar fines and a mandatory, extensive system overhaul.
Strategic Alignment and Agility
Minor: Adjusting the software to align with a new digital marketing strategy might delay campaign launches by two weeks.
Critical: The inability to support a shift towards a digital-first business model could leave the company irrelevant in an increasingly online marketplace.
Market Growth and Competitive Position
Minor: Lacking advanced analytics might slow down the understanding of market trends, slightly delaying market entry strategies.
Critical: The software's incapability to support international currencies and tax calculations could completely block expansion into global markets, leaving the field open for competitors.
7. Technological Innovation and Relevance
Minor: Your platform not supporting the latest web design trends might result in a website that feels a bit dated but still functions well.
Critical: Running on a decade-old infrastructure that doesn't support mobile devices could make your online presence virtually invisible to a mobile-first audience.
System Performance and Scalability
Minor: Your system might experience brief periods of lag during unexpected traffic spikes, and mildly annoying users.
Critical: An inability to scale for high-traffic events, like a product launch or sale, could crash your site, leading to substantial revenue loss and damaging your brand's reputation.
Security Posture and Vulnerability Management
Minor: An unpatched non-critical vulnerability might require quick action but doesn't pose an immediate data threat.
Critical: A severe security breach due to outdated encryption standards could compromise sensitive customer information, leading to legal action, hefty fines, and irreparable damage to customer trust.
Agility in Responding to Market and Operational Changes
Minor: Software that is slightly cumbersome to update might delay responding to minor market shifts, like a new social media trend, resulting in missed marketing opportunities.
Critical: A complete inability to integrate with new e-commerce platforms or adapt to sudden shifts, such as the need for contactless deliveries during a pandemic, could significantly hinder the company's ability to maintain operations and competitiveness.
We have certainly missed a thing or two. But we hope this list helps.
Please note that this list includes examples from two extreme ends of the spectrum. Your software may fall somewhere in between. As we learned over the last decade, the world of troubled software has many hues. 😄
How to address misalignments?
Implementing a continuous review and improvement process is crucial. Regularly assess your software against market trends, customer needs, and company goals. Also, foster a culture of open communication and feedback to catch and address misalignments early.
When you notice a misalignment, acting quickly and strategically is essential. Here are some steps to consider:
Identify the Root Cause: What changes or decisions led to the misalignment? This could involve seeking feedback from your team, customers, or stakeholders.
Evaluate the Impact: How severe is the misalignment? How could it affect your business operations, customer satisfaction, or compliance requirements?
Develop an Action Plan: Determine the best course of action based on your understanding of the cause and impact. This might include a software update, a change in business processes, or even a shift in strategic direction.
Streamline and Simplify: Adding new features or making adjustments to software is not always necessary. Sometimes, it's more efficient to retire underutilized features to improve maintenance and overall performance.
Communicate and Implement the Plan: Share the plan with all relevant parties and ensure everyone understands their roles in implementing it. Regular updates and transparency can help ease any anxiety or resistance to the changes.
Communicate and Implement the Plan: Share the plan with all relevant parties and ensure everyone understands their roles in implementing it. Regular updates and transparency can help ease any anxiety or resistance to the changes.
Review and Adjust Regularly: Keep up a regular review process even after the immediate misalignment is addressed. This will help you catch any new misalignments early and keep your software and business aligned over the long term.
Remember, misalignments are not necessarily failures but opportunities for improvement and innovation. By addressing them proactively and systematically, you can ensure that your custom software continues to support your business and customers effectively and efficiently.
Follow us for valuable tips, guides, and expert insights to help you navigate this challenging area.
Additionally, if you need personalized assistance with your upcoming redesign project, don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help! ❤️
Marko & Mateo