The value of the discovery phase in software development

The more you know about software development, the more you realise how important the preparation and discovery stage is. The discovery phase is a cornerstone of the delivery process and a crucial enabler of building “the right thing”. It can help you be more prepared and avoid many potential pitfalls.

Discovery, boiled down to a simple concept, is really about managing the risks associated with a software development initiative. Whether it’s feasibility, profitability, or usability – this phase is the right time to consider potential hurdles, address them, and create an effective roadmap for the entire project. Ready to turn your idea into reality? Let’s start with discovery.

What is a discovery phase?

The discovery phase is the initial step in creating software that focuses on an in-depth understanding of the problem. As a software company, we often encounter clients with pain points or potential opportunities to implement innovative software initiatives. This might occur while collaborating with existing partners or during first engagements when a new client approaches us with an idea. Transferring that vision into working software is a journey, and the earlier we handle potential risks, the greater the chance that we will eventually reach our goals.

Discovery can bridge the gap between your vision and the technical implementation. By investing in it, you gain more clarity, reduce risks, and ensure that your effort delivers measurable results. The entire team – software engineers, designers, technical architects and analysts – works closely with the client’s business owners, product managers, and key decision-makers to gather crucial information. Such cross-functional collaboration involves activities like stakeholder interviews, requirements gathering, feasibility studies, and design.

This stage of collaboration enables the discovery team to validate the vision we started with and propose an optimal solution so that the client is clear about the execution.

Why is the discovery phase worth it?

In essence, the discovery phase is a strategic investment that offers great benefits and lays the groundwork for innovation with minimal effort compared to the fully functional solution. Here are key reasons why getting involved in discovery is a good idea:

Understanding client needs

Discovery allows us to explore the pain points and opportunities before development begins. By engaging in detailed discussions, we prevent misunderstandings and prepare for the smooth creation of state-of-the-art solutions tailored to your needs.

Validating solution early

Requirements, prototypes, and architecture all transform a vision into tangible outcomes. All these elements can be used to validate the proposed solution early and identify areas for improvement before committing significant resources.

Aligning expectations

Through collaboration, the discovery phase helps match the client’s vision with the capabilities of the development team. Setting clear expectations upfront helps avoid costly changes and rework later in the project.

Experiencing collaboration with selected software company

Selecting a partner to work with, especially on crucial business projects, is crucial, and we get it – trust comes after the work is done, not before. In this phase, both parties work on a common problem and see the quality outcomes before deciding to proceed with the full-blown delivery phase.

Estimation and team selection

Establishing a technical solution, as well as non-functional requirements and ways of working, helps to gain confidence in estimations and propose the best-suited team for the delivery phase.

Reducing risks

As highlighted before, identifying potential risks early on is a core concept in the discovery phase.

One of the real-life examples is a client we worked with on a discovery for a system to manage project portfolios and timesheets within the organisation. In the end, they did not opt for the solution we proposed at this collaboration stage as they realised that other parts of the company were not ready to work with the new system – “We can’t get a brand-new Mercedes in here when we have bicycles over there” – this is a great example of uncovering broader business insights beyond the immediate project scope.

Our approach to the discovery phase

Each client and each project are a story of its own. That’s why the ability to adapt to specific needs and requirements nimbly is crucial. But it is also important to remember that the best improvisation is the well-planned one. That is why we have created a flexible yet solid-in-fundamentals strategy for discovery. Depending on the individual needs – such as specific technologies or business domains – we customise the best approach and select the right team to lead the discovery phase and support you on the path to your project’s success.

Fundamental process

Our discovery process typically includes these key steps:

1. Recognition

We start by getting to know your business, challenges, and objectives. Usually, this involves initial research or simply listening to your ideas and concerns.

2. Workshops

By conducting collaborative sessions, we dive deeper into the details. These workshops are an excellent opportunity to gather insights, understand pain points, and identify opportunities for improvement.

3. Analysis

We evaluate all the information gathered to define precise requirements and potential solutions. At this point, we start to form your vision into something tangible.

4. Design

Our team creates solution designs, prototypes, or mock-ups to visualise and refine the proposed solution. This helps validate ideas and make necessary adjustments early on.

5. Planning

Developing estimations, documenting assumptions, allocating resources, and creating a roadmap – all this guarantees that we have for you a solid plan for moving forward.

6. Wrap-up

Finally, we summarise our findings and make sure that everything is ready for the development phase and that you have a full understanding of all the next steps.

Flexible team composition

While the process provides a framework, the people involved can vary greatly depending on your project’s specific needs.

Selecting the right experts

If your project involves a particular technology stack, we’ll bring in team members with expertise in that area. For instance, if we’re building a mobile app using React Native, we’ll involve developers who specialise in that technology.

Domain-specific knowledge

For projects in specialised industries – such as healthcare, finance or HR – we will include team members with experience and knowledge in these areas. Their knowledge will ensure a good understanding of the unique challenges and regulations that may apply.

Flexibility in roles

Sometimes, a project might benefit from additional roles like AI experts, DevOps, or QA engineers. That is why we remain flexible and can adjust the team composition to include the right mix of skills at every step.

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Collaborative partnership

Throughout the discovery phase, we work closely with the client. As mentioned before – there’s no one fit for all team composition, but from the client side, we would typically work with business or area owners, Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) and technology managers. Such an arrangement helps us ensure that you’re properly involved, informed, and invested at every step of the way.

Outcomes of the discovery phase

The discovery phase ends with some tangible achievements. Of course, the precise results depend on the initiative and domain specifics, but this stage can provide a solid blueprint for successful project delivery. A typical list of discovery outcomes might include:

Requirements

The key is to align requirements – both functional and non-functional – in a straightforward way to provide a solid base for estimations and further development.

Prototypes and mock-ups

We create visual representations of the solution, such as wireframes or clickable prototypes, so that you can get a sense of how the final product will look. This approach is a great way to validate and test ideas quickly.

Technical design

Our team prepares detailed technical designs, including system architecture diagrams and data models. Doing so gives the technical team a blueprint to follow, thus saving time and preventing costly mistakes in the future.

Estimates and delivery plan

Based on discovery findings, we provide effort estimations so that you can get a clear roadmap outlining all phases and key milestones of the project.

Delivery team recommendations

With insights from the discovery phase, we can recommend the best team composition for further delivery. Whether they are specialists in a particular technology or domain experts, we will suggest the right combination of skills to bring your vision to life.

Risk analysis and mitigation

We identify possible risks early on and develop strategies to eliminate them. This proactive approach helps avoid surprises and potential pitfalls later.

Confidence to move forward

Most importantly, with the well-prepared discovery phase, you’ll have all the information you need to move forward with confidence – whether you continue working with us or take the deliverables elsewhere.

Conclusion

The discovery phase is not just the kick-off – it helps to validate the initial idea and decide whether to proceed with delivery and how to do it. It is important to emphasise that discovery doesn’t end when development begins. Instead, it continues throughout delivery as we gather new insights, face unexpected challenges, or tackle rapidly changing business needs.

Therefore, don’t think of discovery as something that distracts from actual development or is a mere buzzword. In fact, it is an effective delivery enabler that requires only a fraction of the effort necessary to develop a full-scale solution.

So, if you’re curious about how the discovery phase can transform your project, contact us via the form below and take the first step toward achieving innovative success.