Both parties agree on the cost after negotiations and then the software development starts. Several occasions later stake holders would come to a revelation that the features and functionalities of the application is far from what they wanted. To prevent this, we need to move away from the waterfall approach.

Solution: The Agile Approach

In Agile approach, software developers and the client work together closely to define the needs and in an iterative and interactive way. In this approach, the application gets developed step by step. In a defined timelines, new releases and new functionalities are available to the client as a working application. This enables co testing and familiarity with working the application, thus reducing the UAT and training time periods. And thanks to the cooperative model, clients can closely take part and define what is needed and what not. The requirements evolve and those that deviate from the original intended functions are weeded out. In this way focus is shifted to original functionality and contributing to overall success of the application.

It is time for stake holders to consider the approach used by software consultant while outsourcing custom software applications. Custom software applications are direct answer to the custom needs. So, Agile approach would work much better than waterfall model by saving cost and time over incremental development.