Date post: | 12-Apr-2017 |
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Internet |
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www.npgroup.net
Solving Business Challenges with Custom Web DevelopmentPete Czech, CEO & Kris LaGreca, VP of Accounts: New Possibilities Group, LLC
Welcome!
Today’s Agenda:
• Introductions• What is Custom Web
Development?• Benefits• Custom Development Process
• Planning a Project• Building a Specification• Choosing a Technology• Budget & Timelines• Development• Testing• Deployment
• Case Studies• Conclusion
Introductions
Your Host: Pete Czech
CEO, New Possibilities Group
Co-founder of NPG in 2001
NPG specializes in highly customized design & development of web applications and content management systems.
Contact: [email protected]
Introductions
Your Co-Host: Kris LaGreca
VP of Accounts, New Possibilities Group
Co-founder of NPG in 2001
Contact: [email protected]
Our Experience
What is Custom Web Development?
In a nutshell...
It is the use of technologies to build customized software for solving problems, in this scenario on the web.
What Isn’t Custom Web Development?
Hacking of off-the-shelf software to get “Close” to your goals.
It isn’t elegant.
Let us explain…
The internet is inundated with off-the-shelf platforms.
CMS: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla
E-Commerce: Magento, OSCommerce, Prestashop
And tons more for niched scenarios:ForumsNews / MagazineCommunitySpecialized E-CommerceSAAS
As an example: The CMS Landscape
The Reality
Off-the-shelf solutions are not made for your particular purposes!
These are generalized tools meant to apply to many different scenarios.
Your Impact Zone
With appropriate hacking, you can get maybe 90% of the way
The last 10% represents the value and individuality of your business
The Better Alternative
Building on top of a coding framework – not a platform.
Integrating your complex business requirements with day to day management tools.
Determining your final system layout with a thorough discovery process conducted specifically for your needs.
An Analogy
Modular vs Custom Homes
Overall Benefits of Custom Web Solutions
Bespoke: This is made for you specifically – few to zero sacrifices.
Longevity: Custom solutions can weather the storm of updates and upgrades.
Scalability: The system, when built properly, can scale with your business.
Value: The system becomes a valuable corporate asset.
Security: Your application can be secured above and beyond industry standard.
Real World Examples
A long term car rental company seeking an e-commerce site and reservation management system.
A worldwide Yoga training company seeking to integrate class management and e-commerce.
A furniture company seeking complex integration to an old inventory management system.
A private college system looking for a CMS that can be used by personnel across 15 different physical locations, securely.
A healthcare provider looking to manage many domains with one singular CMS installation.
NEVER, EVER, EVER…
Develop these types of projects with off-the-shelf software:
• Highly secure CMS platforms.• SAAS software.• Complex, custom e-commerce.
The Custom Process
Planning
Specification
Technology
Budget & Timelines
Development
Testing
Deployment
Planning & Strategizing
This step you can do yourself!
Analyze: What are your current limitations?
What 3 things could you do to save you time and effort?
What are some lost opportunities?
If time and money was no object, what initiatives would you pursue?
Building a Specification
Discovery: THE MOST important part of your project!
Don’t go it alone.
Plan for:System ActorsUse CasesRisks & OpportunitiesFuture Considerations
Your spec should allow for apples to apples comparisons of budget & timelines.
PAY FOR IT FIRST.
Technology
Overall, most important factor to consider.
Don’t always trust the “pure tech guy”.
Open vs Closed Source.
New vs Tested Platforms.
Plan with future in mind.
Budget & Timelines
Proper discovery process mitigates budget risk.
Plan for overrides just in case.
Popular terms for payment & milestones.
Consider ownership scenarios.
Plan for deployment & hosting in advance.
Development
Discovery is your blueprint.
Be careful not to pivot unless necessary.
Avoid technical debt.
Always be testin’.
Pay attention!
Testing & QA
Again rely on discovery blueprint.
Test early and often.
Have multiple sets of eyes.
You own it. You’ll have to live with it.
Deployment
Aim for 100% seamless transitions.
If transitioning, test with a duplicate environment for a specified period of time.
Develop a deployment script.
Schedule carefully around company initiatives.
Case Studies
Each example:
* relies on their website to bridge the gap between the internet and their business.
* utilizes the internet for the majority of their sales.
* had previously been on off-the-shelf software.
Interested in a LIVE Demo?
Call me!
Q & A
Our Next Webcast
Planning for 2017: Website Redesign Tips & Tricks
December 21, 20162PM EST
Additional Resources
Our blog – www.npgroup.net/blog
Videos - www.npgroup.net/videos
E-Books – www.npgroup.net/resources
150 Clove RoadLittle Falls, NJ 07424 1.855.NPGROUP www.npgroup.net
our home away from home.
Where To Find Us