Until recently, I was someone who exclusively used Apple Maps for the vast majority of my driving career (despite constant complaints from those in my life to convert to Google Maps or Waze). What is your navigation app of choice? Although I now consider myself a “Wazer,” the jury is still out on which app is best. So, please share your thoughts in the comments and feel free to participate in a friendly debate on which app is superior (for personal research purposes completely unrelated to this blog post 😊) .
In this fast-paced world, no one has time to waste sitting in traffic. Gone are the days of paper maps and best-guess routes – we have places to go and traffic to avoid! Now, with the click of a button, not only do we know how much time it’s going to take us to get from point-A to point-B, but we receive real-time alerts of upcoming obstacles and more optimal routes to ensure we reach our destination as quickly and safely as possible. Considering all these benefits, you would never drive somewhere new without using a GPS, and we believe the same should be true for your software development journey.
Here at Lighthouse, we understand the importance (and struggle) of delivering projects on-time and on-budget with uncompromising quality. No matter the scope of your software initiative, it only takes one bad release or missed deadline to disrupt business projections, cripple productivity across your company and cause irreparable damage to your brand. That’s why we’ve developed our groundbreaking On-Time Software Project Navigation service, designed to provide clients with the optimal roadmap to success. Just as Waze and other navigation systems guide drivers to their destinations, our service ensures your custom software projects reach their release dates on-time, on-budget, and on-quality.
How, exactly? Let me use my new-found knowledge and admiration of Waze to explain:
1. Planning your Optimal Route (Accurately Calculate your Project’s ETA):
When you open Waze and select your destination, it immediately suggests the current optimal route and calculates your predicted ETA. At Lighthouse, we do the same for your software projects by analyzing the scope of your current project along with your team’s past performance metrics (productivity, velocity, etc.) to forecast your project’s optimal route and timeline. With our navigation service, the days of uncertainly guessing how much time, money, and effort your project will require are over.
2. Real-Time Navigation (Improve Predictability & Productivity):
From car accidents to debris in the road, Waze continuously pulls data from thousands of drivers to recalculate your ETA, re-route if needed, provide safety guidance, and optimize navigation. Similarly, our “On-Time Software Project Navigation” service offers continuous monitoring and feedback throughout your entire software development journey to address potential delays and issues early on. By analyzing your team’s productivity and velocity, as well as the goodness of each step throughout your SDLC, we can proactively identify and avoid unexpected roadblocks (Ex: poorly written user stories and inconsistent use of error handling). This agile and adaptive approach will ensure that your team steers clear of potential bottlenecks and issues, leading to increased productivity. Additionally, just as Waze continuously updates your ETA, we forecast your project’s end date sprint-by-sprint to track whether your team is behind or ahead of schedule.
3. Avoiding Traffic Jams (Improve Time-to-Market):
In the software development process, there are often hidden and unexpected obstacles that will slow down progress (Ex: Last-minute requests for new features, highly complex software modules that easily break when they are maintained, sprint by sprint effort spent on new features vs. bug fixes, and unplanned rework from quality issues or changes in direction). Even worse, unless you are tracking and managing these issues, you cannot forecast the future delays that will occur. Just as Waze looks at the current road conditions to help drivers avoid traffic jams, our service analyzes and helps you manage numerous factors that cause unexpected delays. We have a dedicated team of experts who conduct thorough checks throughout the development process to ensure that your project doesn’t get stuck in the bottlenecks of unexpected project delays and rework.
4. Data-Driven Directions (Make More Informed Decisions):
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Just like how Waze relies on data from various sources, our service leverages data-driven insights to make informed decisions. Through comprehensive project analytics (time, effort, cost and quality), we gain valuable visibility into your project’s progress. This data empowers you to make timely adjustments, refine your navigation strategy, and ensure your project stays on-course for successful delivery, all while giving you complete transparency on the project’s status, risks, and projected end date
5. Collaborative Effort (Improve Culture & Communication):
Waze’s success lies in its community-driven approach, and so does ours. We believe that successful project navigation is a team effort. Our experts collaborate closely with your team to understand your unique requirements, business goals, and challenges. By fostering open communication and a collaborative spirit, we create a unified force to navigate your project seamlessly.
If your current software project feels like a never-ending road trip where you’re continuously missing exits (release dates) and having to reroute, we can help. With our project navigation service, you will never have to ask, “how much longer?” or “how much more money?” again. Know where your project is at, where it’s going, and how much time, money and effort it will take to get there in real-time. Guide your team to success and reach your project’s destination with confidence – contact us to learn more and get started.
