We support you throughout all phases of software development, assist you with agile teams and, if desired, take over responsibility in fixed-price projects.
Phase 1: Concept development
At the beginning, there is the goal. In the first step, we look at the initial situation (state) together and define which goals (target) the new solution should cover. Together with the departments involved, we analyse the current business processes and develop an initial picture of the business processes to be achieved. In this phase, the relevant stakeholders are also identified and gathered for your project, and an initial assessment of the business case for your project is discussed. At the end of this first phase, there is a common understanding of the initial situation, the problem, the goal and the associated benefits for the company and the end customer or end user.
Our services for you:
Planning and moderation of workshops for the development of ideas
Conducting customer and employee surveys
Evaluation of the identified ideas
Execution of feasibility studies
Drafting of presentation materials for management to approve the project
Phase 2: Requirements analysis
During the requirements analysis, the goal is to gain a common understanding of the scope, components, and expectations of the new solution. In addition to the definition of the requirements, test cases and acceptance criteria are also defined so that it can be later on decided at any time without any doubt whether a requirement has been implemented correctly. The respective scope of details and exact approach essentially depend on the chosen method: waterfall model or agile.
Our services for you:
Planning and moderation of workshops for the development of requirements
Structuring of the product backlog (user stories and other product backlog items) in the context of the agile approach
Creation of the requirements and specifications as well as test cases within the framework of the waterfall approach
Phase 3: Architecture
The common understanding achieved in the requirements analysis phase serves as the basis for the technical composition of the solution in the architecture phase. In the architecture phase, the specifics of the application, the requirements of the business users, as well as the horizontal and vertical technical knowledge are combined in an architecture concept. Our architects pay special attention to a stringent and logical coordination of the individual components and their interrelationships in order to prevent later and costly readjustments.
Our services for you:
Cloud / On Premise
A perfect fit for the customer landscape
Consideration of standard software where it makes sense
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Phase 4: UI / UX design
User interface (UI) design and user experience (UX) are often – incorrectly – used quasi synonymously. Although the two terms are certainly closely related, there is a significant difference: look & feel.
The user experience – the “feel” part – refers to the design of the user experience and thus the processes that the software solution is supposed to map. Ideally, the user experience should be self-explanatory, smooth and intuitive, thus making it easy for the user to navigate the software providing a positive experience.
The user interface design – the “look” part – deals with the visual design of the user experience but has no influence on the underlying process and its design. It aims to provide the end user with an appealing, ergonomic interface with consistent, understandable and distinguishable elements for navigation and interaction. If desired, we can also take our cue from our customer's corporate design so that the new application fits seamlessly into the existing applications for your end users and is even easier to use due to its familiar look and feel.
Our services for you:
User experience consulting
User interface design consulting
User experience review
Development of icons, design patterns and style guides
Advantages of UX and UI design
Clear and logically structured applications are easier to use
Intuitive and consistent user guidance leads to greater adoption by end users
Uniform navigation across different applications facilitates the use
Phase 5: Development
State-of-the-art software solutions, tailor-made for your company. We support you in the agile development of the application as part of your team or take over the development of your solution in our own teams within the agreed time, budget and results. For more on this topic, see here.
When selecting the technology, we rely on the latest programming languages and tools, which we select with you based on your company strategy.
Our services for you:
Development with agile or classic methods
Development within the fixed price or based on time & resources used
Creation of complete teams including all roles or additions to existing teams
Phase 6: Quality assurance
Quality is no coincidence. Together with you, we ensure that the developed solution meets all requirements, demands and quality features. We accompany you through every step of quality assurance, starting with the documentation of the solution as well as the functional, integration, system and load tests. For particularly extensive and complex solutions, we use modern systems for test automation.
Our services for you:
Documentation verification
Execution of functional tests
Execution of integration tests
Execution of system tests
Execution of load/stress tests
Quality assurance of theprocesses
Setup and implementation of test automation
Phase 7: Deployment & Go Live
Regardless of whether an MVP (minimum viable product) is published after each sprint or, in the spirit of the “big bang”, the complete solution is published on day X, the day will come when you want to unleash your users on the new solution. We work with you to ensure that everything is ready for this special day and that the launch of your new solution is a complete success.
Our services for you:
Training of end users
Provision of marketing materials to announce and promote the new solution
Carrying out marketing campaigns to introduce the new application
Provision of hyper-care teams during the initial period after going live
Going live with the new solution
Phase 8: Support
Even after the successful go-live, we do not abandon you but continue to accompany you and your solution. We support you during the implementation of change & feature requests and in the elimination of errors of all kinds.
Our services for you:
Takeover of 1st, 2ndand 3rd level support
Support during regular office hours, Monday–Friday from 8am–5pm, in exceptional cases also 24/7
Elimination of errors and malfunctions of all kinds
Implementation of change & feature requests
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Times & material and fixed price
When it comes to your order, a fundamental distinction is made between a service agreement, also known as Times & Material, and a contract for work and services at a fixed price. Both forms are used equally at Milestone Consult. Nevertheless, the differences between those have significant implications for the design and implementation of your project.
“Times & Material” service agreement
When concluding a service agreement, the customer usually orders a service that is billed at an hourly rate. For example, a senior consultant for .NET application development or a senior project manager is assigned. The employee is then available, for example, 8 hours a day for the client in one or more projects and works on the topics assigned by the client.
Key features at a glance
- Responsibility for results lies with the client
- No liability for defects by the contractor
- No takeover of the individual work packages before invoicing
- Invoicing is based on proof of performance (time sheet) at the end of the month
Contract for work and services or fixed-price contract
The essential difference from Times & Material is that the client has no influence on how the contractor executes the order. The billing is usually based on previously defined intermediate results as the project progresses while a substantial part of the total amount is only paid after successful takeover by the customer. In a contract for work and services, the contractor owes the customer the completion of a previously defined work. A contract for work and services therefore also always requires the precise specification of the work to be performed or the “work” to be created, usually in the form of a specification sheet or requirements specification.
Key features at a glance
- Responsibility for results lies with the contractor
- Liability for defects on the part of the contractor and associated obligation to rectify defects free of charge
- Takeover of individual work packages required prior to invoicing
- Usually no or only very clearly defined involvement by the client within the scope of the project