Innovation in product and software development are key elements that companies need to focus on if they hope to survive and thrive today. However, it is not always…
Innovation in product and software development are key elements that companies need to focus on if they hope to survive and thrive today. However, it is not always clear why this is essential for companies. Below are some reasons to keep exploring new ideas.
Improve the experience of your software users
Naturally, you want to ensure your users have the best possible experience while using your software. So whenever you release software, you have to go back to it and tweak it as needed. Technology is evolving by the minute and it is crucial to constantly innovate and track your progress .
The gaming industry considers this methodology an essential part of its development process. Many developers and publishers continue to make improvements and patches to their games after release, often based on direct customer feedback .
Another good example of true software innovation comes from Adobe Systems. They are constantly finding ways to make their software better and more usable and even introduce new software into their suite. They always push the limits and innovate, which drives more people to their products.
Stay ahead of the competition
Of course, there's a good chance that your company also has plenty of competition creating software that has some similarities to what you're creating. You never want to be complacent or stagnant, as this is the easiest way to fall behind your competition. With innovation, you can build on what you have and create new and better elements for your software that the competition doesn't have.
It's good to have competition, as long as all parties involved try to outdo each other.
Stay relevant with customers
Customers, even those you consider loyal to your company and brand, are always looking for the next new and better product, feature, or app. So sites like MySpace and Friendster have disappeared and everyone is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you hope to stay relevant among customers and gain new ones, you need to follow suit .
Users want to see innovation and if your software development team doesn't provide that, they will move on to the competition.
Improve business performance
Innovation tends to draw more attention to the company , too. When you have a software improvement or a completely new version of some software that you are going to release, it can bring in some new customers . Additionally, many of your current customers will likely want to adopt the latest version of the software. As long as you focus on user needs and expectations, innovation will help you increase your profits .
Innovation and creativity lead to breakthroughs
In any field, even software development, it can be easy to follow the status quo and do whatever is necessary without actually making any substantial changes or improvements. A team that understands the need to innovate can provide some impressive creative ideas that can help take software in a new direction, change the way your software works, improve it, and ensure customers are satisfied with the results.
Innovation and creativity are symbiotic , and you always want to make sure you're working with a team that feels comfortable expressing their creativity and ideas. It will empower your software and your business will be stronger.
Innovate wisely
While innovation is essential, you should never make changes for the sake of change. You need to think about the ideas you want to implement and make sure they are the best option for the end user .
You will often find that working with a group of outsourced professionals who are not part of your “local team” can bring you new ideas. Not only can they handle the technical tasks of updating software, but they can also bring some ideas to the table that your local team may never have thought of before.
By continually improving the experience through innovation, you build loyalty with your customers, which demonstrates that you care about supporting the software and them. The main objective is to deliver an engaging, high-quality product that will inevitably lead to better business performance.
Source: BairesDev
