Our Discovery Process

Every successful software, app, or website project begins with a solid foundation. Our discovery process builds that foundation, ensuring a clear, strategic plan that guides your project to success.

Jake Dahl provides an overview of the discovery process and why it’s so important.

Success Starts with Discovery

Software projects that skip or neglect proper discovery have a success rate as low as 10%.

To create exceptional software, you need an exceptional plan. A well-defined plan means identifying your goals, resources, potential roadblocks, and key stakeholders during the discovery process.

This will help your team carry out the project with precision and achieve remarkable results.

Why is Discovery so Important?

Imagine building a house without a blueprint or an architect — risky, right?

The same goes for software development. Starting without a detailed plan can lead to costly surprises and delays.

At Onsharp, we bring the expertise and attention to detail you’d expect from a seasoned builder. Our architects and designers work closely with you to craft solutions that align with your goals and deliver measurable results.

Partner with us to develop software that revolutionizes your business and ensures long-term success in an ever-evolving market. With Onsharp, you’re in expert hands. Let’s build together!

How it Works

In our discovery process, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Discovery is individualized, modular, and comprised of different workshops.

Having an individualized or modular model means workshops can be added or subtracted depending on what’s needed. This way, subject matter experts can be brought in on an as-needed basis.

After the process is complete, you’ll get a final project scope and estimate so you have a clear understanding of the full project and actionable next steps.

Workshop Information

Kickoff Meeting
Length: 90 minutes

Goals:
1. Introduce teams
2. Define roles and responsibilities
3. Establish goals
4. Set expectations for project success
Summary

The kickoff meeting is an opportunity for both teams to establish clear communication channels, set expectations, and define roles and responsibilities. By creating a shared understanding of the project’s scope, timeline, and goals, the development team can ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

During this meeting, we will take the time to listen and learn about your business, and will ask detailed questions to gather as much information as possible.

The purpose of gathering this information is to determine a proper timeline for the Discovery project and identify the number of additional workshops required to successfully complete the project.
Technology & Features Workshops

Length: 60-90 minutes (each)

Goal: Define specific software features and functionality

Summary

These workshops are designed to provide a collaborative space for our teams to identify and define the features, functionality, and integrations that your software project will need.

During the workshop, your team will collaborate closely with us. Together, we will aim to understand the user requirements, define the software’s features, and identify the necessary technology components to deliver the desired functionality.

The purpose of these workshops is to ensure that the software’s features and functionality align with your business needs and objectives. By taking the time to thoroughly explore your business goals and user requirements, our team can create a comprehensive and customized plan for the software development process that maximizes efficiency, minimizes risk, and delivers a high-quality product that meets your needs.
Brand Workshop

Length: 60 minutes

Goal: Ensure brand identity and consistency within the software

Summary

This workshop is designed to provide a collaborative space for our teams to identify and define your brand and design expectations for your software project.

During the workshop, your team will work closely with us to understand your brand identity, define your design expectations, and identify the themes or custom designs that will be needed to deliver the visual identity you want.

The purpose of this workshop is to ensure that the software’s design aligns with your brand identity and visual expectations. By taking the time to thoroughly explore your brand identity and design requirements, our team can create a comprehensive and customized plan for the software development process that maximizes efficiency, minimizes risk, and delivers a high-quality product that reflects your brand.
Design Workshop

Length: 60 minutes (each)

Goal: Determine design elements, visual theme, and user interface features for your software

Summary

The Design Workshop focuses on creating a seamless and engaging user experience for your software.

During this workshop, our teams work together to identify and define your design and user experience expectations for the software. Our goal is to ensure that the software’s design aligns with your brand identity, while also delivering an exceptional user experience that meets the needs of your target audience.

The purpose of these workshops is to collaborate with your team to define and identify the necessary design elements, visual themes, and user interface features needed for your software. By exploring your brand identity and design requirements, the development team can create a comprehensive plan that maximizes efficiency, minimizes risk, and delivers a high-quality product that reflects your brand and provides a superior user experience.
Architecture Workshop

Length: 60-90 minutes

Goal: Determine software architecture and technology stack

Summary

Architecture workshops are an essential component of the software discovery process. These workshops are designed to provide a collaborative space for our teams to identify and define the appropriate technology architecture for your software project.

During the workshop, your team will work with the us to define the technology stack, infrastructure, and system architecture that will support your software’s functionality, performance, and scalability.

The purpose of these workshops is to ensure that the software’s technical architecture aligns with your business needs, existing technologies, and overall vision for the project.
Scope Presentation

Length: 60-90 minutes

Goal: Provide a detailed scope, budget, and timeline for software development

Summary

The Scope Presentation marks the end of the Discovery phase. During this meeting, our team presents a comprehensive scope, timeline, and budget for software development and launch.

In this presentation, we will go over every detail of the project and ensure that all of your requirements are accounted for. We will also provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the entire software development process, including development, testing, revisions, launch, and post-launch support.

During the presentation, we will review the project scope, budget, and timeline, providing you with a detailed overview of each aspect of the project.

The goal of the Scope Presentation is to ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the project’s scope, budget, and timeline, and that everyone is aligned and on the same page.

Once the presentation is complete, we can move forward with the Develop and Deliver phases, confident that we have all the necessary information and that we are moving in the right direction to create a successful software application or integration that meets your business objectives.

How long does it take?

It depends, but typically 4-8 weeks.

Discovery is the most critical phase of the software development process and it sets the foundation for the entire project. We take the time to do it right.

While we aim to complete the discovery process as efficiently as possible, the time required to complete it can vary depending on several factors.

To ensure that we deliver a successful software application or integration that meets all of your business objectives and requirements, we recommend that the discovery process be given the appropriate amount of time it needs. We understand that time is of the essence, but skipping or rushing through the discovery process could lead to costly mistakes and delays down the line.