Most of the IT companies now a days get requirements from the clients which require expertise that go beyond the traditional software projects. They have to deliver complex projects in diverse industries that include clients from manufacturing, healthcare, media, and construction.
The clients are expecting the technology partners not to just implement the system but to understand their day to day operations inside out. Apart from that, workflows and industry specific challenges are a must with it.
For example, a manufacturing client may ask you detailed production flows, media group client asks for a structured multi-level approvals. Similarly, a healthcare industry client would be requiring clarity on patient journeys, and a construction company might be looking forward for cost tracking and site co-ordination workflows.
Having said that, these type of workflows will almost take years of exposure in the domain to fully understand them. And while the IT companies are already strong in the technology part, not every company in real terms can be an expert in each and every industry vertical they are serving.
On that particular note, i will also like to add that the complexity of projects will continue to grow like – having integrations, customizations, mapping of workflows, automation opportunities, and a continuous delivery cycle. So, even if you have an internal project tracking system it will not fill in the functional knowledge gap.
This will for sure lead to challenges that are natural in cause. And here, the question comes “how can IT companies deliver complex projects in diverse industries when the required industry knowledge is limited within their internal team?”.
What are the consequences?
There are a lot of times when you will find that your client expectations are high and the internal functional expertise is limited. Here, It companies can experience various situations –
- Projects start slowing down because some specific industry workflow is not understood fully
- Internal consultants are not able to understand client’s business terminologies leading to longer requirement gathering cycles
- Developers are waiting for clarity on functional behaviour causing delays in feature development
- QA teams spend extra time to validate flows as the scenarios differ across industries
- Project managers are seen handling back and forth with clients for clarifications
Well there are not problems but natural outcomes when the IT companies serve multiple industries without dedicated specialists for each.
We have seen real world examples that help us to show how addressing these gaps can make an impact when IT companies deliver complex projects.
- Whenever functional experts define the industry workflows the requirement clarity improves by 40- 50%
- Quality assurance will become 2x stronger when the testers understand domain specific scenarios
- When the configurations and customizations follow the business logic the development rework reduces by 30-35%
- When the documents are able to reflect the client’s operational reality, client approvals become faster
Even if the IT companies are already using an advanced project system will see a difference, a measurable improvement. Because the success of an implementation depends on people and expertise than tools use to administer them.
Silent Shift Happening Across Industry
There is a silent shift which is happening across the industry. Many of the IT companies who are working with diverse industries are relying on external resources. And to add-on to their strength, they are looking out for industry specific functional consultants, skilled developers, and dedicated QA teams.
This approach is not outsourcing and neither a replacement of their internal teams. But, it’s a form of skill alignment which ensures that the right knowledge is available at the right time and stage of their end client projects.
For example:
- A manufacturing consultant who will be joining for 3 weeks can define entire BOM, routing, and quality workflows in a clear way that would have taken months for a generalist team to decode.
- Healthcare specialist can guide the requirement session with complete accuracy which in turn ensures capturing correctly the compliance focused workflows .
- Similarly, a media workflow expert can help in mapping multi tier approval chains removing any ambiguities from development.
- Domain consultant in construction industry can streamline BOQ, WBS structures, project costing flows and site coordination logic.
Global companies have already started using this model for years. And now the growing IT companies have started adopting the same model. This is due to the fact that it gives them what they want and that is industry expertise at the moment when it matters the most.
So, the results are having better clarity, faster execution, along with higher confidence in delivering the projects.
A Practical Resourcing Model – Deliver Complex Projects
Now, a simple yet effective approach is being used by a growing number of IT companies. They are extending their delivery teams. And this is being done through external developers, QA engineers, and functional consultants and that too only when they need specific industry expertise.
This unlocks multiple benefits:
1. Plug In On Demand Industry Expertise
Instead of you having to build a permanent expertise across multiple industries, your team can plugin in specialists whenever a project requires them.
2. Be More Confident with Faster Requirement Mapping
External domain specialists can help you in crafting draft flows, validate the logic, and guide you in requirement gathering sessions. This will ensure that your development is made smoother for everyone.
3. You get More Predictable Development Cycles
The developers can focus on feature building and there is no need for them to wait for the functional clarifications thereby reducing delays in a significant manner.
4. You Have a Stronger QA Coverage
When QA engineers are having domain specific understanding they are able to create accurate scenarios that will reflect real client operations thus helping to improve the release stability.
5. More Impactful Use of Existing Tools
When the IT companies that are already using ERPs or any other workflow systems they see a ,major upliftment. This is because oft the fact that when Tools are combined with Domain expertise it gives you – clarity, speed and accuracy.
6. A Flexible, Low-Commitment Resource Layer
Your teams do not not have to expand permanently but they have to simple align with skill based on project phases. So, the end result is that it makes your entire delivery process feel lighter, faster, and more in control.
Are you are still into exploring ways that can help strengthen your project clarity, accelerate delivery, or add industry specific expertise without expanding your full time team? Well, we can share how growing It companies are applying this practical approach.
You can start it by a small engagement like 1-2 week, whether you are looking for functional consulting, developer resource, or dedicated QA and experience the improvement firsthand.
Whenever you feel the need, we’re here to support your ongoing and upcoming projects with the exact expertise you require. To connect, just drop us a mail at sales@apagen.com or call us on +91 9971800665.