Our Key Areas
What We Do
How we do it
Your new software or website project will be entirely based on the detailed planning work that is completed prior to any development taking place. This is essential to ensure all parties have a firm understanding on how the end product will look, feel and function, and to avoid any inefficiencies through changes mid way during the build.
Proposal | following a set of meetings to gain an understanding of the challenges facing your business, a proposal is presented to explain how we'll be working with you. In this document, we will outline the key features that we expect your system to benefit from including a overview description of the functionality you can expect and on which we have based our price. We use our technical experience and business knowledge to accurately estimate the length of time required to develop the software. Based on this, the cost of your software is determined.
Technical specification | before a single line of code is written or database table constructed, or a design presented your system is mapped out. Following a short lead time, we will arrange to visit you to begin the requirements gathering process. For a system of this size, we would expect this process to span several weeks including multiple visits to liaise with staff and will consist of two members of our development team; a business analyst and technical programmer.
During these visits, key staff within your organisation are asked to spend time assisting us to understand precisely what your software needs to accomplish. Through this interaction, we develop a more detailed understanding of the issues you face, ask questions and help devise the best solution to meet your challenges.
On completion of our visits, we will collate the information we have gained from you, resulting in a specification document that describes how the system will function; options available to each type of user, validation, the results of each action etc.
We will ask you to read this document carefully and confirm that it meets your requirements fully. If any modifications are required, these will be applied before the document is reissued. Such is the importance of this document that an unlimited number of iterations will be provided at no extra cost until you are satisfied that all functionality is covered.
We ask that all pages of this document are signed to confirm agreement. The development stage of the project is then ready to proceed.
After the requirement analysis is completed, and while we’re creating the specification, it is quite common for additional features not considered during the proposal phase to be requested. Equally, you may decide not to include some elements. Our estimations take this likelihood into account so any price amendments are unlikely, but may occur. Any increase or reduction in the cost of the project will be agreed at this stage before the specification is signed off.
Development | this stage is where the main development of your state of the art application begins. The first part includes the construction of the database using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and based on the database design created in the technical specification.
Once this is complete, we use Rapid Application Development tools to create the foundations of your system.
The most time-consuming part follows as we build on the foundations to create your unique application. We use a mixture of bespoke code writing and appropriate third party components (e.g. calendar controls, Word add-ins & PDF generators) to fuse together the user interface and background functions such as automated notifications.
Quality Assurance & testing | extensive testing and quality assurance processes are used to test all code and design aspects throughout the development. Being a web based application, we are able to provide you with regular updates and demonstrations of the software as we progress through the build.
Once the application has been completed, a final round of testing both by DCSL Software and by end users will begin. This user testing is invaluable in testing the robustness of the system in the hands of the people that will be using it day-to-day.
Training | our systems are developed to be intuitive for the user, so the need for formal training is significantly reduced. The technical specification (which is written in ‘English’ as opposed to technical jargon) is generally used to compliment the knowledge of the stakeholders that have been involved in the creation of the system. Full training options are available on request.
Hosting | your new application will benefit from the high quality infrastructure at Rackspace. When the system is ready for launch, the database and system files will be uploaded to our live environment.
Support | the ongoing support provided by DCSL Software to assist in the maintenance of your new system will complete the process. A comprehensive service level agreement is activated on launch of the system which includes priority bug fixing, assistance with any functionality you’re unfamiliar with and access to our online Helpdesk system alongside telephone and email support.
See our Case Studies & Client Portfolio page for more information on how we have helped companies including BT Wholesale, the NHS and IKEA to realise their software solutions with DCSL. Alternatively, request a free consultation by sending an email to contact@dcslsoftware.com and find how we can help you with your software solution needs. If you would prefer to speak with one of our representatives call us on 0845 050 5558*.
* Calls charged at local rate.