Not really.
Launch is probably the most nerve-wracking part of the whole process. Even with exhaustive checks and double-checks, not to mention automated monitoring systems continuously checking system readiness, countless things can go wrong and abort the launch at the last minute. You know this well if you remember the first few years of the U.S. Space Shuttle program, or have been following the progress of SpaceX and Virgin Galactic.
And as the Challenger disaster showed, even if all the systems appear to be ready to launch, things can still go catastrophically wrong.
Software product launches can be similarly exasperating, albeit on a less dramatic scale.
At AndPlus, we understand that a software product launch—the point at which the software is released to customers—can make or break the overall success of the product. That’s why we dedicate an entire sprint, called the launch sprint, solely for launch preparation after the product is considered ready for release.
In the launch sprint, we work closely with the client, guiding them through the launch process with the following activities.
A problematic product launch can be difficult to overcome. Microsoft’s Windows 95 infamously crashed while Bill Gates himself was giving a high-profile public demo. Although the gaffe didn’t seem to hurt sales, it did sully the product’s reputation; Windows 95 was, throughout its lifetime, commonly considered half-baked, a problem from which it never quite recovered before its successor, Windows 98, was released (to better reviews, if less fanfare).
It can be frustrating to think that your software’s development is complete, but the product is not ready for launch. We understand clients’ impatience—they’ve waited this long to get their product ready, and now they have to wait another week or two? But once they understand the many things that can wrong between code-complete software and product launch, they appreciate the extra sprint that we go through to make sure there are no hiccups leading up to Day 1.
At AndPlus, we can’t be successful unless our clients are successful. From making sure we understand the complete requirements, users, and environment, through ensuring a smooth product launch, we do everything in our power to ensure each client’s success. It’s the AndPlus way.