How We Communicate with Clients
Sofię_Nalimską
Project Manager
You don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. With this wisdom in mind, we start communicating with every new client, partner, and employee. The value and importance of good communication are often underestimated, which results in misunderstandings, delays, and refusal to collaborate in sync. That is not the case with Powercode because we love to communicate with our clients, and it is so good to say that the feeling is mutual.
Why Good Communication with Clients is Important on Every Stage of the Project
As an outsource software development company that also founded a few businesses from scratch, we understand our clients. We know how important it is for them to be constantly updated on their product development process. A business product is like a child to its founder, and the desire to know every important detail of how their idea transforms into something real is natural. That is why, even if the development team does not include a project manager, the client always has our account manager to communicate and discuss project-related things and concerns.First Reach
We believe that it is essential to show our professional and human side to every new client. Our communication is focused on business goals. Yet, it never hurts to include a personal touch so our future clients can be sure that we are on the same page as both experts and individuals. In addition, first-reach communication is vital for trust-building. Sharing a business idea with the outsource team is often stressful for startup and business owners. We want our clients to feel comfortable with Powercode from the first moments of our collaboration.
Project Estimation
At this product development stage, we are mostly the listeners. Our goal is to help the client solve their business problem. And to do that, we need to get enough information on what kind of software the client needs, what are the primary and secondary purposes of this software for business, deadline, budget, expectations, etc. To get the full picture of what the client wants and needs, we ask questions to clarify some things, and make suggestions to understand what more we can offer to make their product even better.
Business Analysis
All successful business products start with business analysis. If our client doesn’t have the resources to analyze their target market, main competitors, business plan, and idea viability, they can always rely on our experience in business analytics. When the analysis is finished, we present it to the customer. Then, we discuss what functionalities and features their product should include, essential elements and colors of UI/UX design, the most efficient business model, and many other things. Active communication is vital at this product development stage because it directly impacts the quality of the Project Requirement Document that has comprehensive information on technologies, software architecture, and the scope of work.After the PRD is finished and approved by the client, it is advised not to add changes during the development stage because every change impacts the timeline and the budget.
We actively communicate with the client to make sure the project goes smoothly and doesn’t have any unwanted surprises, delays, or additional expenses. At this point, our goal is to give the client all essential information on our work and processes, and the complete picture of how their business product will look and function.
MVP or Product Development and Testing
Even though clients don’t have to actively participate in developing and testing their future MVP or product, they still should be regularly updated on the progress. In addition to the scheduled reporting, our clients can occasionally reach out to the project manager and get exhaustive information on anything bothering their mind – what is currently in development and testing, are there any challenges, does everything go according to the timeline, and others. Our regular progress reports always cover these questions, but we are always open to additional communication with the clients, even if it is not strictly project-related. Changes in customer’s requirements may affect the project’s timeline and budget, but if the customer wants these changes and is sure they will make the product even better, we gladly discuss and implement them. We are always about transparency and high quality; thus, we always tell whether the changes will make the product better or worse.
Product Launch
Launching the product into the real world is a big moment, and it is often stressful for the client. Not because something might go wrong during the launch, but because it is the moment when their new business story begins. We provide full technical assistance and emotional support when needed to make sure everything works smoothly right from the start. The more communication with the client we have at this stage, the more information and confidence in the product they get.
Post-launch Maintenance, Product Upgrade, and Support
Even when the project is finished, and the product is successfully launched, we don’t end our communication with clients. In addition to the pleasure we receive from talking to our beloved clients, it is a chance for us to receive their objective feedback. Every feedback helps us provide even better products and services because we get a chance to look at Powercode with the eyes of our clients and see all strengths and weaknesses. We are always pleased when our clients return to update or upgrade their product because it tells that they enjoyed collaborating with us as professionals and individuals, and they want to do it again. So do we!
Powercode and Our Communication in Numbers
Here’s one of the cases when numbers say more than words.
