Every software development project is unique, which means that estimating the time required to complete a project is as well. There are a lot of different things to consider when you begin to plan for your next software development project, and it is important to understand how they impact the time to complete.
A software project is more than just time spent coding, which is why time estimations are so important and often misunderstood. Creating accurate estimates helps create alignment with your team and client.
Importance of Estimates for Software Projects
Software development time estimation is key to the success of any software development project. Time estimations are difficult to gauge and require experience and thorough thought. However, spending the time to make proper estimates is well worth it.
Strong estimates help you with understanding scale, planning phases and iterations, determining the lift for each team member, deciding how many should be involved, and setting a budget. But time estimates aren’t just useful for the software development team, they also help your client.
Importance of Estimates for Clients
Time estimations are not just important for the company; they’re also helpful for the client. Clients need to be kept in the loop throughout the project. Clear communication helps set and manage expectations and helps your team avoid too many changes and additions.
A good timeline helps the client set their launch date and plan what is needed on their end. Keeping clients aware of your timeline is also crucial when they don’t have much previous experience with software development. Otherwise, clients may set their expectations based off any previous projects they may have been a part of or inaccurate information they find online.
Time estimates also give the client a firmer grasp on the scope of a project. The timeline conversation keys in your client to how long each item or sprint will take, and it will help them determine scope and the impact each new ask or change may have.
Clear understanding of scope also creates transparency with pricing. Meeting the client’s expectation on both time and budget is a fundamental part of a successful project. Not only does it make sure everyone is on the same page, but it also keeps the client satisfied and on board.
Importance of Estimates for Software Development Company
Software development time estimation isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary for software development companies.
Software development projects run the risk of ballooning out of control without a source of truth to stick to. Time estimates are the start. The more your company is able to maintain the timeline and budget, the more you will stay hireable for future projects.
Software complexity has a big impact on software development estimates. Strong software projects rely on time estimates to ensure all the tasks are completed. It helps project managers decide on the size of the team, plan timelines, and to prepare sprints.
Developing software is full of twists and turns. Strong time estimation helps ensure that your project doesn’t become a never ending, ongoing project. Time estimation helps set the scope and ensure additions do not push your project beyond your established scope.
What Makes Estimation Difficult?
Many variables are at play in the development process. A software project is full of learning and creating which makes estimation all the more difficult and even more necessary.
Software development time is just the half of the development process. Each phase is liable to have changing conditions. Planning and requirements gathering can drag on as Business Analysts and Project Managers try to coordinate the correct team members in the right meetings.
Even once requirements are initially set, the client may have changing ideas or needs, which could push the scope of the project. Keeping strong documentation and discussing scope at your initial meetings will help keep the scope of the whole development process manageable.
Even the most thorough planning can go awry. There are so many unforeseen circumstances that can crop up that may impact the time it takes to deliver a project. Environmental issues, architectural flaws, library issues, and more all impact the amount of time it takes to complete even the simplest of tasks and are outside of your control.
As you begin to dig into a project, you may encounter other turns. For example, the team assembled to finish the project may have personal factors that impact their efficiency and time spent pushing a project to completion. Even the best software developers experience productivity issues from time to time, which certainly impact the estimation process.
While all developers face hurdles that make time estimations difficult, front-end and back-end developers each have different things that complicate your software estimate.
Back-End Developers
Back-end developers are not always looped into the conversation from the outset, which can slow down their development time. As they begin to work through requirements, the software development time may change based on how detailed the requirements are or how many changes happen and how familiar the developer is with the tech used.
Front-End Developers
Front-end developers also experience their fair share of roadblocks. There are a lot of intricacies and details, such as device and size specifications, descriptions, and so forth that go un-noted and that developers must spend time finding the answers to. Clients also may have larger-than-life expectations and ideas that pop up during collaboration that may push the limits of scope and time.
How to Estimate Software Development Time
All things considered, there are a few steps you can follow that help your software development company with time estimation.
Prep
First things first, you have to prepare for the project.
Before you can provide your software development time estimation, you need to have a grasp on the project. Start by defining the scope of the project and outlining deliverables. Gather all the necessary data and information. Dive into similar projects and make sure that you have a strong understanding of your client’s vision by creating mockups and wireframes.
Rough Estimate
Once you have completed all your prep work you can begin to create a rough estimate. Start by setting up your framework and define the effort for each feature. Look at how the project will unfold and make sure to pad time for any unforeseen delays and hurdles.
Discovery
Next, it is time to refine the estimate. Start creating stories and requirements to help breakdown the lift for the project. Once your requirements are done, you can begin to assess the size of the team and start creating a timeline.
Establish Your Team and Timeline
Once you have a clear understanding of what the lift will be, you can begin to put together a team. Taking time in the discovery stage will help you to put the right people on the job based on the lift and your team’s skills and abilities.
With a clear understanding of the scope, the requirements to make the project happen, and the team available to you, you can create a clear time estimate for your client.
Best Tips for Making Estimates
Here at Geneca, we understand the benefits and sheer necessity for making strong estimates both for our team and for our clients. Here are some of our best practices that ensure we make strong estimates and create solid deliverables given to a client on time, every time.
Break it Down
Break your project down into manageable pieces. Having smaller objects help keep the project on track and moving forward. It also helps you to get a better idea of what each ask truly entails.
Ask Intentional Questions
Asking thoughtful questions is important for your entire team. Good questions keep mistakes from happening and ensure all parties are on the same page. Oftentimes, developers speak a different language than clients. Find ways to clarify needs and create processes that diminish any confusion and ambiguity.
Trust us—it will save you time by not forcing you to redo and revisit the same thing over and over.
Be Realistic
When thinking about how long a certain task will take, be realistic about the factors at play: Who is on your team, what other variables are involved, what hurdles may occur, etc. And remember: we are all human and operate at different levels.
A task that takes you a half day on your A game may take you an entire day on your off days. Provide time in your estimates for the unknowns and confounding variables. Most importantly, be realistic.
Don’t set yourself up to miss a target by pushing for a tight timeline. Avoid doing so by adding time for all the things that can go wrong and prepping ahead to move forward if your team is ahead of schedule.
Touch Base
Follow through is a must for a successful development project. Enterprise software projects, for example, are a great tool to help you, your team, and your client remain on the same page. Setting aside time to touch base regularly will help you keep a project on track and to ensure that your estimates are realistic and met.
Account for Everything
When you begin to dive into a project, it is easy to fall into the trap of only considering how long a specific task will take. For example, part of your project is to develop a landing page. Easy, a one-day lift. What you forgot to take into account was the meetings to design and prepare requirements, any changes that may pop up, bugs that may slow you down, testing needed, UAT, and time for production.
Creating strong software development time estimation is a learning process. However, using these steps and practicing will help you to provide the most accurate estimates possible. It isn’t just handy—it’s necessary for both you and the client.
Providing time estimates is a must in software. Following these tips and steps can help you create solid estimates and stick to your timeline. Remember, it isn’t a science. It is all about knowing your task and knowing your team.
If you have an idea for a development project in mind and need a strong estimate, give us a call. Delivering exceptional on time and on budget projects is what we do.
Learn More with Geneca
How do you estimate development time?
There are a few things to consider. The lift and the team involved. Create strong requirements and assign them out to your team. Once you understand what is required and who will complete what, you will be able to provide a solid development time estimation.
How do you estimate time required for a software development project?
First gather a clear idea of the project ahead and break it down into functional components. Create a timeline for your development plan and then assess your team. Consider the effort each piece will take and remember to factor in more than just time to develop.
How long should a software build take?
That depends! Each project is unique, but you can use the tools above to get a good estimate.
What is the role of time estimate in a software development?
Time estimations provide a guideline for your software development projects and help to keep projects on time and keeps everyone on the same page. Estimates help keep expectations clear and ensure that everyone is on the same page.