7 important tips for successful enterprise software development you need to know

Building enterprise software is hard. 

It needs to be secure, scalable, and easy to use, all while integrating with existing systems and adapting to your future needs.

And too many companies get it wrong and waste millions on software that misses the mark.

But, it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this article, we’ll walk you through 7 essential tips to help you build enterprise-grade software that actually works.

Let’s dive in!

Validate your idea first

Enterprise software development is expensive. 

Even small-scale enterprise software costs upward of $100,000 to build.

And a failed large-scale project can burn through millions without delivering results. 

In fact, according to McKinsey, 66% of large software development projects end up going over budget:

source: McKinsey

Skipping validation is a common mistake that causes enterprise projects to go over budget.

Many companies assume they know what end-users need. They don’t test assumptions and dive into development blind.

But, the best way to avoid failure is to validate your idea early.

And the first thing you should do is talk to real users. Conduct interviews, send surveys, and test prototypes. You need to find out what problems they actually face.

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Also, before you commit to full development, you should build a proof of concept (PoC). 

A PoC is a small-scale, testable version of your software you can use to see if your idea actually works.

Finally, you should build an MVP. Focus on core features, launch fast, and gather feedback to quickly iterate on your initial idea or pivot if you have to.

In short, validation is key if you want successful development.

And it can save you a lot of time and money.

Why validating your idea is important

Prioritize security and compliance

If you’ve read our other articles on enterprise software development, we keep repeating that security is non-negotiable when building enterprise-grade software.

And that’s for a good reason – a single security flaw can lead to massive financial and reputational damage you can’t afford.

Remember Equifax’s huge 2017 data breach? The final settlement cost them a massive $425 million.

Of course, most data breaches aren’t that costly. The average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024. But, depending on your industry, that number can be much higher:

source: Syteca

So, what can you do to avoid this from happening to you?

The most important thing is not treating security as an afterthought. You need to build security into the foundation of your software, not patch it on later.

Here’s a few practical tips to help you get there:

• Implement zero-trust architecture – Assume no user or device is trustworthy by default.
• Encrypt everything – Use strong end-to-end encryption to keep critical information safe.
• Enforce access controls – Limit permissions with role-based access control. No one should have unnecessary access to sensitive data.
• Follow compliance standards – Whether it’s GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2, make sure your software is compliant from the start.
• Conduct regular security audits – Identify potential vulnerabilities before attackers do.

Security isn’t just about avoiding fines or breaches. It’s about protecting your business’s reputation.

And reputation is something money can’t buy. 

Why prioritizing security is important

Use Agile methodologies

Agile isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a proven way to build better enterprise software, faster.

The stats prove it too – on average, Agile projects are 28% more successful than projects using traditional development methodologies.

But, why is that the case? And which methodology should you choose?

Agile methodologies primarily focus on 3 things – adaptability, collaboration, and speed.

If anything unexpected happens mid-development, Agile teams can much more easily adapt. And that’s key to success, especially if you’re in a fast-moving market niche.

Now, your choice of methodology will depend on your specific needs and your team’s experience.

We recommend Scrum as the best all-around choice – there’s a reason 87% of Agile teams use it.

Scrum is simple to understand – it breaks down your development cycle into smaller (2-4 week) iterations called sprints.

Each sprint is like a mini development cycle, starting with planning and ending with launch.

This iterative approach helps your team work faster and smarter. 

Agile methodologies aren’t just about building software faster. They’re about reducing risk and delivering software that actually meets your business needs.

And that’s why you should use them.

Why using Agile methodologies is important

Ensure smooth integration with other systems

Enterprise software doesn’t exist in isolation. 

It has to connect with your existing tools, databases, third-party services, and legacy systems to function properly. 

And poor integration leads to data silos, inefficiencies, and frustrated users.

Integration with legacy systems in particular can be challenging.

source: ModLogix

So, how do you prevent your enterprise software from becoming a bottleneck instead of a solution?

Here’s what you should do:

• Build custom APIs and middleware – Standardized APIs and middleware will prevent compatibility issues.
• Maintain backward compatibility – Make sure your new software and future updates don’t break existing workflows.
• Test integrations early and often – You need to catch issues before they impact end-users.
• Ensure real-time data synchronization – Prevent inconsistencies by instantly updating all connected systems. 
• Plan for scalability – Design integrations so they can handle increased data volumes and user growth.

A well-integrated system will run smoothly and ensure critical data flows exactly where it’s needed.

And if you get it right, your enterprise software will be a powerful asset instead of a constant headache.

Why smooth integration is important

Plan for data migration and management

Enterprise software runs on data. 

Migrating data from legacy systems is one of the biggest challenges in enterprise software development, however.

There’s a lot of moving parts here. Or, in other words, there are a lot of ways it can go wrong.

source: Astera Software

It’s no surprise then that over 80% of data migration projects run over time and/or over budget – that’s a sobering statistic, isn’t it?

So, how do you avoid becoming a part of that statistic yourself?

Here’s what you need to do:

• Start with a full data audit – Clean, organize, and structure your data before migration.
• Use a phased approach – Migrate your data in stages instead of all at once.
• Automate data transfers – Use ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools like Apache Airflow or Portable to reduce manual errors.
• Run validation checks – Ensure your data is accurate before going live.
• Have a rollback plan – Always prepare for worst-case scenarios.

Remember, data is your most valuable asset.

And you need to make sure you handle it with care.

Why planning for data migration and management is important

Focus on user experience (UX)

Enterprise software is built for productivity. 

But if it’s slow, clunky, or confusing, it kills efficiency. A bad user experience (UX) isn’t just an inconvenience – it can cost you millions and even ruin your reputation.

Epic Systems’ healthcare platform is a good example.

After it was introduced in Central Norway, 25% of doctors at the region’s main hospital considered quitting and 40% experienced stress-related health issues due to the new IT system.

Now, that’s an extreme example, but the point is that UX is important and often overlooked in enterprise software development. And it’s slightly different than for consumer-facing products:

source: Enyata

Your goal should be to create software people actually want to use.

Your first step should be thorough user research. Talk to real end-users before designing anything or pushing new updates.

Also, make sure to simplify workflows as much as you can. Cut unnecessary steps to reduce cognitive load and improve efficiency.

And don’t forget to test and refine your design. Use real feedback to continuously improve usability.

In a nutshell, your enterprise software shouldn’t just work well – it should make work easier.

And prioritizing UX is the easiest way to get there.

Why user experience and performance are important

Plan for long-term maintenance and scalability

Enterprise software isn’t a one-time project. 

It will need to evolve with your business, handle growing user demands, and stay secure over time. 

Yet, too many companies overlook this fact.

Over your software’s lifetime, maintenance will account for over 50% of your total cost of ownership (TCO):

source: LinkedIn

So, make sure to plan for all 4 types of software maintenance:

• Corrective maintenance – Finding bugs and errors post-launch.
• Adaptive maintenance – Updating your system to work with new hardware and software environments.
• Perfective maintenance – Improving features and performance based on user feedback.
• Preventive maintenance – Updating security measures and optimizing code.

You should budget about 20% of your initial development budget annually for maintenance.

But, planning for long-term maintenance is just one piece of the puzzle – you also need to plan for long-term scalability.

It’s the best way to future-proof your software. Here’s a couple of practical tips:

• Use a modular architecture – Design your software with microservices or as a modular monolith so you can add new features without disrupting the system.
• Make your system resilient – Build redundancy into your infrastructure to prevent downtime and ensure consistent performance.
• Optimize database scalability – Use sharding, indexing, and caching strategies to efficiently handle large data volumes.
• Use cloud services – Cloud solutions allow you to scale resources up or down based on demand.
• Automate monitoring and performance tuning – Use real-time analytics and alerts to detect and resolve bottlenecks before they impact end-users.

Planning ahead and building scalable and maintainable software from the start is key to long-term success.

And it will save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Why planning for long-term maintenance and scalability is important

Enterprise software development tips: FAQs

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Do you want to outsource development but you’ve been burned by a low quality vendor?

That’s where we come in.

We’re an EU-based, full-service software development company with 12+ years of experience in delivering enterprise-grade solutions for Fortune 500 companies and SMEs.

And if you hire us, you won’t have to worry about quality – we always deliver to the highest standards.

If you want to learn more, feel free to reach out and our team will be happy to discuss your needs in more detail.