What’s key is that you cover your product’s functional and non-functional requirements.
The functional requirements cover what your product does and the non-functional requirements cover how it does it.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of both:
If these requirements are unclear, you won’t be able to keep your development focused and your team on the same page.
And that’s a recipe for failure.
How to fix it
Use visual aids in your SRS document – visual aids like flowcharts and diagrams will help you avoid misunderstandings and keep everyone on the same page
Use Agile methodologies – Agile methodologies like Scrum include regular reviews, so you can easily adjust your requirements
Regularly review your requirements – make sure you regularly review your requirements as you develop your product so they’re still relevant
Neglecting user experience (UX)
Neglecting your product’s UX is one of the worst mistakes you can make when developing a software product.
Think about this statistic for a second – 88% of users are less likely to return if they have just 1 bad experience.
So, it’s obvious that prioritizing UX is a good idea – but, how can you do that?
Steve Jobs once said:
“You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology, not the other way around.”
That’s exactly the mindset you need to adopt – your users’ experience always has to come first.
You need to have a deep understanding of your users’ needs before you begin building your product.
That’s key to developing a successful product.
How to fix it
Optimize your product’s performance – optimizing performance will greatly improve your users’ experience and improve your retention rate
Design with accessibility in mind – if you design your product to be accessible, you’ll broaden your user base and improve your product’s UX
Use responsive design – with responsive design, your product adapts to your users’ devices and gives them a consistent experience
Neglecting security
Out of all the mistakes we’ve covered in this article, neglecting your software product’s security is by far the most dangerous and costly mistake you can make.
The estimated cost of cybercrime will rise to $23.82 trillion by 2027 – that’s a 63% increase from the 2024 numbers.
But, it’s not just your finances that might take a hit after a security breach.
There’s a massive reputational cost if you neglect security, too – nearly 60% of companies end up going out of business after suffering a breach.
And according to the IDC, 80% of users will defect from a business if their information is compromised.
So, if you neglect your software product’s security, you’re not just building a subpar product – you’re also risking your entire business.
And that’s why focusing on security is crucial.
How to fix it
Use AI cybersecurity systems – AI cybersecurity systems like Darktrace and CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform will give your product cutting-edge security and help you deal with advanced cybersecurity threats
Do regular security audits – make sure you have regular security audits to catch and fix any vulnerabilities that crop up
Encrypt your data – if you encrypt your and your users’ data, you’ll improve your product’s security and increase user trust
Skipping software product testing
$2.42 trillion – that’s how much poor software quality costs U.S. companies every year.
And if you skip testing when developing your software product, you’ll become a part of that statistic.
Mario makes every project run smoothly. A firm believer that people are DECODE’s most vital resource, he naturally grew into his former role as People Operations Manager. Now, his encyclopaedic knowledge of every DECODEr’s role, and his expertise in all things tech, enables him to guide DECODE's technical vision as CTO to make sure we're always ahead of the curve.
Part engineer, and seemingly part therapist, Mario is always calm under pressure, which helps to maintain the office’s stress-free vibe. In fact, sitting and thinking is his main hobby. What’s more Zen than that?
