Most Common Software Launch Problems

Problems in Software Launches

When software launches there can be several issues. It is far more desirable to solve issues before release then after. By being proactive you can avoid issues that can become major problems upon release. To avoid these launch problems you must be aware of what they are.  What follows are several of the challenges that may come up during your design technology career when it comes to software development.

Doesn’t Live Up to Hype / Overstated Advertisement

Several companies over the years have preceded software releases with a marketing blitz. While advertising is all well and good it needs to be realistic. Over hype of a product can be very damaging to a company’s reputation. Software marketing needs to be an accurate representation of how it works in daily use.

There have been cases of a very large company releasing operating system where features were overstated. Because the released product didn’t live up to the marketing the result was an angry consumer base. In time programmers were able to patch the software. By the later patches the software was every bit as good as the ads claimed. But the damage was already done and consumer trust lost. When it comes to hype follow the old adages under sell and over deliver.

Failing of Online Components

With the increased use of cloud computing and online components software often has an online requirements. Where companies run into issues is when they don’t have the servers set up properly for user volume. Simply put the company’s online servers cannot handle the amount of customers trying to use them. This means that customers may have slow or inconsistent use of the program or it may not work at all.

This can be a hard issue to plan for. User load is a hard thing to predict. However, it’s worth the effort to avoid the backlash that comes when customers find out they can’t use their purchased products. In such situations it’s always best to predict higher server volume then expected. This ensures that customer issues can be avoided or more easily fixed when encountered. Server usage can be readjusted later if too much is being used; what can’t be readjusted later is a bad software launch with customers who can’t get online.

Product Doesn’t Differentiate Itself

In the modern software market you have to stand out. Customers are often loyal to certain brands and software environments due to habit. If a customer has been using the same word processor program for 15 years releasing one that works just like it doesn’t do much. To win over customers you have to give them a reason.

A software product has to have a hook. There has been more then one product failure due to simply blending in with everything else. So in your product’s usage and advertisements find an aspect that makes it stand out. It doesn’t have to redefine computing or even be an entirely new idea. What it does have to be is something that stands out and draws the customer’s attention.

Lack of User Consideration

This issue mainly relates to user interfaces and how programs are set up. Software has had a few bad launches because the end user wasn’t considered. A product has to consider whose going to use it and how they are going to use it. A team of software engineers may find the developed software great. Then when it gets to the average end user they hate how it works.

Make use of software testing. Above all listen to the user experiences. If there are common complaints listen to them. Something as simple as the location of a button or icon may sound trite but programs have failed for less. If your software is an update to existing software monitor feedback before making any drastic changed. Customers get comfortable with daily usage. Because of this always consider them before making any sweeping changes.

Most Common Software Launch Problems