Why Agile Development Matters to You

“We’re Agile” - is a phrase you may have heard if you’ve shopped for software recently. With close to 90% of software companies using some form of Agile development, it’s extremely likely that the products you use on a daily basis were built using this methodology. Here at ClickTime, we are also “Agile.” And while the benefits of using Agile are widely understood within the software industry, the benefits are less well known outside the software world--especially to those it impacts the most: you, the people who use the final product.

So, how do our customers benefit from us being “Agile?”

More Updates, More Often

Agile development (the work we do - new features, bug fixes, infrastructural changes, etc.) is done within short time frames called sprints. Without Agile, we would be bundling massive changes that would only be released every quarter. Our sprints are 2 weeks long, which means faster releases with more features to more customers.

Changes, For the Better

Not all features can be completed in a 2 week sprint, which means we end up slicing big features into several smaller component features that get released over multiple sprints. By developing a feature strategically and iteratively, we have time to solicit and incorporate your feedback into the development of a new feature. Your feedback and involvement is central to building great software (and is always greatly appreciated).

Flexibility

Our short sprints keep our product roadmap flexible and responsive to external and unexpected changes. For example, we may change the design of a new feature in response to a new technology that was just released. (Time tracking from your watch!?) A major update to a browser and/or operating system may cause us to pause everything to ensure our customers still have forward and backward compatibility. The flexibility of the short sprint allows us to pivot when necessary and quickly adapt to a constantly changing environment. This also means that you can expect to use a product that is always healthy and up-to-date.

These are just a few of the highlights we’ve shared from our experiences with Agile development. But aside from the inherent benefits, the most important thing is that our strategies help us help you.