Có cần tài liệu thiết kế (design document) trong phát triển phần mềm Agile?

Online Retailing Triumph #1: Explore Modern Offshore with SupremeTech & Classmethod

Unlock the Power of Partnership in Customer Service in Online Retailing with SupremeTech, a journey through excellence, collaboration, and innovation. SupremeTech's commitment to continuous improvement led to vital projects, thanks to their partnership with Classmethod. They excel in managing data, ensuring security, and tailoring solutions to client needs. Their ongoing support and dedicated client teams ensure sustained success. Together we prove that the Modern Offshore model is a winning formula for offshore development. Let's explore how we did that in the series of Online Retailing Triumph. Online Retailing Triumph - Episode 2 Online Retailing Triumph - Episode 3 Tackling Data Challenges in Customer Service Digitalization When discussing Customer Service Digitalization, individuals often focus on optimizing the user experience with every click of a button. However, the cornerstone of this digital transformation lies hidden behind each user interface - Data. In the customer service industry, safeguarding customer data is of paramount importance. This is precisely where SupremeTech initiated a collaboration, partnering with a major coffee chain in Japan and Classmethod. This strategic partnership commenced with the critical task of managing a substantial segment of their extensive system. Without effective data management, the system remains devoid of valuable information for analytics. It is this expertise that led to SupremeTech's selection to handle this pivotal case, marking the beginning of a promising partnership. Identifying the Key Challenges Now, with a few stepIn the realm of customer service digitalization, recognizing and addressing challenges is paramount to success. One of the most pivotal challenges faced by businesses is effectively managing data. This is where the power of partnership comes into play, as exemplified by the collaborative efforts of SupremeTech and Classmethod. Collaborating with multiple vendors in one project SupremeTech's journey in overcoming these challenges begins with a crucial partnership role. Our company and Classmethod work as one of the multiple vendors within a complex project of a big brand of coffee chain. This collaboration laid the foundation for tackling the intricate data management needs of the customer service industry. Offshore development, in this context, plays a pivotal role in efficiently executing the project. It leverages a global approach to resource allocation, enabling us to harness a diverse pool of talent, cost advantages, and time zone differences to meet the project's multifaceted demands. As we work cohesively with Classmethod and other vendors, offshore development ensures a dynamic and comprehensive solution to tackle the intricacies of data management in the customer service industry. Dealing with Unpredictable Daily Data Imports A significant hurdle in this endeavor was dealing with the unpredictable nature of daily data imports. SupremeTech, in partnership with Classmethod, needed to develop solutions that could adapt to the ever-changing influx of data, ensuring seamless operations and data security. Collaborating seamlessly alongside Classmethod, our joint team conducted research and maintained a robust line of communication. Every update was consistently shared and cross-verified with the customer, ensuring optimal outcomes. Extracting Data from Store Sources Furthermore, recognizing the paramount importance of data security in the business sphere, SupremeTech unwaveringly prioritized safeguarding every feature and piece of information. The process of extracting data from diverse store sources demands a delicate balance of precision and security, and SupremeTech excels in this critical domain. Here's a closer look at how they manage this intricate task. SupremeTech's approach begins with meticulous research and analysis. They recognize that the data extracted holds the key to unlocking invaluable insights for data analytics. Thus, they leave no stone unturned in understanding the nuances of each client's store sources. One of the standout qualities of SupremeTech is their commitment to maintaining the utmost secrecy and precision during data extraction. Recognizing that data is often a company's most closely guarded asset, they implement stringent security protocols to ensure that data remains confidential and protected throughout the extraction process. SupremeTech's Successful Challenge Conquest SupremeTech's journey in conquering challenges in data management is a testament to its commitment to excellence and its invaluable partnership with Classmethod. From Research to Specialized Data Management Expertise Our success story begins with thorough research, leading to the development of specialized expertise in data management. Supreme Tech's dedication to staying at the forefront of industry knowledge has empowered them to provide innovative solutions. Careful and Methodical Problem Solving with Partner In partnership with Classmethod, SupremeTech approaches challenges with a careful and methodical problem-solving approach. Their synergy ensures that complex issues are addressed comprehensively and efficiently. SupremeTech Customized Solutions for Client-Centric Success SupremeTech's expertise shines through in its ability to tailor solutions that seamlessly align with each client's unique objectives and intricate system requirements. These customer-centric solutions are the cornerstone of their partnership-driven approach. Ongoing Support and Follow-Up Beyond the initial implementation, Supremetech's commitment to its clients is an unwavering promise of continued support and follow-up, ensuring that the journey toward sustained success remains smooth and fruitful. SupremeTech understands that the digital landscape is dynamic, and business needs can change rapidly. Therefore, they provide dedicated client support teams, equipped with deep expertise and a thorough understanding of the client's specific objectives. This personalized approach ensures that clients have a reliable partner to turn to for assistance, guidance, and troubleshooting. Maintaining Strong Client Partnerships - Classmethod  SupremeTech's dedication to maintaining strong client partnerships, exemplified by its collaboration with Classmethod (CM), underscores its commitment to fostering enduring relationships built on trust and reliability. Committed to Continuous Improvement SupremeTech's unwavering commitment to continuous improvement has earned them a series of significant projects with CM. Their dedication to staying ahead in industry trends and emerging technologies ensures they offer cutting-edge solutions. This commitment has solidified their partnership with CM, demonstrating the tangible benefits of their innovative approach.  In essence, SupremeTech's journey of continuous improvement not only keeps them competitive but also strengthens partnerships and attracts vital projects, underlining their dedication to excellence. Development systems and technologies Below are the resources and technologies we use to develop the services: Details of entrustment: Implementation, Testing, Migration, Maintenance & Operation Platform: Web Development language: PHP, Javascript Let SupremeTech help you to start the system now! Start to invest for your start now with the help of SupremeTech. Our expertise and solutions will empower you to request! Don't wait, let's take the first step towards digitizing your customer service now!

A Virtual Office for Remote and Hybrid Workers

Today.ly is a virtual office service that provides all of the benefits of a physical office for professionals working from the comfort of their homes. Engaging Alternative for Remote Work The debate between working remotely and working in the office rages on. We won't get into the pros and cons of each work style. However, we believe that working remotely in Today.ly's office simulation can make remote work more fun and interactive (and potentially more attractive to die-hard in-office workers). Sure, the days of everyone being cooped up for months on end are over. For some companies and industries, working from home is no longer a necessity. Today.ly allows teams to work remotely without completely losing the serendipitous moments that physical offices provide.  Working Together as Partners SupremeTech started developing Today.ly after being approached by our current business partner in Singapore. They came to us with the idea of creating a virtual office space during the peak hours of remote work. Our partner relied on us to leverage our expertise in R&D to create and develop an MVP. One of the main reasons for choosing SupremeTech as their partner was the proximity of Vietnam to Singapore. However, they also recognized our ability to deliver a quality product quickly and efficiently.  Communication and Cross-border Collaboration As with most offshore development projects, the communication element can make or break a partnership. SupremeTech works with many companies from all over the world. Our expertise is mainly in the Japanese market. There were some initial challenges in getting used to communicating with a Singaporean partner, but our team overcame these challenges and worked smoothly and successfully with all members of the project. We used Today.ly to organize calls and meetings with our foreign partners because we felt that the product would help create cross-border collaboration. Developing Something More than A Video Call Tool The business idea was born during the pandemic, as were many online learning and work tools. However, we did not build Today.ly with a focus on online calls. We developed Today.ly to mimic more of the spontaneous happenings of the office. It was designed to function like an online office while allowing employees to enjoy the convenience and comfort of their home. We wanted to provide a virtual office that could strengthen the bonds of employees. This is not a video calling service; this is a virtual office that increases collaboration and teamwork amongst team members, even when they are physically separated.  But that was actually one of the main challenges of this project: how can we build something that takes advantage of the benefits of office work, but isn't redundant or completely useless in the market? The answer was to create an online space for communication, not just a communication tool. Nearly all companies use meetings to interact and discuss ongoing projects. For remote meetings, this means using a video call to communicate. There's nothing wrong with a regular video call; in fact, in some cases, it's probably more useful than any other method. Even if you think an email or message would suffice, meetings are inevitable.  Virtual Offices Doing More for Your Business! Sometimes a video call or DM just isn't enough; there's a technological barrier between us and the other participants. Today.ly simulates a meeting room in a way that feels more personal than talking heads in a square. It emulates the physical space. There's crystal clear audio, multi-screen sharing, and even a meeting table and chairs. Nothing can replace face-to-face communication, but Today.ly allows companies to mimic certain aspects while users are sitting in their own living rooms. It will always be a challenge to replicate the old-fashioned face-to-face dialogue, but Today.ly users have found greater motivation and connection within their teams.  Today.ly was initially for companies and industries that support working from home. The features were designed to make working online an interactive experience. While many companies have already returned to traditional office life, Today.ly is still a valuable tool for hybrid work environments and provides all businesses with an exciting alternative to traditional working environments.

How Agile Development Influences Developer And QA Tool Choices

On the surface, it might seem like the Agile methodology is simply about reimagining waterfall development by keeping an open mind. However, this approach has far-reaching implications for people, tools and processes. That said, let’s dissect the major Agile development characteristics that affect developer and quality assurance (QA) tool choices and talk about some great examples of Agile development tools: Increased Collaboration Agile development pushes for greater synergy amongst teams. It's hard to release higher-quality products faster if many of the people involved aren't openly communicating with each other about challenges. For example, a developer working alone can easily store, manage and reuse code using one machine. However, things get trickier once a project needs more hands and numerous software units are being created. You'll need a space where everyone's work can be converged, with changes indicated coherently. Photo by Tim van der Kuip on Unsplash  This is where tools like GitHub come in. GitHub will enable developers to combine their code into modules and easily perform version control. More importantly, developers can do all this remotely since it's cloud-based. It’s also worth noting that GitHub isn’t the only code hosting/management solution out there. You can always try others like TaraVault, AWS CodeCommit, Bitbucket, SourceForge, and many more. By the way, collaboration doesn’t begin only when the team has been formed. It’s an ethos that can be applied even when building the team and responding to talent departure or unavailability. With tools like Crowdsource.io, you can set up a project folder, post your needs and respond to interested developers. This social approach simplifies recruitment, especially during emergencies. Continuous Testing In continuous testing, teams don’t have to wait for all units to be ready before they start. Instead, they endeavor to test whatever small piece is ready as others are prepared. By doing so, they are less likely to be blindsided by complex problems in the software that delay a release as the team tries to fix them. This approach often means the testing workload will fluctuate as the project progresses, so quality assurance teams will have to be swifter at scaling testing capacity accordingly. One of the best ways to achieve this is by using test automation tools. Photo by freestocks on Unsplash More specifically, you'll need user-friendly test automation tools if teams are to quickly add new automations in response to changes in the testing workload. They should also facilitate reusability and easily plug into your CI/CD pipelines, which is what tools like Leapwork are good at. Additionally, an Agile testing team needs robust tracking and reporting capabilities to excel at continuous testing. This is where tools like JIRA and nTask Issue Tracker shine. They’ll offer features tailored to defect tracking while also helping you analyze QA team performance in real time so you can know how to increase efficiency and remain on schedule. Value-Driven Development You can only offer so much value if you aren't listening and responding to users. So to get better at value-driven development, you must create a smoother path for user feedback to be absorbed into the development lifecycle promptly. Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash One critical piece in this area is the usability testing tools you rely on. They should have functionality that speaks to agility, such as; Recruiting participants remotelyA/B testingIntegration with various tools like prototyping solutions, design tools, productivity tools and more. These are some of the crucial functions needed because: You want to be able to start user feedback collection from anywhere as soon as you get the green light. In that sense, participant recruitment should involve as little bureaucracy as possible and be easier to manage as you conduct more tests down the road. Testers should be able to compare feature variations side-by-side instead of testing one, then trying another later. So through A/B testing, you shorten the time it takes to discover whether a slight tweak in a feature caused a significant improvement in usability. Once you have user opinions and usability metrics, there shouldn't be that many error-prone processes to link the data to the concerned parties and the different tools they use to respond to the feedback. Whoever is going to modify a product should be able to quickly see how their previous contribution fared. The other leaders who have to sign off on additional changes should also be able to view this information simultaneously, so there isn't much sitting and waiting. Tools like UserZoom, Loop11, UsabilityHub, Userlytics and Maze will go a long way in helping you increase the customer value realized with each iteration. The glue that holds everything together While we’ve talked about the Agile QA process and Agile development software, another key aspect is more about the administrative side of an Agile project. When it comes to this area, you'll hear a lot of buzzwords and office terminology thrown around, like modularity, effective communication and visibility. But to be clearer about the tenets of organizational agility, here’s what Agile teams should emphasize during the development life cycle: Teams should be able to zoom in on the smallest of processes as this is how they'll know what's essential and what isn't and also what could be improved. Organizations should give more autonomy to the lower ranks so they can do some things at their discretion. If every small move has to first be run up a long chain of command, all in the name of maintaining control and minimizing risk, you can forget about faster releases. Whatever you practice should be incremental. For example, when figuring out how to communicate better, you don't just set benchmarks and lean back. Instead, you should revisit them to see if they are working and decide whether to maintain, increase, decrease or move sideways. So how exactly do these principles shape tool choices? Well, you’ll need Agile project management tools that offer features like automated notifications, workflow customization, analytics and recommendations. There are plenty of options to try; Agilean, ProofHub, ActiveCollab, MeisterTask, Axosoft, JIRA and DailyScrum. Wrapping Up Ultimately, tools that work for some may not work for you, so it starts with understanding your existing organizational culture and how much you're willing to alter it in pursuit of agility. That’s when you’ll know where tools are applicable and which functionality they must have. To learn more about how to pick the right developer and QA tools for Agile development, contact us for a free consultation.

BA Team’s Offsite Training Session: Boosting Logic and Negotiation Skills

BA stands for “Business Analyst,” but for this day, it also means “Break Away” from daily work. Our BA team recently participated in an off-site training session that was both meaningful and enjoyable. We learned valuable skills and shared laughs with a very engaging Japanese trainer through this Business Analyst training. Besides learning practical techniques, we got to see how professionals in Japan work with clear logic and how negotiation can be more creative than expected. Logical Thinking – Clear Communication Starts with Clear Thinking This part of the Business Analyst training session wasn’t about boring theories. Instead, it focused on how BAs can share ideas in ways that clients can easily understand. The goal was to avoid confusion when people understand the same message in different ways. One key idea the trainer shared was: 一文一義 (Ichi-bun Ichi-gi) – "One sentence, one idea." This means not putting too many ideas into one sentence; keep it simple to avoid confusion. The trainer reminded us: “The best communication is not using big words or complex grammar, but explaining difficult things in the simplest way.” In project discussions, what matters most is being concise, clear, and convincing, not using overly complex or lengthy sentences. One powerful tool we learned is the Pyramid Structure, a way to organize ideas clearly: Top-down communication: Start with the conclusion first, then give reasons.MECE: Ideas should not overlap, and together they must cover all important points. The Pyramid has 3 parts: Main MessageThe key point you want to say.Say it at the beginning.Key Points2–4 supporting reasons.Supporting EvidenceFacts, examples, numbers, or specific details. We practiced this method with the question:"What are the strengths of SupremeTech when promoting our brand?"  Everyone was surprised by how much clearer and more logical the answers became. Negotiation – Helping Clients Discover Their Real Needs Next, we moved into negotiation skills. The trainer gave us two surprising facts: Most clients don’t know exactly what they need at the start.Between 70% and 80% of buying decisions are made during the discussion process. As BAs, how can we help clients realize what they actually need, even if they haven’t explicitly stated it? We learned two useful techniques: 1. SPIN Questions A 4-step method to guide the conversation: S – Situation: Understand the client’s current situation.P – Problem: Identify any issues they are facing.I – Implication: Explore the impact of these problems.N – Need-payoff: Show how a solution can help. 2. BAF Focuses on: Benefit: What the client gains.Advantage: Why it works well.Feature: What the product or service includes. We did a quick practice activity: “Sell this bag to a customer.” Each group played both the BA and the client in real-life scenarios. The room was filled with energy and laughter as teams realized that simply changing the way they asked questions helped clients discover new needs they hadn’t previously considered. Example using SPIN: S (Situation): “What kind of bag do you use now?”P (Problem): “Do you ever feel it’s too small or hard to match with outfits?”I (Implication): “Is it inconvenient if you have to switch bags for different occasions?”N (Need-payoff): “Would it help to have one stylish bag that fits everything and works for all events?” And then with BAF: B (Benefit): “You can use this bag for work, travel, or outings while staying stylish.”A (Advantage): “Many office workers choose this model for its flexibility.”F (Feature): “It has 3 compartments and is made of water-resistant material.” By using these techniques, BAs can help clients understand what they truly need and make more informed decisions. “Soft Skills” – The Secret Tools of Every BA Being a BA without soft skills is like being a superhero without a cape—it feels like something’s missing! From the Pyramid Structure to SPIN and BAF, these are the soft skills that help BAs feel more confident when interacting with clients. With these tools, you don’t just meet client needs—you impress them and build stronger trust. Have you “equipped” yourself with these skills yet?If not, don’t wait—try practicing them in your next Business Analyst training meeting!