Business Analysis: A Key Driver of Digital Transformation

What do you think is indispensable for the successful implementation of an IT project? Perhaps you'll say it's seasoned programmers with experience in a specific niche, or a project manager to oversee the development process, or modern eye-catching design to attract clients. While all these elements are undoubtedly crucial, there's something preceding the development kickoff - and that's crafting a detailed technical specification.

What does a technical specification entail, and who is responsible for it?

A technical specification outlines the detailed requirements and functionalities of a software project, including technical aspects such as architecture, design, and implementation details. It serves as a blueprint for the development team, guiding them throughout the project lifecycle. Typically, business analysts, project managers, and stakeholders collaborate to define and refine the technical specification. However, the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining the technical specification often lies with the business analysts, who ensure that the client's business needs are accurately translated into technical requirements for the development team.

For digital business transformation, the involvement of one or several business analysts becomes imperative. These professionals play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the client's envisioned outcome and the technical implementation. Their responsibility lies in meticulously clarifying the client's business requirements and effectively translating them into the technical language comprehensible to IT developers.

Clients often need to seek business analysis consulting services when they encounter gaps or inefficiencies in their operations, see bottlenecks preventing progress, or recognize the need for expert guidance to overcome challenges and improve their organization. It's important to realize that each professional specializes in their own field, and not all business owners are certified experienced business analysts (although it doesn't hurt). Additionally, it's always important to have a second professional point of view, especially when your head is occupied with other issues related to the company and its reputation. This is where business analysis experts come to the rescue.

In the realm of business analysis tasks, several key activities contribute to the development and refinement of a technical specification. These include business development analysis, gap analysis in business analysis, business needs analysis, and business rules analysis. Business development analysis involves evaluating market trends, competitors, and potential opportunities to inform the project's direction. Gap analysis in business analysis identifies discrepancies between current and desired states, helping to pinpoint areas for improvement. Business needs analysis delves into understanding the requirements and objectives of stakeholders, ensuring that the solution aligns with their goals. Business rules analysis entails defining the operational guidelines and constraints that govern the system's behavior. Together, these analyses inform the creation of a robust business analysis model and various business analysis documents. By bridging the gap between business objectives and technical implementation, business analysts play a vital role in ensuring the success of software development projects.

At iSKY.SOLUTIONS, we specialize in providing outsourced business analysis services. We strongly advocate for incorporating preliminary business process analysis into the implementation of all enterprise-level digital transformation projects. Without this preliminary analysis, the effective implementation of corporate projects like CRM and ERP systems, among others, is unlikely to succeed.

Modern software development practices enable effective remote participation of professionals from various backgrounds in the development of digital solutions. In this regard, business analysts, alongside clients and programmers, gain access to various project management and collaboration services.

First and foremost, these systems include:

• General project management can be conducted using modern project management tools.
• The Jira system is employed for tracking errors and changes.
• Confluence, a wiki system, is utilized for detailed documentation management.

The involvement of a business analyst in the software development process ensures the necessary level of integration and reduces the likelihood of strategic errors when the development process is guided by an incorrect scenario.

We approach the implementation of each new project individually, drawing on our experience. Business process analysis is a crucial component of our approach, allowing us to identify inefficiencies and streamline workflows from the outset.

Business case analysis involves evaluating the feasibility and potential benefits of a proposed project or investment. It typically includes assessing the costs, risks, and anticipated returns to determine whether the project aligns with the organization's strategic objectives and provides a compelling rationale for its implementation.

As previously mentioned, the involvement of a business analyst is essential for the implementation of all enterprise-level projects. All projects benefit, with the involvement of a business analyst, including:

• CRM systems for managing contacts and clients;
• ERP systems for automating the entire company's operations;
• Specific cases of ERP systems, such as PPM systems for project portfolio management, PLM systems for product lifecycle management, MES systems for production process control, SCM systems for supply chain management;
• Industry-specific solutions in accounting, freight transportation systems, restaurant business, and much more.

At iSKY.SOLUTIONS, we are ready to include a business analyst, systems analyst, and software architect as part of the development team to analyze your business and create a detailed technical specification. This approach will provide a clear and straightforward algorithm for future software development and ensure a clear understanding of the approximate development budget in the early stages of business digital transformation.