What is web app development?

Navigating the waters of web app development can be complex. With so many developers and companies out there, how do you choose the right one? Having been Keyhole’s primary focus for nearly two decades, we’re here to share our unique approach and why it’s made such a difference for our clients.

Web App Development: Our Bread and Butter

Web app development isn’t just a service we offer; it’s a core part of who we are. Over the past two decades, we’ve developed web apps for industries across the board and for companies of all sizes. What’s our secret sauce? Well, it’s not so secret after all. It’s about understanding both the data and the use case like no one else does.

Speaking Your Language

One of the things that separate our web apps from many others is the meticulous care we take in understanding the nuances of our client’s needs. Our consultants are uniquely skilled in seamlessly assimilating into new environments, becoming chameleons able to swiftly adapt to and thrive within the specific context of each project.

We acknowledge and actively seek to comprehend the organization’s specific business challenges, pressures, and priorities. Doing so ensures our methodologies, tools, and terminology align seamlessly with your team’s processes, creating an integrated work environment. Our collaborative approach is designed to deepen our understanding of a client’s distinctive challenges and operational norms.

By embedding ourselves within your teams and actively participating in your processes, we gain profound insights into your specific needs and objectives.

Seeing our software on browsers as people go about their tasks, or even better, joining them on ride-alongs to truly grasp their use cases, gives us an unparalleled insight.

Getting Inside the Business Mind

To develop a web app that not only works but excels, it’s crucial to tap into the minds of business stakeholders. Their insights, combined with our technical expertise, pave the way for genuine innovation in web app development.

One of our focal points is to maintain a strong connection with stakeholders. We emphasize the importance of regular functional demonstrations, allowing stakeholders to review and provide feedback on completed work. We generally propose a schedule for these demonstrations, which is typically every two weeks, but we are flexible and can accommodate more frequent reviews as the client prefers. This typically involved demonstrating work completed, work in progress, work planned, and work delivered.

Stakeholders help steer the roadmap, ensuring that we’re not just implementing features, but solutions that matter.

What to Look for in a Developer

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: trust. Whether you’re hiring for web or mobile development, it all boils down to trust. Think of it this way: this is your business, your investment, and your vision. Shouldn’t you entrust it to someone who genuinely gets it?

The Real Connection

When you’re considering a developer or team, ask yourself: can you envision having dinner with them? Do they listen, genuinely listen, when you speak?

Modern software development relies upon constant and effective communication. We firmly grasp the critical role of teamwork and transparent communication in delivering successful software development projects. Our approach fosters a strong spirit of collaboration and open dialogue within the client’s teams. To that end, we prefer to act as embedded developers on an existing team, using the same tools, processes, and terminology as FTE developers of our partner organization. Keyhole’s core competency is specifically in application development, but that is just one key part of the software development journey. We work with Scrum Masters, QAs, BAs, POs, and other resources employed by the organization we partner with that are part and parcel of a modern software development team.

If a software developer can internalize, contextualize, and align with what you aim to achieve with your web app, then you’re on the right track. This kind of trust, akin to letting someone work on your home or car, is rare. Yet, it’s the foundation of lasting business relationships.

The Right Experience

Amidst the growing accessibility of software development, we’ve witnessed a surge in new players in the field. While this inclusivity brings many positives, it has also given rise to inexperienced firms and individuals boasting impressive branding. While their lower costs may be enticing, the potential consequences of subpar work include heightened risks, such as compromised security and short-lived technology approaches that fail to withstand the test of time.

To navigate these challenges, it’s vital to collaborate with teams offering customized expertise that aligns precisely with your unique business requirements. Opting for seasoned professionals well-versed in your specific technology stack, along with an in-depth understanding of your industry, can be instrumental in overcoming potential hurdles.

For instance, our team of software developers boasts an average of more than 17 years of experience, providing a wealth of development expertise to draw from. Beyond our core strengths in Java, .NET, and JavaScript technologies, our experts specialize in AWS, Azure, React, Spring Batch, and a plethora of other tools. With this wealth of experience, our experts offer invaluable insights and guidance, ensuring a smooth and secure journey for your business.

Knowledge Transfer & Succession Focused

No client wants to depend on an external firm indefinitely. It’s costly and risky to have all critical knowledge held by non-employees.

At Keyhole, we take a different approach than typical software development companies. Our projects are designed with succession in mind from the outset. We’re dedicated to equipping our clients’ teams with the skills and insights needed to manage their own systems long after the project is complete. While it might seem unusual for a company to aim to ‘phase itself out’ of a project, our experience has proven that this strategy consistently yields successful outcomes and fosters long-term client relationships.

This philosophy guides our work and involves comprehensive documentation of every aspect of the development process, capturing the invaluable ‘tribal knowledge’ specific to the project. Our documentation goes beyond mere code, encompassing the intricacies critical to the project’s success.

This comprehensive documentation not only streamlines onboarding for team members but also serves as a lasting resource for the organization. It forms a knowledge repository that can be referenced whenever needed, enabling the client’s team to sustain and advance the work we’ve accomplished together.

Our mission is centered on empowerment through knowledge sharing, enabling clients to achieve short-term success and independently maintain and enhance their systems in the long run.

Why Keyhole Continues to Shine

One might wonder, what has kept Keyhole thriving in the industry for so long? It’s simple. Our commitment to building trust, consistently delivering top-notch software, and always being attuned to our clients’ needs is what brings them back, year after year. In fact, last year 78% of our client projects were with repeat clients.

Conclusion

Web app development is more than just coding; it’s about forging connections, understanding use-cases, and building with trust. As you embark on your next web project, remember to prioritize a team that truly understands you and your vision.

And if you ever find yourself in need of a trusted partner in this journey, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!