DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Xicon bespoke application development services provide a one-stop solution to organisations that require any custom software application. Whether you need extra resource to assist an existing internal development team or a complete end-to-end turnkey solution, Xicon can provide.

We have experienced developers across a range of technologies in particular .Net, SQL server and Java. For specific information see the Microsoft Development Services and Oracle Development Services pages using the links above.

Xicon believe that the key to delivering bespoke software solutions to its clients is an independent, open and honest approach. Being independent from software technology stacks and vendors, we have no specific products or offerings to 'push' beyond the skills and experience of our development teams and the best practice approach and techniques we have mastered over the last 15 years. This means Xicon can offer the best technical solution to your business needs within your budget and time constraints.

Scoping, Analysis and Architecture

The first stage of a development project is for Xicon to assist you in understanding what you require the solution to achieve, whether you have a formal specification or require assistance in defining the problem and determining an appropriate business solution we can assist you.

Xicon's Business Analysts and Solution Architects will work with your key business and IT stakeholders to create a business requirement specification and high-level solution architecture that will deliver the required functionality. In addition we will produce a fully-costed solution for this business requirement - including any software licenses, hardware infrastructure and support costs based. Xicon can leverage its long running relationships with several software and hardware vendors and resellers, and also can provide competitive quotes for financing the complete solution over three years or more. Xicon also start an ACRI Log to monitor, mitigate and control assumptions, constraints, risks and issues that could at any time try to de-rail the project.

Development and Testing

The Development Stage itself can take a number of different paths and approaches dependent on factors such as the project objectives, technology and the makeup of the development team. For example, some organisations with an existing internal development resource like to use Xicon to work alongside their own IT staff and provide mentoring and skill transfer during the development stage. On other projects, Xicon provide the complete team - each project varies.

One common thread throughout any development stage is Xicon's approach to Project Management. Xicon's Project Management approach borrows heavily from best practice such as PRINCE2, RUP and Activity-based tasking. However, these 'theoretical' methods are all laced with a liberal amount of pragmatism gained through Xicon's 15 years in successful delivery of IT solutions.

Development includes rigorous unit, system, integration and user acceptance testing. Dependent on requirements, it may also require performance and stress testing. It will also include 'pre-production' testing of system administration features such as backup and recovery.

Testing may be followed by pilot running, 'data migration' and parallel running with existing systems dependent on the solution.

Application Support

Xicon always include a warranty period on all bespoke applications.

Typically clients may also wish to purchase additional application support. This is delivered through Xicon's Technical Services practice and provides peace of mind that application issues or application enhancements can be resolved in the future.