Businesses often add new features to their software in hopes of adding value. However, long-term data shows that most of them remain unused. The result is an overcrowded system that reduces efficiency and increases costs. The beginning of the year is therefore the ideal time to open the topic of software detox, which will bring greater clarity and flexibility to companies in the future.
The more features the business software offers, the better. After all, new buttons, AI integration, and all kinds of gadgets help keep up with the competition, meet the growing expectations of users, and increase employee productivity. Is it always like this?
Data from research by the Standish Group (2002) to a report by Pendo (2019) show that most software features are still rarely, if ever, used. At the same time, only a fifth of them often bring real value.
Igor Liška, one of Panaxeo’s CEOs, explains why the topic that has been talked about for over twenty years is not just a historical relic: “Removing features is additional work for programmers to pay for, so it naturally happens less often than adding them.” According to him, they still encounter overcrowded systems today. Right now, at the beginning of the year, is the perfect time to think about a software detox.
Why is this even happening?
Software solutions in companies are created as a response to constantly changing needs. Product managers and, in the case of commercial solutions, investors and sales departments are constantly pushing for new functionalities. Either to satisfy customers or to gain a competitive advantage.
Digital elements are gradually accumulating in the system, but few companies have already planned to lighten it. So often, the software grows to the point where not only users get lost in it, but it also starts to cause problems for the developers themselves.
Consequences of ignoring the problem
Redundant elements in the code increase the technical debt and thus increase the development time and the difficulty of maintenance. This increases the need for additional developers, but the more complicated the solution, the longer it takes for them to jump on board, which stifles innovation and slows the deployment of new features.
It is not easy even for users, who can be confused by too many options and if they have a choice, they prefer to look for a simpler alternative. At the end of the day, even financial managers are not happy, as the result is increasing long-term development costs, but also support, training and security.
Lessons from practice
Even if it is rather a rarity, even in our market we can find companies that are actively involved in removing unused parts of the code. “We have a client who is uncompromising in how they remove unused elements from their system. They emphasize powerful data analytics and regularly evaluate what is being used and what is not,” says Liška, who adds that the pursuit of lean code is also more advantageous economically.
According to him, Panaxeo tries to prevent possible problems even during the development itself: “We use agile methodologies. We start with smaller units and immediately collect data, test and evaluate whether expectations are met.” According to him, this approach makes it possible to keep both code and technical debt flexible and manageable, as it minimizes the risk of accumulating unused elements.
Like a software detox
Liška claims that it is never too late to clean up the system. If you are just thinking about a new functionality, he recommends starting with a survey on a statistically relevant sample of users or focus groups. In turn, evaluate currently developed or already implemented functions with the help of analytical tools that will tell you where the user clicks, which screens he goes through and what he ignores.
“It is important to listen to users, but we must not forget that sometimes people say they want something, but in reality they already behave differently in the application. It’s important to look at what they’re really doing there and bounce back from that,” stresses Liška.
The combination of surveys and data analytics thus helps to reveal which functions have potential for further development and are worth investing in, and which are just unnecessarily burdening the code, so there is no need to be afraid to remove them as soon as possible.
Software as a living organism
Igor Liška claims that in this respect software can be compared to a living organism that needs regular care. Occasional cleaning is the way to keep it healthy and efficient, but you don’t need to plan cleaning days every week.
„We do this continuously with our clients, but if you do it two or three times a year, it’s still better than nothing. However, when it is done once a year, it takes several weeks and more patience, but the result is worth it.” concludes Igor Liška, CEO of Panaxeo.
The Panaxeo
Panaxeo is a Slovak company specializing in software development for scale-ups from the USA, abroad and Central Europe. Their clients include medtech companies, innovative banks and humanitarian organizations such as Medrio, CISCO, Raiffeisen bank (RPC), Bloomreach, CancerIQ, CEVA Logistics, Radio Free Europe and the International Bar Association. The company focuses on clients who have a positive impact on the company. Within Slovakia, it creates a unique working environment with a remote-first culture and offers employees 10% of the profit. More information can be found at www.panaxeo.com.
Source: www.nextech.sk
