Why you should become Agile: top 10 benefits to boost your workflow
Technology is evolving at a record speed, and we have to process enormous amounts of information in shorter time. Old methods don’t work anymore and traditional structures turn out to be too rigid and restrictive. It is obvious that if we fail to keep up with the insane pace of the modern world, we are bound to go out of business sooner or later. Many companies have found that Agile is what gives them the real edge over their competitors.
Agile has become the buzzword as more and more companies are adopting this methodology with such giants as Google and Amazon paving the way. “Agile” is not just a new industry fad, it is a disruptive approach that really helps revolutionize the world of business. Yet, becoming agile should never be the goal. The real goal of any enterprise is achieving better business results and, if done right, Agile can be the answer.
Many businesses have already made their Development teams agile, but although it is better than nothing, it is still not enough. In order to be able to fully leverage the benefits of this methodology, your whole organisation should become agile. Transforming a traditional enterprise into an agile one may not be easy, therefore it is essential that every single person in a team understands the reasons for becoming agile and really lives the culture. In this article we’ll take a look at top 10 reasons why your company should become Agile.
1. Faster time-to-market
We have all been there… How many times have we put all our efforts into a twenty-month delivery cycle only to discover that the product is wrong and that the customers are no longer interested? With new technologies and solutions emerging every day, we just can’t afford to waste 20 months to create the perfect product that nobody cares about. Agile methods allow us to work in two-week cycles to deliver the product really fast.
2. Continuous feedback from customers
Planning shorter sprints and working in shorter cycles means continuous communication with the customer and getting regular feedback. It helps the team bring regular improvements throughout the whole process and deliver the polished result in the end. Believe us, making some adjustments on the go is always better and less time-consuming than having to change the finished product.
3. Meeting customers’ needs
Regular communication means building the product that your customers actually need right now. Say no to overcomplicated solutions and products whose functions customers never really use! Say yes to tailored features designed for specific users with their needs in mind and built in a way your customers will actually use them!
4. Better quality
Agile methods help the team focus on a small part of the product without having to think of anything but the quality. Unlike traditional methods, where testing only starts once the product is finished, in Agile testing is integrated throughout the lifecycle. It allows the team to have regular inspection, spot any quality issues early on and make the necessary adjustments. Even if you don’t get everything you hoped for at the end of the sprint, you can trust to get one particular feature of the best possible quality.
5. Customer satisfaction
Working closely with the customer means that the customer gets involved into the process of creating a tailored solution that is right for them. Active collaboration with the customer is one of the main features of the Agile methodology and inevitably results in better project management and greater customer satisfaction and retention. And happy customers are the ultimate goal of any business.
6. Higher productivity
Agile teams are self-organised and directly responsible for the work they do. It gives them a sense of ownership and motivates them to be more productive and achieve better results. Agile approach offers clear schedules and improved integration which helps employees prioritize tasks and focus on getting things done.
7. Faster return on investment (ROI)
At the end of every sprint, agile teams deliver an increment which is of value to the business. Being able to show the output of a sprint provides instant visibility and keeps customers happy as they see that they are not wasting their money and that their expectations are effectively met.
8. Better company culture
The best part about Agile is that it allows you to work in a team of empowered individuals inspired by the shared goal and thus making the working place more enjoyable. Agile teams are cooperative, collaborative, engaged and just fun.
9. Effective communication
Agile way of working means having cross-functional teams that deliver and support a product. People are no longer isolated in their departments or functions, but are united around a project that they create together. No wonder, communication in Agile companies is much more efficient and employees are generally happier.
10. Lower cost of development and management
Every project manager knows that project time and budgets tend to spill over the original estimate. Agile project management methodology allows you to keep costs under control and implement new changes at minimal cost. Even if the scope of your project changes, expenses remain fixed which is one of the main advantages of the Agile methodology.
All in all, Agile project management helps businesses be flexible, reduce costs and deliver innovative solutions faster increasing customer satisfaction manifold. So, the question is actually not “Why should I become Agile?”, but “How can I become Agile?”. If you need help road-mapping your way towards agility, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
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