For years, web design has followed the same pattern of going to the drawing board, drafting up an idea, and putting it on the web. However, agile web development calls that methodology into question, and it may be exactly what your business needs for an overall better user experience.
Those who use agile web development describe it as a more intelligent way of crafting a website. It’s different from the traditional “waterfall” method, since it focuses more on producing basic high quality materials quickly, and then getting approval before delivering the final product. Agile web development uses feedback from the users to create the best web experience possible. There are many reasons why web designers are turning to this form of development, but here are just a few.
1. Flexibility
Things are never set in stone with this kind of design. The more feedback the developers receive, the more they can go back to the drawing board and make the changes. Even after the website is delivered to the primary stakeholder, there’s opportunity to alter the design to match the needs of the user.
2. More Accurate Designs
The designs you choose for a business website can generally reflect your brand much better when you use agile development. Oftentimes, business owners don’t know exactly what they want in the design at the very beginning of the process. This is only natural, since it often takes some trial and error to discover the best solution.
Agile development offers trial and error by delivering a process that shows what a design will look like on the basic level so you can say “yay” or “nay” without worrying about throwing away hours of work on a final product you hate.
3. Easily Adapts to Consumers
Through agile development, you let consumers share their opinions about your website as you go. Because they’re involved in the design process from the beginning, the consumers generally feel more satisfied with your website design, seeing how it’s evolved and finished.
4. User Friendly
In addition to consumers feeling more satisfied with the design, they’ll also be more content with the easy usability. When they have a say in the types of navigation, site layout, and scrolling patterns used for your website, it will already be familiar to them, which is something human beings unknowingly crave.
5. Predictable Delivery
There’s no more waiting around, wondering when your website will be done. Agile development allows accurate prediction for the launch date of your website. That way, you can get consumers excited for the launch with a near-perfect guarantee that it will be delivered on time.
6. Foreseeable Costs
Agile web development also makes it easier to stay on budget. It’s easier to predict how much a certain project will cost overall, including unforeseen errors. This is beneficial because it allows you to put limitations on the spending for each project and keep both your accountant and bank account happy.
7. Higher Quality
The end result for agile web development is almost always higher quality. Because you break down the project into more manageable units, you have the power to run tests, collaborate, and develop your project – and thus, find and fix flaws quickly. Overall, you can meet expectations for the website. Agile web development is an incredibly powerful tool with currently unmatched potential.
