In this webinar, Pete Czech and Kris LaGreca talk about how organizations can solve complex business challenges utilizing custom web development. We discuss what custom web development is, and what it isn't, in addition to delving into the web development process. We end the webinar with some case studies and demonstrations of past custom web development projects. To view the webinar please visit: https://www.npgroup.net/videos/webinar-solving-business-challenges-custom-web-development/

1. www.npgroup.net
Solving Business Challenges with Custom
Web Development
Pete Czech, CEO & Kris LaGreca, VP of Accounts:
New Possibilities Group, LLC

2. Welcome!
Today’s Agenda:
• Introductions
• What is Custom Web
Development?
• Benefits
• Custom Development Process
• Planning a Project
• Building a Specification
• Choosing a Technology
• Budget & Timelines
• Development
• Testing
• Deployment
• Case Studies
• Conclusion

3. Introductions
Your Host: Pete Czech
CEO, New Possibilities Group
Co-founder of NPG in 2001
NPG specializes in highly customized
design & development of web
applications and content
management systems.
Contact: czech@npgroup.net

4. Introductions
Your Co-Host: Kris LaGreca
VP of Accounts, New Possibilities
Group
Co-founder of NPG in 2001
Contact: kris@npgroup.net

5. Our Experience

6. What is Custom Web
Development?
In a nutshell...
It is the use of technologies to build customized software for solving problems,
in this scenario on the web.

7. What Isn’t Custom Web
Development?
Hacking of off-the-shelf software to get “Close” to your goals.
It isn’t elegant.

8. Let us explain…
The internet is inundated with off-the-shelf platforms.
CMS: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla
E-Commerce: Magento, OSCommerce, Prestashop
And tons more for niched scenarios:
Forums
News / Magazine
Community
Specialized E-Commerce
SAAS

9. As an example: The
CMS Landscape

10. The Reality
Off-the-shelf solutions are not made for your particular purposes!
These are generalized tools meant to apply to many different scenarios.

11. Your Impact Zone
With appropriate hacking, you can get maybe 90% of the way
The last 10% represents the value and individuality of your business

12. The Better Alternative
Building on top of a coding framework – not a platform.
Integrating your complex business requirements with day to day management
tools.
Determining your final system layout with a thorough discovery process
conducted specifically for your needs.

13. An Analogy
Modular vs Custom Homes

14. Overall Benefits of Custom Web
Solutions
Bespoke: This is made for you specifically – few to zero sacrifices.
Longevity: Custom solutions can weather the storm of updates and
upgrades.
Scalability: The system, when built properly, can scale with your business.
Value: The system becomes a valuable corporate asset.
Security: Your application can be secured above and beyond industry
standard.

15. Real World Examples
A long term car rental company seeking an e-commerce site and reservation
management system.
A worldwide Yoga training company seeking to integrate class management
and e-commerce.
A furniture company seeking complex integration to an old inventory
management system.
A private college system looking for a CMS that can be used by personnel
across 15 different physical locations, securely.
A healthcare provider looking to manage many domains with one singular
CMS installation.

16. NEVER, EVER, EVER…
Develop these types of projects with off-the-shelf software:
• Highly secure CMS platforms.
• SAAS software.
• Complex, custom e-commerce.

17. The Custom Process
Planning
Specification
Technology
Budget & Timelines
Development
Testing
Deployment

18. Planning & Strategizing
This step you can do yourself!
Analyze: What are your current limitations?
What 3 things could you do to save you time and effort?
What are some lost opportunities?
If time and money was no object, what initiatives would you pursue?

19. Building a Specification
Discovery: THE MOST important part
of your project!
Don’t go it alone.
Plan for:
System Actors
Use Cases
Risks & Opportunities
Future Considerations
Your spec should allow for apples to
apples comparisons of budget &
timelines.
PAY FOR IT FIRST.

20. Technology
Overall, most important factor to
consider.
Don’t always trust the “pure tech
guy”.
Open vs Closed Source.
New vs Tested Platforms.
Plan with future in mind.

21. Budget & Timelines
Proper discovery process
mitigates budget risk.
Plan for overrides just in case.
Popular terms for payment &
milestones.
Consider ownership scenarios.
Plan for deployment & hosting in
advance.

22. Development
Discovery is your blueprint.
Be careful not to pivot unless
necessary.
Avoid technical debt.
Always be testin’.
Pay attention!

23. Testing & QA
Again rely on discovery blueprint.
Test early and often.
Have multiple sets of eyes.
You own it. You’ll have to live with
it.

24. Deployment
Aim for 100% seamless transitions.
If transitioning, test with a duplicate
environment for a specified period of
time.
Develop a deployment script.
Schedule carefully around company
initiatives.

25. Case Studies
Each example:
* relies on their website to bridge
the gap between the internet and
their business.
* utilizes the internet for the
majority of their sales.
* had previously been on off-the-
shelf software.

26. Interested in a LIVE Demo?
Call me!

27. Q & A

28. Our Next Webcast
Planning for 2017: Website Redesign Tips & Tricks
December 21, 2016
2PM EST

29. Additional Resources
Our blog – www.npgroup.net/blog
Videos - www.npgroup.net/videos
E-Books – www.npgroup.net/resources

30. 150 Clove Road
Little Falls, NJ 07424
1.855.NPGROUP
www.npgroup.net
our home away from home.
Where To Find Us

31. ©2001-2016