Agile methodologies are currently the most popular approach to project management used in software development. Ever since its launch in 2001, Agile has taken the world by storm as it has proven to help teams manage work more efficiently while delivering the highest quality product within a budget.
Based on information gathered on a 2018 report, projects using Agile methodologies are 25% more successful, and almost 71% of organizations use Agile with varying frequencies.
Agile Development Benefits
For companies or development teams considering adopting Agile project management tools and practices for their organization but can’t seem to make the choice, consider the following benefits of Agile methodologies.
#1 Superior Product Quality
Thanks to the testing integration throughout the duration of the development life cycle, the Agile methodology helps assure consistent quality. It’s considered an indispensable part of the process after each sprint. As a result, it’s easy to find problems and create solutions quickly and efficiently. As an added plus, Agile allows for the inclusion of the client at every step of the development process who can request adjustments based on market conditions. In such an environment, it’s also easy for the dev team to find and fix bugs faster without any effect on the end product. In a nutshell, Agile allows teams to constantly improve the product until it meets the target audience’s needs.
#2 Customer Satisfaction
One of the most significant benefits of the Agile methodology is that it provides a great customer experience. Product owners stay involved in every step of the project, thus leading to a higher rate of customer retention.
Clients have the ability to make tweaks throughout the process, which allows for the final product to meet their requirements. With such an approach to development, improved customer satisfaction with the final product it’s a given, so much so that most Agile users return to it for future projects.
#3 Reduced Risk
Every project comes with the risk of errors and failures. Fortunately, any project carried out using an Agile method will benefit from decreased risks of mistakes through continuous reviews.
Regular communication between the client and the team helps ensure that everyone remains on the same page about where the project is going. This also allows to catch errors and address them early on, saving time, money, and aggravation.
#4 Product Predictability
Agile allows for the prediction of risks and the creation of effective mitigation plans. In other words, it’s easy for a team to identify and predict risks while also making adequate plans to contain them, so the project runs smoothly.
There are different methodologies that enable product predictability, and scrum methodology is an excellent example. It uses sprint backlogs and burn-down charts to increase the visibility of the project. This then allows managers to forecast performance and prepare accordingly.
#5 Better Productivity
Dev teams work on Agile projects in sprints. This makes it possible for the team to organize workflow, deal with unexpected changes, and bring new team members to address specific problems or tasks.
With work broken into iterations, there’s always a milestone and deadline, and that means the completion of projects in shorter sprints. Plus, products roll out faster while the ability to make changes at any point during the process remains a viable possibility.
#6 Improved Team Morale and Collaboration
Agile provides team members with autonomy, thus empowering them to make decisions. This helps to create a shared sense of ownership and goals for the team, which can help motivate them to get things done faster.
Purposeful teams take ownership of tasks and collaborate together to achieve definite goals. With team members motivated to work effectively, they get more done and set a faster pace for themselves.
#7 Enforced Communication
Agile teams typically prioritize face-to-face communication and continuous interaction when working on a project. These teams usually hold meetings daily to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Agile dev teams also meet frequently in an attempt to clear roadblocks and hit milestones. The improved communication helps team members bond, which in turn creates a conducive atmosphere. Frequent communication clears confusion and removes any form of ambiguity that may threaten the success of the project.
#8 Predictable Costs
Agile is a cost-effective approach to development. Based on story points, developers predict budgets more accurately. Clients get to pay only for what they need rather than overpaying for high degrees of uncertainty. An extra perk that further cut down on costs is the absence of middlemen and project managers as Agile teams can run without them.
#9 Faster Time-to-Market
Agile methods enable teams to work very quickly to develop products in a timely manner. Using Agile methodologies translates to short periods that deliver the right thing at the right time since each team develops the product incrementally. This lets the client capitalize on opportunities fast so they may gain a first-mover advantage in the market and stay ahead of the competition.
#10 Transparency
Agile methodologies encourage transparency as every project must have a clear definition from the onset. All teams remain aware of the details of the project and understand their roles. All anticipated challenges require immediate addressing before moving to the next stage for a smoother delivery. From inception to deployment, both the team and the client have the ability to monitor the process and analyze the progress made to ensure that it’s in line with the requirements.
#11 Encouraged Adaptability
The likelihood that companies will see record successes increases if their teams have the capability to respond to changes rapidly. Agile methodologies promote flexibility, so changes don’t take extra time or incur extra costs. In the long run, team members have the ability to get more creative and learn how to deliver solutions in a fast-changing world.
The benefits above are some of the top reasons many organizations use Agile methodologies for their projects. Agile is primarily about being responsive to the market and the client by responding fast to feedback while staying active in the project. It’s also about everyone being on the same page and not being afraid to make changes when and where required.
