How To Build A Successful Software Development Team

Updated: June 20, 2018

For the success of a business, what matters the most is how efficient its team members are. In a time when the demand for various software solutions is on the rise, it is essential for every company to have a productive software development team. The more skilled your team is, the better and quicker it executes projects.

Nonetheless, you cannot just randomly set up a productive team. The most successful software development teams are well-organized. They have members who know and understand their respective duties. They are in sync with each other and work together towards achieving the set goals. Of course, building such a team requires you to carefully consider team members, distribute duties, and ensure effective collaboration.

Although hiring dedicated development teams has become a reliable and quick way of completing software projects for companies across industries, some prefer to have in-house capacity. If you company is in that group, this comprehensive guide will explain to you how to set up a successful software development team.

Software development team structure
Team roles and responsibilities
Development team hierarchy
What goals a software development team should achieve
What factors might be considered when selecting people for a software development team?
Typical team size
Things to consider when choosing a software development organization
Summary

Software Development Team Structure

The first step to building a team is choosing a team structure. Here are the three most common team structure types. Your choice will depend on the nature of your projects.

Generalists

A generalist team includes people with a vast knowledge base and a wide-ranging skillset. Members of such teams use various resources and leverage their skills to tackle a wide variety of tasks. They also have good communication skills and are usually keen on lifelong learning. When it comes to software projects, companies usually hire full-stack developers to build a generalist team.

Specialists

As the term implies, a specialist team structure includes members with experience in solving particular challenges and working with particular tools. These members are adept at one skill set or methodology and can utilize their expertise to solve complex problems. Having specialists in a team is important to address a specific part of software development, for example develop or fix an augmented reality (AR) feature. Likewise, you would need manual quality assurance (QA) experts or QA automation engineers to cover the testing stage of your software development lifecycle.

Hybrid

A hybrid software team is comprised of both generalists and specialists. Such teams usually thrive in managing a wide array of projects that address different areas or issues at once. Hybrid teams not only fix specific problems in a project efficiently but also address other areas when needed.

Software Development Team Roles And Responsibilities

Evidently, software engineers to the biggest chunk of work on any project. Still, a software development team has many other roles that are not connected to coding. Let’s look at all the types of experts every successful software development should have. The list is not set in stone, and my change depending on the project.

Product Owner

A product owner represents the actual buyer of the product that is being developed. Hence, this job role also becomes a part of the development team, as product owners decide on the product requirements and ensure the team follows the established vision for the project.

Project Manager

A project manager guides the team throughout the software development lifecycle and ensure the final product is delivered on time and corresponds with the initial vision. A project manager not only manages the execution of a project, but also serves as a bridge between the technical staff, all the stakeholders, and the client.

Project managers are responsible for creating the entire project execution plan by setting up deadlines, delegating jobs to team members, recruiting more team members (if required), and so on.

Functional Manager

A functional manager serves as an intermediary between the project manager and team members. This job role requires overseeing the work progress of a project and ensures effective execution. Project manager often take on the responsibilities of a functional managers to streamline the software development.

Business Analyst

In essence, business analysts translate the client’s requirements to technical requirements for the team. A business analyst also elaborates on the project requirements and verifies whether the deliverables correspond to them.

Team Lead

A team lead oversees and steers development teams toward a successful final result, that is a high-quality software product. This role connects developers, project managers, and the client’s stakeholders. Moreover, a team lead verifies whether the deliverables comply with the requirements.

Software Architect

This job requires a proficient individual who oversees the technical side of a software solution that is being developed and helps the team tackle technical issues that arise in the software development lifecycle.

Software Developers and Engineers

Software engineers, for example front-end and back-end developers, are responsible for the technical execution of the project. They bring the deliverables to life according to the set requirements and communicate the details to their team lead and project manager.

UI/UX Designers

UX and UI Designers are responsible for bringing the software to life by researching the demands of the target audience, interviewing the users about their requirements, and gathering other data. They then work together to design an interface and user experience that will be engaging for users.

Change Manager

Change managers decide on whether to accept or reject the changes that are proposed for a software product. Change managers may also be responsible for budget, timelines, and some project requirements. Typically, there are several change managers involved in the project.

Quality Assurance (QA) Manager

A QA Manager tests a product for whether a software solution works properly and follows the client’s requirements.

Test Engineer

The Test Engineer is responsible for creating and running test scripts to detect bugs and ensuring that the set deliverables match the requirements.

User Acceptance Testers

User acceptance testers (UATs) are responsible for executing the final step of the project before delivery. These testers review the product quality from the users’ perspective. User acceptance testers may delay the final release, if they find any substantial issues.

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

A software development team may also include subject matter experts who lend their expertise to specific areas of development when required.

Development Team Hierarchy

Here is the visualization of a typical hierarchy for a development team:

What Are Software Development Team Goals?

The main goal of any software development team is to deliver a well-built product on time. As plain as it sounds, achieving this is always challenging: numerous factors are at play in every project, and simply put, creating a great software product requires a lot of effort from all involved individual.

Here the most common goals on the road to solid software.

Usability

First and foremost, any software should deliver on its promise, that is help users solve a specific task quickly and easily. As many apps are used daily, a software development team should also make their product visually appealing to users.

Functionality

Every feature should fulfill its purpose and work properly in a software product. There should be no redundant elements in the functionality. To ensure this, every development team should carry out a comprehensive user survey before starting with design. Performing comprehensive testing is also very important to ensure a successful release and continuous operation after it.

Security

Considering that cyber attacks, hacks, identity theft, data leaks, and other digital security threats are the new normal in our digital lives, security should be a topmost concern for each and every software product. It means that the product should have no bugs and other vulnerable spots that can make the software product susceptible to malevolent activities. As a result, the security measures should be considered on the stage of designing the architecture and ensured by rigorous testing.

Time to Market

A development team should also ensure timely delivery of the final product to users. It means all team members should work efficiently from start to finish.

Reusability

Any software development team should aim at creating as much reusable code as possible to simplify future updates, big or small. Plus, reusing code means lower development costs.

What Factors Might Be Considered When Selecting People For A Software Development Team?

The success of a software development team depends on its members. Therefore, you need to consider numerous factors when building a team for your project.

Communication

Effective communication is key to the success of a software project. Regardless of how skilled the team members are, they will deliver the needed results if they do not communicate with each other efficiently.

Therefore, when you hire people for a team, make sure they have solid communication skills and are predispositioned to teamwork. Good communication means a productive and friendly working environment and ensures high productivity.

Ownership

A good team member is a responsible team member. Every individual in a teams should know their duties, project’s aim, time frames, and so on. Trustworthy team members recognize the importance of a project to the client, the users, and themselves, and understand they play an important part in the team.

Software Engineering Team Size

Another major factor impacting the recruitment process for software development projects is the team size, which, in turn, depends on the project. In most cases, small teams prove to be more productive as compared to larger ones. These teams have better communication and cooperation in general. A team of ten can be highly effective. Larger projects require highly skilled and experienced project and delivery managers to carry a project to a successful end result.

Development Team Management

Lastly, having a technical team lead or solution architect adept at developing software is also essential for a team’s success. Besides experience, the leader should also have management skills to lead the members to the desired outcome.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Software Development Organization

Hiring a software development organization like Intellectsoft to complete your projects has a wide array of benefits. You get a quickly assembled team, niche expertise, clear development process, ability to scale the team up and down quickly. Most importantly, you can significantly cut costs and build a big product within a short time frame.

Yet, before hiring a company, keep the following things in mind.

Location. You can hire a local company, a company in a nearby country, or outsource from a faraway country. Outsourcing companies provide different engagement models and are highly flexible today. For example, developers can come to your office to conduct face-to-face meetings and work on-site, and then come back home for development. Conversely, many companies offer the option for the client to come and work with the team at their office.
Technology Stack. It is important to know whether the engineers of the company you would hire from have the right skills to complete your project.
Client Reviews. See what your potential partner’s clients have to say about their work, as well as look through their case studies.
Industry Experience. Seek out companies with at least five years of experience for small projects, and at least eight for medium and large projects.

Wrapping It All Up

A successful software development team can ensure a solid end product and greatly benefit your business. Such teams include experienced and efficient members who have the right skills and can work as a team.

Setting a software development teams requires carefully selecting its team members, or choosing a fitting software development outsourcing provider. Whether you build your own team or hire from such a company, make sure that the selected individuals meet your needs. Having a successful team not only benefits a certain project, but can positively impact your future updates and projects. All you need to do is be selective during the hiring process, monitor the progress at times, provide feedback, and appreciate small achievements.

The hospitality industry depends a lot on keeping customers happy, but it’s getting harder to attract and keep them. The pandemic hit this industry hard, and now market competition is tougher than ever, with competitive offerings swaying customers. Hospitality businesses are willing to spend big to win customers back. The main questions for many are: how can we stay ahead of the competition, keep our customers, and increase revenue? Keep reading—we’ve got some answers.

Customers today have so many options that getting their attention is a real challenge. It’s not easy to make them choose your business over others. What worked 10 years ago doesn’t work the same way now. Back then, people often chose businesses based on reputation. But with new types of businesses (boutique hotels, craft cafes) popping up or big enterprises getting a new strategy, expectations have changed. The good news is these businesses have shown what works: great customer service. They focus on personalizing the experience, making things easy for customers, offering loyalty programs, and using smart technology.

In this article, we’ll explore these tech strategies and show you how they can help your business grow, and double the revenue. Keep reading to learn more!

The Importance of Customer Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry

Customer satisfaction, which equals exceptional customer experience, is the backbone of the hospitality industry. It plays a central role in driving revenue and loyalty, as satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend a hotel, restaurant, or other hospitality business to others. In fact, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that a 1% increase in customer satisfaction can lead to a 0.5% increase in revenue. Moreover, loyal customers are more likely to forgive mistakes and continue doing business with a company, even if they experience a negative encounter.

Let's quickly review the challenges the hospitality industry is facing right now so we can move on to the solutions and our case studies.

Challenges in Hospitality

As businesses navigate the changes in the hospitality industry, there are some key areas where a little improvement can go a long way. From improving customer service to embracing digital transformation and tackling labor shortages, we’ll take a closer look at today’s biggest challenges—and, more importantly, how technology can step in to help. Let’s get started!

Poor Customer Service

Even with strong and high-quality business offerings, poor customer service can drive potential customers and existing customers away. Common issues include:

Long wait times in customer service queues (it is worth remembering that our attention spans 8 seconds, and we live in a very busy world, so quick and efficient responses are more important than ever.)
Poorly trained customer service representatives
Lack of follow-up
Services not being done properly or quickly
Recall issues that require multiple service calls

These problems can frustrate customers. But, at Intellectsoft, we believe that the right approach, combined with technology, can address them effectively.

Digital Transformation Gaps

Approximately 50% of hotels are adopting new technologies, with 43% automating repetitive tasks and 39% upgrading existing systems.
Source: workstaff.app

Source: workstaff.app

While many businesses are adopting digital solutions, some still struggle with outdated systems and fragmented data. Legacy companies often face chaos when trying to manage their data and create new systems or add features.

Some of the recent examples include clients coming to us to create AI solutions for their services while their data simply was not ready for the advanced tasks. We advise stepping back, communicating with a company objective, and working on keeping the data clean (centralized, structured, and segmented).

When we’re asked to create advanced systems using AI, we always emphasize the importance of organized data. To train AI and build such complicated systems that truly work, you need to start from the very beginning—collecting, storing, centralizing, and organizing it. We encourage our clients to align all departments to work internally on the data so we can create a unified digital system that delivers personalized experiences.

If you’re unsure where to start with your data, we can help. Collecting feedback at various touchpoints along the customer journey is crucial for gaining insights into customer satisfaction and loyalty. Book an IT consultation with us, and our experts will guide you in mapping out a path to get more from your data and build a system that works for your business and team.

Reskilling Staff

The pandemic hit hard in early 2020, especially for the hospitality and travel industries. Even five years later, many businesses are still feeling the impact. Recruiting and retaining skilled staff has become a major challenge post-pandemic.

Reskilling to address technology’s impact is of utmost importance, as about 40% of hotel General Managers place it among their top three workforce challenges.

Source: Deloitte

We strongly believe that adopting the right technology can help. For example, creating an app to train your staff not only saves time but also ensures consistency in learning. AI assistants can also work alongside your team, helping with tasks like recruitment (providing industry insights, crafting emails) and staff training. Imagine having an app dedicated to making your team’s work easier and more efficient!

How Technology Tackles These Challenges and Supports a Customer-Centric Hospitality Culture

Automation, AI, and similar technologies may threaten many. However, the debate about replacing humans isn’t about that—it’s about cooperation and working hand in hand with technology to achieve the highest standards and establish brand-new “golden standards.” Technology is here to assist staff in listening to and collecting customer insights from data.

Let’s review some of our cases to see examples of how technology helps improve customer experience and supports customer service.

Examples of Intellectsoft projects

Property management systems (PMS)

We created a web platform and mobile app that makes managing daily tasks easier and offers extra services to improve residents’ experience. It gives a clear overview of daily activities and helps with managing units and users. Residents can easily book amenities, submit service requests, and report incidents. The platform also includes features for equipment management, key instructions, workflows, and custom permissions. This makes it easier for staff to stay on top of equipment and ensure residents have all the information they need. Plus, tools like announcements, quick votes, a forum, and a community calendar help build a connected and engaged community.

Guest Experience Management App

Our next app helped our client improve their guest experience by replacing printed marketing materials and the need for phone calls with a smart solution. Now, guests can easily order in-room dining, make reservations, and interact with staff— through a simple tablet in their room. The solution includes three parts: a custom in-room tablet with a variety of services, an admin panel for hotel staff and service providers, and a backend system that connects everything together. This approach makes things easier for guests and staff, improving both convenience and efficiency.

Existing Customers First: Building Loyalty with Personalized Touchpoints

Keeping existing customers is not just a strategy; it’s well-known that retaining existing customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. In fact, research shows that it costs five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. KPMG named customer retention as the number one revenue driver for the company.

Moreover, a 5% increase in customer retention can lead to a 25% to 95% increase in profits, showing the significant impact loyal customers can have on a business’s bottom line. Retention strategies, like personalized experiences and loyalty programs, can foster long-term relationships and generate recurring revenue, ultimately making them an invaluable part of any business model.

Personalization: How Technology Can Help?

Everyone loves to feel special—it’s part of being human. In hospitality, personalization has evolved from being a luxury to an essential standard. With the right technology to manage your data effectively, you can deliver those “wow” moments that guests won’t forget.

More than half of hotel chains are already using personalization features on their websites, booking platforms, and apps, and another 39% are planning to follow suit soon. They’re tailoring experiences to fit guest preferences perfectly.

Source: Deloitte

How does technology make it happen?

CRM Systems: They help you keep track of guest preferences, booking history, and special requests so you can offer services tailored just for them.
Loyalty Programs: Personalized rewards and offers show your guests that you value them, keeping them coming back for more.
AI Personalization: AI analyzes guest data to predict what they’ll love (from room upgrades to local recommendations) before they even ask.
IoT Gadgets: Smart room features like voice-activated assistants, or temperature controls adjust to your guests’ preferences, making their stay more comfortable.

With tech-powered personalization, you’re building loyalty and maximizing the lifetime value of every customer.

Our Case Study: Smart Hotel Management & Loyalty Program

For one of our clients, we created a smart room solution, complete with a custom IoT system. Guests can use a mobile app to control services, explore amenities, and find resort information-- with a special touch to their suite type. For the client’s entertainment business, we improved their legacy software by running a full IT and code check, fixing issues, and making the system better for customers.

Along with that, we developed a mobile app for the loyalty program, allowing businesses to effortlessly reward their customers and keep them engaged with exclusive benefits.

Our solutions not only helped the client with special experiences for guests; it also improved operations, cutting costs by eliminating inefficiencies. Here's what our experts shared:

"We transitioned away from ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) systems, which previously cost millions, and replaced them with more efficient, self-managed solutions. Similarly, we’ve implemented Device Farms that improved operations and saved resources."

Leveraging Software to Increase Upsell Opportunities

Here are some examples of tech tactics that will help your team sell more and introduce new offerings to existing customers, improve overall efficiency leaving your team grateful:

Dynamic Pricing Algorithms

For finance and marketing teams, manually calculating pricing by segment to introduce your clients can be incredibly challenging. AI-powered tools can strongly optimize these strategies by analyzing your database in detail.

Upselling via Apps

Boosting revenue in the hospitality business often comes down to personalized experiences. Imagine this: a guest books a room, and then your app suggests a spa package or a room upgrade at just the right moment. Later, it nudges them to book a dinner reservation or a guided tour designed to their preferences. With apps offering these personalized recommendations during and after bookings, you’re not just increasing your revenue per guest but also skyrocketing their experience. And you do it in a sustainable way, not by speculating, but by offering what your customers desire based on their previous experiences. It’s a win-win: seamless, helpful, and far from pushy.

Inventory and Resource Management Software

Making every resource count in your hospitality business is key. Inventory and resource management software allows you to effortlessly track everything from linens to room availability, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Having real-time insights to reduce overstock, avoid shortages, and optimize operations assists sustainably keep everything under control and know what you need to focus more. It helps maximize room occupancy by aligning bookings with available resources, ensuring every room and item is used effectively. This approach leads to smarter management, better guest experiences, and a noticeable boost to your bottom line.

Adopting these strategies not only optimizes your operations but also drives business growth. Ready to discover how technology can elevate your goals? We’re here to create a tailored solution for you.

Steps For Implementing a Customer Service Technology Solution

Improving customer service in hospitality doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right technology, you can smooth the path of your operations, speed up response times, and elevate the overall guest experience. Here’s where you can make it happen:

1. Understand Your Needs

Start by identifying the challenges your business is facing. Are you struggling to manage high volumes of inquiries, track customer feedback, or personalize the guest experience? Pinpointing your needs will guide you to the best solutions.

2. Pick the Right Tools

Choose technology that aligns with your goals. Look for solutions that are scalable, easy to use, and integrate effortlessly with your current systems. Options like CRM software, live chat tools, or a guest experience app can make a difference.

3. Equip Your Team

Technology is only as effective as the people using it. Train your staff to make the most of the new tools, so they can deliver exceptional service and resolve issues quickly. Confident, well-equipped staff creates happy, loyal customers.

4. Keep Improving

Once implemented, monitor how well the solution works. Are response times improving? Are customers more satisfied? Regular evaluations will help you fine-tune your approach and keep things running harmoniously.

Some Tech Ideas for Hospitality Businesses

CRM Software: Manage customer interactions and preferences.
Guest Experience Apps: Delight guests with personalized experiences right at their fingertips.
Amenity Management Systems: Simplify operations for everything from room service to facility bookings.
Helpdesk Software: Resolve customer issues optimally.
Live Chat Tools: Offer instant support and answers.
Social Media Management Tools: Keep customer interactions engaging and organized.

Integrating these strategies will not only improve your customer service but also deliver unforgettable customer satisfaction, loyalty, and, ultimately, your bottom line. Ready to take the next step? Book a consultation with our experts.

Conclusion

To wrap up everything we've discussed, customer satisfaction and experience are at the heart of hospitality. Retaining customers is more than just keeping them around—building strong, long-lasting relationships and consistently meeting their evolving needs. By understanding their pain points and offering personalized solutions, you can inspire loyalty and drive progress. With the right technology and continuous improvement, your business can stay ahead, let go of what no longer serves you, and keep growing.

At Intellectsoft, with over 17 years of experience in software development, our expert team is ready to help. We create everything from mobile apps to full-fledged portals and systems, leveraging the latest technologies like AI, Cloud, and Machine Learning. With deep experience in the hospitality industry, we’re here to craft personalized solutions that bring your business unforgettable customer experience and retain your valuable clients.

Ready to double your revenue and level up your customer retention strategy with personalized technology? Contact our experts, and we look forward to working hand in hand with you to build or revitalize the perfect app or system for you.

Tetiana Borysova

Content Writer

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