Congratulations on developing your software product. Now it’s time for launch, which is an exciting milestone for any product owner, especially if you don’t come from a technical background. 

It’s the moment when your idea takes shape and becomes a real, working tool that people can interact with. But it’s also a high-risk phase. 

Research suggests that 70-80% of new products fail after launch, often due to poor planning, inadequate testing, or misaligned market strategies. Additionally, 66% of software projects fail to meet their goals, highlighting the importance of getting the launch right.

This guide explains the launch process, provides our expert tips and guidance on how to work with your development team. So you know the major steps involved and can launch with confidence.

This guide explains the launch process in simple terms and shares practical tips on how to launch your product smoothly and successfully.

Understanding the Big Picture: The Software Development Journey

Before we dive into the launch, let’s look at the bigger picture of software development. Building a custom software product typically involves six key stages:

  1. Planning: Deciding what your product does, who it’s for, and what problem it solves.
  2. Design: Creating the look and feel to make it easy and enjoyable to use.
  3. Development: Writing the code that makes the product work.
  4. Testing: Checking for bugs, speed issues, and usability, as covered in our previous article.
  5. Launch: Making the product available to users – this is what we’re focusing on here.
  6. Maintenance: Keeping the product updated and fixing issues as they arise.

Each phase builds on the one before, which means a strong launch depends on how well you’ve handled the earlier stages.

Software Development Journey

How We Launch Software Products

Although every software launch is different, our team at Fora Soft follows a structured process depending on whether the product is brand-new or an existing system being updated

If the Project Was Developed from Scratch

Demo Environment

When launching a new product, we begin with a demo environment – a safe testing space where we can simulate real-world use without any risk to users. Think of it as a practice run where we make sure everything works perfectly before showing it to you or your users. It’s like test-driving a car before buying it.

We create a version of your software called a release build, which means we put all the pieces together so it’s ready to use. Here’s what we do:

  • Build the Software: we turn the code into something that can run on computers or devices, like baking a cake from a recipe,
  • Include Tools: we add all the extra tools or libraries the software needs to work properly,
  • Test Everything: we check for bugs, test speed, and ensure it’s secure, building on the testing process from our previous article,
  • Create Guides: we prepare instructions and guides so users and admins know how to use the product,
  • Package It: we bundle everything into one easy-to-use package,
  • Check Compatibility: we make sure the software works on the systems it’s meant for.

Automation tools help speed up this process, and we always create a backup of the current version just in case something goes wrong later. 

This stage is critical because it allows us to catch problems that may have slipped through earlier in development. 

Launching with a buggy product can hurt your brand: 50% of users will abandon a product after just one bad experience. The demo environment acts as a safety net, reducing the chance of launching with serious flaws.

Deploying the System on the Client Server

Once the demo testing is done, we make your product live on the client server, where real users can access it. This is like opening your store to customers after setting up the displays. Here’s how it works:

  1. Set Up the Server: we install the necessary programs, like web servers (e.g., Apache, Nginx) or databases (e.g., MongoDB, MySQL), to run your software,
  2. Configure the System: we tweak the server to work perfectly with your product, like tuning a guitar before a show,
  3. Move the Software: we transfer the software to the server and install it,
  4. Connect Everything: we link the software to databases and other tools it needs,
  5. Start It Up: we launch the software and check for errors.

We also prepare a rollback plan so we can quickly restore a previous version if anything goes wrong. 

Looking ahead, we implement Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) systems, which allow us to roll out updates and improvements without interrupting service for users. This ensures the experience remains seamless and stable, even as the product evolves.

Final Pre-Launch Verification

Before going live, we always perform a final round of testing to confirm that everything works exactly as it should. 

  • Functional testing checks that key features like user logins or payments are working correctly. 
  • Integration testing ensures that different parts of the system, such as the app and the database, communicate properly. 
  • Load testing simulates a surge in traffic to see how the system performs under pressure. This is especially important during a launch when there may be a spike in interest.

Since 80% of users expect a flawless experience from the beginning, this final testing phase is essential.

If We Were Working with an Already Finished Product

If your product is already live, updating it requires extra care to keep users happy. The process is similar to a new launch but focuses on avoiding disruptions. We:

  1. Test in a Copy: create a copy of the live system, including all user data, and test the update there,
  2. Move Data Safely: update the copy, making sure no user data is lost and everything works with the new version,
  3. Update Seamlessly: once we’re sure it’s ready, we update the live system without downtime.

This approach keeps your product running smoothly while adding new features or fixes.

Best Practices for a Successful Launch

Where to Go From Here

It’s important to remember that a successful launch is just the beginning. To remain competitive, your product needs continuous care. 

Only 20% of new products survive more than two years, but regular updates and improvements can significantly extend your product’s life. To keep your product competitive, we can help with:

  • Improving Features: making existing functions better based on user feedback,
  • Adding New Features: introducing new capabilities to meet user needs,
  • Scaling Up: upgrading the system to handle more users as your business grows,
  • Support: fixing issues and helping users when they need it.

Regular updates show users you’re committed to improving their experience, building trust and loyalty.

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Ready to create a software product you can be proud of? Reach out or book a consultation right away to get started!

  • Processes