Show the current process first.
No software specification is required. Start with the files, steps, decisions, exceptions, and output involved in the task today.
Five steps from repetitive task to working tool
The scope and level of support depend on the particular workflow. The first goal is to determine whether a small tool is appropriate.
Understand the task
Review the current files, manual steps, business rules, exceptions, and expected output.
Evaluate the opportunity
Estimate how often the work occurs, the time it requires, and whether the inputs and rules are suitable for automation.
Define the scope
Agree on functions, file formats, expected outputs, test criteria, and the responsibilities of each party before development.
Build and test
Develop the tool and compare results with verified examples, including known exceptions and unusual transactions.
Deliver and maintain
Provide usage instructions and agree on how requested changes, file-format updates, and post-delivery support will be handled.
How we approach business data
Invoices, purchase orders, financial records, and supplier information may be commercially sensitive. We begin by understanding the work and identifying the information actually needed. Data sharing methods, permitted access, storage, and retention expectations should be agreed upon before customer records are exchanged.
Initial conversations can use descriptions or fictional examples rather than confidential files. If real data is needed for testing, the appropriate handling arrangements must be established for that project first.
Our website demonstrations use fictional data. The demonstrations do not establish where future customer tools will run or how data will be hosted, stored, or protected; those details depend on the solution and must be defined before implementation.