Application or product development and deployment have become a progressively crucial part of business operations nowadays. With this, many businesses have sought to optimize the process of their product development, resulting in the rise of DevOps approach utilization.

While the DevOps approach is a major key to ensuring an effective and collaborative product development process, there’s still room to integrate strategic approaches to seamlessly deliver trailblazing results. This is where Agile development comes in.

Defining DevOps and Agile

DevOps is a software development approach that is a portmanteau of software development information technology. Its concept fosters a culture of collaboration for end-to-end product development between these two different teams. Rather than a replacement, DevOps is a succession to Agile development.

Agile development, on the other hand, is a term describing iterative and augmentative software development, which reduces the lifecycle of DevOps by performing against work in smaller increments or sprints. These sprints are usually one to four-week-long.

For every sprint, performing production quality code needs the Agile development team to account for the fast-tracked pacing. The coding, testing, and quality check processes must likewise be done every sprint.

Agile basically fosters adoption and leadership that promotes cross-collaboration, organization, and accountability. Its approach likewise seeks to continuously align development with customers’ needs and market trends, thus ensuring relevance.

How do Agile and DevOps overlap?

DevOps and Agile are two different software development methodologies with a similar goal—producing the end-product promptly and efficiently. This results in enhanced business productivity. The two harmoniously work together as they both have a collaborative working style, regardless of the method that’s being implemented.

Both DevOps and Agile depend on continual response and routine updates about the work progress from both internal and external stakeholders. The two methodologies’ product development processes are done at a fast pace by utilizing risk-free approaches and keeping smaller yet more hands-on teams.

According to a report from CA Technologies, businesses saw a 45-percent increase in employee productivity, a 29-percent increase in customer satisfaction, and a 78-percent increase in customer experience when Agile and DevOps are integrated into a company’s development approach. This is a testament to the methodologies’ effectiveness when combined.

DevOps and Agile: Best when integrated

Now, let’s discuss the possible benefits of synthesizing the Agile approach with DevOps.

  1. Deliver early and frequently

With the integrated approach, high-performing businesses have 440 times faster lead time and faster code deploys which is usually around 46 times more frequently.

The pay-off for waterfall-based projects occurs at the end. On the contrary, when the conditions allow, projects developed through the integrated approach are akin to financial options that can be implemented through early deployment. Businesses can get more benefits far earlier than with waterfall methods.

  1. Fewer bugs and quicker fixes

Errors can be detected and fixed even during the initial product development phases since routine testing and reviews are done after every sprint cycle. Since it is also an incremental and continual production method, every release is analyzed, developed, and combined to deliver high-quality results for the business.

  1. More value and minimized risks

Since the process is aimed at achieving error-free product development, risks are detected at an earlier stage and are reduced. As the methodology involves multiple sprint releases, there is always room to modify the working product after every sprint prior to end-product delivery.

  1. Immediate returns on investment (ROI)

The integrated approach also includes incremental product development. This means product returns are obtainable at the early development stages. Per sprint cycle, the working product is released, and alterations are made based on customer feedback. This enables continuous product improvement, thus enabling faster ROIs while allowing businesses to have a competitive advantage with dynamic innovations.

  1. Greater project transparency and visibility

The team working on a project is usually up-to-date discussions, sprint feedbacks, and project charts. This allows better visibility and transparency across the working teams. Customers are likewise involved in the initial sprint stages, which makes feedback provision more accessible.

Since such deployments also produce actual working software or product every few weeks, there exists project visibility. And product or software developers and managers can also see a more accurate view of many processes such as the progress and whether the project will meet quality standards and expectations.

  1. Increased customer satisfaction

Since reviews and feedback from customers are received every sprint release, customers are technically involved throughout the project lifecycle. With flexibility, customer participation, and effective engagement, the delivery of customer-specific products becomes smoother and more interactive. And with increased customer satisfaction comes better customer retention.

  1. Facilitate cooperation among DevOps teams and various lines of business

By closely working side by side early and often, the integrated method can cultivate better working relationships among the teams of DevOps specialists and other experts involved. With effective cross-collaboration, productivity also increases. As a result, product development processes are optimized.

The bottom line

With Agile, the developed software or products are aimed at catering to the needs of end customers quickly. Meanwhile, DevOps ensures that the products or software being deployed are of high quality. Both work harmoniously, streamlining the lifecycle of development for better value and output delivery.

By adopting an integrated, you can further streamline and step up your operations, save money, and surpass the benchmark quality of your product or service.

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