Software advisory
Due diligence for high-value software projects
When the stakes are high, you need more than one perspective. Software projects can be multi-million-dollar investments. Before you invest, do your due diligence with our experienced software advisory.
Trusting Smudge to solve problems with software
Our advisors can help you with these challenges
Investing in software
You’re looking to improve a business process with software but you’re not sure whether to build or buy. Is there even an off-the-shelf option to suit?
Updating old software
You’re struggling because your current software isn’t doing what you need it to do anymore but you’re not sure how to handle an upgrade.
Solving a business problem
You’ve a business problem, but you’re not sure what to do next. Tech isn't your specialty and you're looking for some expert advice.
Planning a software build
You’ve identified a need and you’ve a great software solution you’re keen to build but you don’t know where to start. You’d like help to make a plan.
Getting independent advice is ideal if you’re looking for:
Supporting in house teams
IT departments are often great at maintaining technology, and may know your current software really well, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have the expertise across a multitude of software platforms, tools or solutions. At Smudge we maintain a team with deep level expertise across a range of platforms and tools that can support your existing teams expertise.
Impartial software advice
Many software development agencies are aligned to the big tech providers, this can limit solution design and result in less than optimal outcomes. We are not attached to any single software platform maintaining independence to ensure the best tools are selected for the task and always putting the needs of the client first.
Advice from experience practitioners
Our team of Advisors collectively have 100+ years experience in delivering software solutions for businesses across a broad range of industries. This means we understand the realities of solution design and build, scope, implementation, resource and stakeholder management. We will bring practical, solution focused advice and if we can't help, we'll be the first to tell you.
A big picture perspective
Functional leaders well established in existing internal paradigms and team structures may benefit from an external perspective. We encourage your team to think outside their silos and link software solutions to your operational objectives to give you more return on your software investment as well as better results.
A guide through the software maze
Quickly filter out ideas that don’t fit your timeframe or budget by bringing foundational software principles to your project. We build custom software, so we can give a good indication of how hard a solution might be to build, or how well an off-the-shelf tool will integrate with your existing software suite.
“Our mobile app ecosystem has revolutionised frontline policing in New Zealand through empathetic and considered design. It has improved public safety for all New Zealanders and is a world leading program that we are all very proud of.”
Our advisors help you secure ROI on your software
Get an independent perspective
Whether you work with a software agency or you have an internal development team, high-value software projects can benefit from an independent perspective. We can review and validate your approach or highlight opportunities for improvement.
Use the best tools for the job
Every software developer has their favourite software tools. But before you select software for a high-value project make sure you're choosing the best tool for the job. Is your tool the right fit for your needs? What other solutions could you consider?
Audit development process
Make sure your development process is fit for purpose. You don’t want to spend hours fixing bugs or discover a challenge that can’t be resolved halfway through a project. We audit development processes and make recommendations.
Make more informed decisions
We can help you define the problems you’re trying to solve. We can also present different paths forward, their advantages, weaknesses, and costs, so you can make an informed decision about the path you choose.
Recent examples of how we've helped
Finding the right software solution
A business came to us requesting a custom software tool. With our software expertise, we were able to point them to an off-the-shelf software solution that better meets their business stage, budget, and needs.
Building a team for a software startup
A software startup came looking for support as they were creating a new app. We worked with them on their bigger picture goals and helped them explore the team they needed, who to hire internally and externally, and key skills to seek in each of the roles.
Due diligence on a development approach
An engineering firm preparing to build a software tool came to us to test their approach. We helped them identify important considerations they’d missed and explore alternative paths. A single coaching session gave them a framework to do their due diligence and build a more robust tool.
“The first time we met Smudge, they visited a simulation in progress. The fact they were willing to come and see the simulator used within the clinical environment at that early stage spoke volumes about their commitment.”
The software advisory process
It starts with a conversation
We start with a conversation to work out if we’ve the right expertise for your challenges and outline some of the approaches you might take.
A advisory engagement can take various forms.
- Coaching you through decision making.
- Researching and testing off-the-shelf-software solutions.
- Reviewing source code for software.
- Auditing your development process or your development partner.
- Helping you plan a big software project, define your process, and understand the expertise you need on your team.
- Building software prototypes to explore options.
Once we’ve agreed which approach suits your situation, we prepare a quote.
Your advisory engagement
The duration of our advisory engagement could be a few coaching sessions, a short, intense period of research, or a longer engagement where we support you as a sounding board throughout a major software build.
Once we’ve had our initial conversation, we’ll be able to give you a feeling for the duration of the different approaches we recommend.
Outputs vary from one-on-one conversations with software experts to a written report. We make it clear in our proposal what our deliverables will be.
Software advisory options and pricing
Coaching you through a big software investment or planning a high-value software project.
From $5,000 + GST
This can include:
- Researching and testing off-the-shelf-software solutions.
- Reviewing code for software.
- Auditing development process.
From $15,000 + GST
If your needs aren’t covered by these options, get in touch and we’ll discuss an approach and prepare you a quote.
We'll tell you if software isn't the solution
We’ve coached organisations through software selection for them to realise they needed to work on their internal processes. We’re also happy to recommend off-the-shelf software tools. Software design may be one of our core capabilities, but we're not going to sell you on building software with us.
Delineation between advisory and software services
Our passion for creating software won’t conflict with our ability to give you objective coaching and advice. If you do also create software with us, we will set clear guidance of expectations of the differing services.
One great thing about working with Smudge was they didn't come in and redesign our user interface from scratch. They recognised we’d done a lot of work to get to the point we were at, and they focused on the tricky stuff we didn’t know how to do.”
Tell us about your software project
We can work out if we’ve the right advisory expertise for your challenges and outline some of the approaches you might take.
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Advisory is part of a suite of software services
At Smudge, we design and build digital tools that tackle tough, high-impact business challenges. Think of them as the precise puzzle pieces your digital ecosystem needs. With a diverse team of specialists, we bring a blend of skills and expertise to solve your problems with custom software.
Mobile apps
We specialise in designing and building high-value mobile apps for organisations. Think apps that meet an essential need for your customers or solve an important business problem for your team.
Desktop apps
Tools that are hard to use gather dust, while tools people enjoy using deliver value that far exceeds their cost. We focus on your app's user experience to ensure your investment pays off.
Custom Software Development
If the right tool doesn’t exist for your particular business problem, custom software could be the answer. We can help you understand your needs, explore ideas, and build you a tool if custom software is the right fit.
Product management for software
Big software tools can take years to build and they evolve to fit the changing needs of your business. Product management helps you develop a detailed roadmap to move you towards your vision in an efficient way.