UCSSM is in the unique position to offer an extensive outsourced product development service to Independent Software Vendors (such as software product owning companies) looking to improve their market effectiveness and/or production efficiencies by outsourcing their product-related R&D to lower-cost and more specialised software service providers.

We engage in roadmap planning with ISVs to build a retail product for their target market. Various releases are typically planned in order to evolve the scope and applicability of the existing retail product after its initial release to market.

Our OPD unit offers the full spectrum of services required within the product development life cycle.

The OPD service is backed by our Software Factory Support (SFS) and Core Asset Development (CADU) units. The SFS unit provides the infrastructure for our development service, ensuring that the product can be delivered according to prescribed standards inherent to a CMMI-certified organisation. The CADU unit provides the tools, core components and development framework which assist us at OPD in speeding up the time-to-market for our customers.

Our development methodology

By combining CMMI processes, best practices and in-depth knowledge of retail practices we have developed our own application life cycle model. Roadmap planning, combined with solid business cases, provide the input for this development life cycle. Our customers determine the roadmap and provide the business case or user requirements for the kick-off of development activities, whereas we provide a Milestone Zero service which gives the customer an indication of the extent of the project, time lines and the complexity of development - coupled to a budget. This service assists us and our customers in scoping a specific release of the retail product. The customer (if need be) is involved throughout the development process, first of all in signing off requirements and technical design documents, but also in so-called “show-earlies” of the product as it evolves.