Services
Discovery phase with cost ceiling
Requirements analysis, solution design and a binding cost ceiling at a fixed price, before you invest in software.
In two to three weeks, the discovery phase establishes what your software project has to deliver, how it fits into your systems and what it will cost. You receive requirements, a solution design, a stage plan, a binding cost ceiling and an honest make-or-buy recommendation, even if it says «standard software is enough». The fixed price is CHF 4,000 to 9,000.
Typical triggers
Typical triggers
Clients get in touch when one of these situations arises.
- 01You have an idea or a clear pain point, but no sense of what a solution would cost.
- 02Quotes from different providers cannot be compared because each of them understood something different.
- 03You are unsure whether standard software is enough or a custom solution is worthwhile.
- 04Management or the board want a reliable budget before they decide.
Discovery phase with cost ceiling
What you get
Workshops with your specialists
We go through processes, special cases, existing systems and data with the people who work with them every day, on site or by video.
Requirements as a specification
What the solution has to do, for whom and with which data, written down so that your team can check it.
Solution design
What the solution looks like, which systems are connected and where the data is stored, described in plain language.
Make-or-buy recommendation
Standard software, a custom solution or a combination. If the honest answer is «standard is enough», we tell you so.
Stage plan
Sensible stages in the right order, so the benefit shows early and the risk per step stays small.
Binding cost ceiling
A cost framework that holds: new requests go on a list and are assessed before they enter the budget.
Three possible outcomes of the make-or-buy review
If an off-the-shelf product covers around 80 per cent of your process and the rest is no competitive advantage, we recommend standard software.
The discovery phase then shows which requirements the product has to meet and what to watch for during rollout.
The best answer for many SMEs: a standard ERP as the leading system and a lean custom application for the part the ERP cannot handle.
Both are connected through interfaces, and the ERP stays unchanged and upgradable.
Worthwhile when several systems have to work together, your process sets you apart from competitors or adapting a standard product would cost more.
You receive a solution design, stage plan and cost ceiling for the implementation.
Where software projects typically land after the discovery phase
| Project type | Price range | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Single automation or interface | CHF 8,000 to 25,000 | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Internal tool for one department | CHF 25,000 to 50,000 | 2 to 4 months |
| Business application with ERP integration | CHF 50,000 to 100,000 | 3 to 6 months |
| Customer portal | CHF 25,000 to 80,000 | 10 to 24 weeks |
| B2B shop with pricing logic and ERP | CHF 30,000 to 180,000 | 3 to 8 months |
| Platform or industry solution | from CHF 100,000 | 6 to 12 months |
Discovery phase with cost ceiling
Approach
01
Intro call
20 minutes, free of charge. We clarify the goal, the people involved and whether a discovery phase is the right next step.
02
Workshops
With your specialists we go through processes, special cases, existing systems and data, on site or by video.
03
Solution design
What the solution looks like, which systems are connected and whether standard, custom or a combination fits best.
04
Stage plan and cost ceiling
Sensible stages, each with a binding cost ceiling. The very first stage already delivers benefit.
05
Decision
We present the result. After that you are free to decide whether to go ahead, and with whom.
Effort
Price range
- Price range
- CHF 4'000 to 9'000
- Duration
- 2 to 3 weeks
Non-binding estimate, excl. VAT.
What drives the effort
Fixed price, agreed before the start. The deciding factors are the number of processes and user groups, the systems to be connected and how many workshops are needed.
Discovery phase with cost ceiling
Frequently asked questions
What is the discovery phase and why does it come first?
In two to three weeks, the discovery phase establishes what will be built, how it fits into your systems and what it will cost. You receive requirements, a solution design, a stage plan and a cost ceiling. The price is fixed, usually CHF 4,000 to 9,000. After that you are free to decide whether to go ahead, and with whom.
What is the difference between a discovery phase and a specification?
A specification describes what the software has to do. The discovery phase contains these requirements and goes further: it shows how the solution fits into your systems, in which stages it is built and what it costs. On top of that comes a recommendation on whether standard software, a custom solution or a combination fits best.
What happens if the discovery phase shows that standard software is enough?
Then we recommend standard software and explain why. The requirements from the discovery phase help you compare products and plan the rollout. For you that is a good outcome, because you avoid an investment that would not have paid off.
Can we use the results of the discovery phase to get quotes from other providers?
Yes. After the discovery phase you are free to decide whether to go ahead, and with whom. The requirements, solution design and stage plan serve as a basis that makes quotes from different providers comparable.
What does a project with Natter Solutions cost?
A single automation or interface starts at around CHF 8,000. Business applications such as customer portals or the replacement of an Excel solution usually come to between CHF 25,000 and 100,000, larger platforms more. Every solution page shows a price range. It becomes binding after the discovery phase, which you receive at a fixed price.
When do you advise against custom software?
Whenever a standard product covers 80% of the case and the remainder is not a competitive advantage. For accounting, simple appointment booking or a small shop, there are good off-the-shelf solutions. We will tell you so in the intro call. Custom software pays off where several systems have to work together or your process departs from the norm.
What happens if our requirements change during the project?
Changes are normal and planned for. New requests go onto a shared list and are estimated. You decide whether an item joins the current stage, is swapped for something else or moves to the next phase. That is how the cost ceiling stays binding.
Let us talk about your case.
20 minutes are enough to find out whether a custom solution is worth it for you.