Product Feature Enhancement 

Outsourcing of sustaining engineering requires effective knowledge transition and tight SLA adherence 

As software products enter the marketplace, the requirements for further continuous innovation begin immediately. ISVs need to constantly maintain the competitive edge of their products. However, enhancing existing applications can often be more difficult than developing new software from scratch. At a minimum, a comprehensive understanding of the application architecture, use cases, design objectives, and functionality is required.

Outsourcing of feature enhancement tasks can be even more complicated, as critical knowledge transition functions may be hampered by poor documentation.

Nevertheless, the payoff from outsourcing application feature enhancement and sustaining engineering can be huge. ISVs devote a major slice of their resources to sustaining engineering activities -- by some estimates, up to 80% of product development R&D budgets are allocated to product maintenance. Outsourcing allows ISVs to realize substantial costs savings, and to apply their best and brightest internal resources to new product development.

Lionbridge understands the obstacles to successful outsourcing of feature enhancement, migration, modernization, and end-of-life programs. For example, recognizing that knowledge transition is the #1 key to effective outsourcing, Lionbridge deploys custom learning management systems and collaboration portals for each of its engagements. This ensures that all resources have the proper training and context required to successfully take on feature enhancement activities.

We also believe that the most efficient engagements are those which are governed by fully transparent SLAs and corresponding real-time metrics. Lionbridge's iFive Program creates a Product Health Dashboard that allows all stakeholders to monitor key metrics and SLA-compliance through a 24/7 portal.

Lionbridge's application feature enhancement and sustaining engineering services are available at the customer site, in near-site facilities, in low-cost onshore solution centers, and from our offshore centers in Asia and Eastern Europe.

Learn more about feature enhancement services from Lionbridge.