astrorei
The method astrorei
We developed the Astrorei method to reconcile business needs with software development costs. We did this by creating an agreement that deploys the right incentives for an agile, effective and success‑oriented collaboration.
Phase 1
The meetup
Our first call: the start of a long‑term collaboration focused on efficiency and mutual growth.
Want one?
Book an introductory call!
What will we do?
We will have the opportunity to get to know each other, share our stories and gather the main information about your digital project.
How long?
The introductory call will last about an hour, but we'll make sure to have all the time needed to discuss your project in depth.
What is produced?
The development of a digital project is a complex undertaking, full of unknowns and course changes. It's often impossible to foresee all decisions and related costs during the preliminary phase; for this reason we don't work on a lump‑sum basis. However, we know how important it is to have an estimate of the required investment.
In this phase we will produce two documents:
- The estimate: an initial high‑level document that gathers the collected information, an initial technical design and a hypothetical cost range
- The quote: a fixed‑price and guaranteed quote to cover the next phase: the analysis
Phase 2
The analysis
The objective
In this phase we collect all the details about your project, the key objectives and the success KPIs.
Duration
It depends. Simpler projects can be analysed in a few days, while more complex ones may require several weeks.
What is produced
- Roadmap: We'll divide the project into milestones. There will be course corrections and rethinking, but a clear plan is fundamental for success.
- UI/UX boards: If planned, we will design the visuals and the user experience. This work will be the guiding base for subsequent phases.
for milestone in milestones:
Economics
The Quote
Starting from the previous analysis or, in subsequent iterations, from the retrospective and feedback on the work produced, a cost estimate is drawn up for the realization of the next milestone.
In this phase it is possible to change direction, review previous choices or proceed as agreed. The keyword is agility: react to new needs and capitalize on the know‑how accumulated in previous phases.
coding
Development
The objective
The production of what was defined in the estimate phase.
Duration
It depends on the size of the milestone. We design milestones to be as independent as possible, aiming to stay within roughly 1–2 months at most.
What is produced
At the end of this phase the actual software will be delivered, built according to the requested requirements and specifications.
testing
Acceptance
In this phase the milestone features are developed and delivered. You will have access to all the source code, as well as the product released in the Staging/QA environment.
All anomalies will be identified together (unfortunately they can't be avoided!) and promptly resolved.
Once stability and compliance with the specifications are ensured, the software will be released to production and considered finally accepted.
It's essential to carry out this phase with dedication and precision.
Any discrepancy discovered later must be included in the development and the estimate for the next milestone, causing delays and friction.
This procedure creates a clear incentive for timely verification, optimizing both costs and development time in the long run. In our experience it's the best strategy for both parties involved.
end
next steps
Evolution
The product will reach a critical mass that will require collecting feedback from users, capitalizing on the new knowledge and proceeding in smaller steps. At this stage, moving with monthly milestones is no longer the winning strategy.
The work done up to that point will have created an effective collaborative synergy: we will have exchanged sector‑specific know‑how with you, identified best practices and improved software development efficiency, which is the core of our offering.
For this reason it's time to lighten contractual schemes and evolve towards a more agile partnership suited to the new phase of the project.
From this point the basic unit of our work becomes the task.
We will define, according to business priorities, the activities, new features and bug fixes; we will provide an estimate of implementation times and related costs.
We will organize bi‑weekly sprint meetings, as per agile best practices, to discuss and detail the next tasks and the feedback collected from the previous sprint.
Billing will occur on a monthly basis, based on the hours allocated to the various tasks.
This approach makes us extremely flexible in workload.
Is it time to observe the market's reaction to the product? We can temporarily reduce or suspend developments.
Is it time to pivot? We're available: we can expand the team and increase output.
Why
Why it works
Our method is based on solid principles and time‑tested best practices. Here's why it works:
- 1
Clear total estimate
The initial overall cost estimate for completing the project helps you plan the budget and make informed decisions.
- 2
Milestone‑based collaboration
Working in milestones allows us to adapt quickly to new information, avoiding the bureaucratic frictions typical of fixed‑price contracts that try to cover the entire project.
This enables you to react promptly to the market while keeping transparency and financial control, and it allows us to estimate development costs without taking on excessive risks that would otherwise be loaded into the estimate.
This way costs are reduced and the frequent misalignment of expectations that leads to conflicts between parties is avoided. - 3
The partnership
By moving to a partnership in time & material mode we gain greater flexibility and speed in responding to project needs. By lightening contractual schemes and working by micro‑objectives (tasks), we share development risk and make costs more transparent and predictable.
This approach allows us to focus on business priorities, quickly scale the team and workload according to the needs, and accelerate iterations to capitalize on the know‑how accumulated in previous phases.
The result is a more efficient and responsive collaboration, with quick decisions, fewer bureaucratic frictions and a roadmap that adapts to the market, all supported by a partner you already know and can trust.
let's talk
Let's set up a meeting!
Want to see how the Astrorei method applies to your project? Book a no‑obligation consultation
use cases
Use cases
Discover how our method has already helped other clients achieve their goals.
AI System to Prevent Contact Sharing on Sailsquare
AI System to Prevent Contact Sharing on Sailsquare
ETL Data Integration for Plenitude On The Road
ETL Data Integration for Plenitude On The Road
EV Charging Microservices Platform
EV Charging Microservices Platform
Memorabid Platform Modernization
Memorabid Platform Modernization
Contact Us
Are you looking for high-tech solutions and software for your company? Contact our specialized staff now and get advice.
If you are looking for support for decision-making, problem-solving and strategy optimization or for the development of solutions and software suitable for your company, you have found it. Contact the Astrorei specialized team now to bring your projects to life.
Make an appointment!
Carlo Vassallo