Consistency Between Need and Tech: The Solutions Architect’s Role

To become a solutions architect, you need to like diversity and versatility. Indeed, one of all the projects’ core characteristics is to never be the same. Parameters change from one client to the next in terms of organization, work method, needs, teams, technological needs, etc. Different needs must be efficiently met.

Solutions architects share common ground on both the software-development level and their client-relation expertise. This allows them to build a strong and healthy relationship with each client.

Read also: Customized App Development: What it Means

When we analyze the solutions architect’s engagement during a project, we understand how important their versatility is. Indeed, their expertise is frequently solicited, including during:

• The project’s presale phase and discovery phase: Right at the start of project discussions, the solutions architects define the needs and the technological feasibility. They illustrate the different systems and their interactions, as well as how they interfere with existing systems. This enables the team to communicate with the client and with the realization team in relation to the defined needs.
• The definition of non-functional requirements: The architects monitor security, performance, and law enforcement for each project.
• The development team handover: Once the discovery phase is complete, they identify every requirement imposed by the project’s context to mitigate the risk of unpleasant surprises during the project.
• The coaching phase throughout development: Lastly, the architects support the realization teams. These teams may have decision-making autonomy, but the architect’s role rather consists in ensuring that the client’s and the initial vision are respected.

As an integral part of the solutions team, the solutions architects must collaborate with all of nventive’s experts, but also with many collaborators from the client’s side. More specifically, they work with:

• Product owners: Architects offer support during client discussions; they validate technical feasibility. With the product owners, they ensure the project is achievable by evaluating its complexity.
• Project managers and scrum masters: Whether it be to create budget estimates, to provide forecasts, to validate and manage risks, or to coordinate proof of concepts, architects and project managers work closely together.
• Development teams: Architects issue technological recommendations and collaborate with the development teams to confirm certain aspects of development.
• Sales team: At the beginning of project discussions, the architects ensure the technological needs of a project are understood by the sales team.
• The client’s teams: To understand needs efficiently, the architects interact with every department on the client side, particularly IT teams.

To issue relevant, durable, and realistic recommendations, solutions architects need vast and diverse technological skills. While they may specialize in one type of tech platform, their role is to keep on the lookout for new products and features. Whether it be continuously watching the industry, reading material, joining committees, getting certificates, or discussing with teams or clients, architects use every trick in the book to stay informed.

Of course, trying a product is always the best way to learn more about it: to really integrate a new technology, one could, for example, develop a proof of concept.

To learn more, listen to this new episode right away.

Enjoy!

Read also: Discussion with Philippe Nadeau, Manager of the solutions architects’ team