After reading this article you’ll discover:

Congratulations! You’ve reached the important milestone: you are about to press ‘Play’ and enable your customers to use your application. Even though there might be not too many things to be concerned about, it’s still highly recommended that you look at the whole picture one last time. The way you launch, maintain, and present your application makes a huge impact on the long-term success and profitability of your enterprise. This article provides a checklist of important steps you need to undertake to make your application run smoothly.

Let's start with a brief checklist - the go-live memo that is aimed at making sure you haven't missed anything important.

The journey of deploying your application to a live environment demands a meticulous roll-up plan which you can approach at your own pace and preference. However, we feel that it's worth giving a more detailed breakdown of each stage to guide you through the process:

Before pushing your application live, ensure a clean slate by deleting test data and preparing live data for implementation. This involves validating the integrity and relevance of data that will be actively used in the production environment. A smooth transition to live data minimizes the risk of discrepancies and inaccuracies, setting the foundation for a reliable application.

Thoroughly review and validate all configurations and final settings before deploying your application. Track and document changes to ensure your application is finely tuned for production. This includes essential configurations like setting up SMTP domains and adding favicon details. Attention to detail at this stage ensures a seamless user experience in the live environment.

Identify and eliminate any dependencies that may hinder a smooth go-live. Conduct a comprehensive check of your application, ensuring that custom domains are correctly configured, especially when utilizing a customized front-end. By addressing dependencies beforehand, you pave the way for a more stable and independent live application.

Prioritize testing as a fundamental step before deploying your application to the live environment. Comprehensive testing helps identify and fix vulnerabilities that might arise post-launch. Conduct thorough assessments to ensure the application’s reliability, security, and functionality, mitigating potential issues that could impact end-users.

Scheduling the go-live events within a specified time frame is extremely important for a well-coordinated deployment. This involves strategic planning to avoid disruptions and ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the timing. A carefully planned go-live moment contributes to a smoother transition and a positive first impression for users.

Effective communication is key to managing expectations. Notify stakeholders, users, and those impacted by the application well in advance of the upcoming go-live. Providing clear information about the changes, improvements, and potential impacts leads to positive acceptance and confidence among users.

Determine the most suitable method for inviting end-users based on your application type and company policy. Options include sending registration links, inviting users via the back office, or invitation emails. Craft the invitation process to match the nature of your application and the preferences of your user base.

Strengthen user understanding of the platform by providing a comprehensive guide outlining key features. This guide can be shared via email or included within the application itself. Offering a user-friendly introduction sets the stage for a positive initial experience, helping users navigate and make the most of the application.

Offering clear and comprehensive onboarding training and documentation contributes to long-term product success by empowering users to understand and efficiently use the application. By fostering user confidence and self-sufficiency, you minimize support queries and create a positive user experience.

Keep in mind that even after accomplishing these points, you need to maintain and support your application as customer demands are evolving. Gather some useful feedback, think about adding new features in the future, and improve already existing ones. All in all, have your finger on the pulse of changing circumstances and you will succeed with your product, and if you have some questions, reach out to our community. Good luck on your way!