Many software products fail not because of bad technology — but because they solve the wrong problem.
Over the years, I’ve learned one important rule:
Never start with software. Start with the problem.
Here is the simple framework I personally follow before building any software product.
1. Observe the Real Workflow
I first observe how people actually do their work.
Not what they say.
Not what management thinks.
But what truly happens on the ground.
Most inefficiencies hide inside daily routines, spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages, and manual reporting.
2. Identify the Cost of the Problem
Not every problem deserves software.
I always ask:
• Does this problem waste time?
• Does it cause financial loss?
• Does it create decision delays?
If a problem doesn’t have a measurable cost, software usually becomes unnecessary.
3. Talk to the People Doing the Work
Managers often describe problems differently from the people actually doing the job.
So I speak with:
• Operators
• Supervisors
• Managers
Their perspectives reveal the real bottlenecks.
4. Find Repeating Pain
A good software opportunity comes from repetitive pain.
If the same issue happens:
• every day
• every production cycle
• across multiple teams
Then automation can create serious value.
5. Validate With Data
Before building anything, I check:
• How often the problem occurs
• How much money it wastes
• How much time it consumes
If solving it can create clear ROI, then it becomes a real software opportunity.
6. Build the Simplest Possible Solution
Many founders overbuild.
Instead, I start with:
• A simple tool
• A focused feature
• A small pilot
Software should solve one painful problem extremely well, not ten problems poorly.
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Final Thought
Technology is not the solution.
Understanding the problem deeply is the real innovation.
The best software companies are not built by great programmers alone.
They are built by people who understand real-world problems better than anyone else.
— B M Shorif
Managing Director
DAPCO Ventures Limited