Mastering the discovery phase: a definitive guide to project success

The discovery phase is a crucial step in project development – it prevents the common temptation to rush from an idea straight into app building without proper groundwork. During this phase, key information about the product vision, market, and technical requirements is gathered, ensuring the project starts with a clear and feasible plan that reduces risks and aligns expectations among all stakeholders.

A recent Gartner CIO and Technology Executive Survey shows that only 48% of digital initiatives meet or exceed their business outcome targets. Globally, failed initiatives cost businesses billions – an estimated $2.3 trillion annually.

Crucially, the root cause of these failures is rarely a lack of ambition or vision; it’s often due to poor execution and inadequate planning at the initial stages. This risk is especially high for startups and companies launching apps without clear requirements. Our practical experience confirms that 90% of the time, the discovery phase done by experts is a game changer.

Skipping discovery often causes two main types of problems companies face:

• Failing to achieve product-market fit by creating a product that doesn’t effectively solve real problems or meet customer needs.

• Missing investment and timeline targets due to budget overruns and uncontrolled scope creep.

In this article, we’ll break down what the discovery phase key goals, steps, and deliverables are.

What is a discovery phase in a project?

The discovery phase is the first stage of a software development project. During this stage, experts conduct research on the market and competitors, analyze the client’s business goals, and help define the optimal solution scope. This allows a balance between product value and customer investment and results in a detailed software specification for the agreed features. 

Apart from that, experts analyze technical implementation options and plan integration layouts to design the most suitable architecture. The outcome of this stage is a set of practical deliverables such as a design concept and a roadmap that clearly outline the path to the final product. 

We often meet clients skeptical about the necessity of a discovery phase because they don’t see it as an integral part of the project. However, discovering the foundational points early on avoids potential risks, misaligned expectations, and expensive corrections down the road.

It’s worth noting that, currently, we recommend offering a discovery phase mostly for projects where uncertainty in requirements or complexity exists, rather than applying it to all cases.

What specialists are involved in the discovery phase?

Commonly, the core project discovery team consists of 3–5 specialists who often continue to work on the actual development later: a business analyst, a tech consultant or architect, a designer, and a project manager. Depending on the project, an industry expert or other specialist may also join.

Business analyst collects essential data from the client and market or competitors. Then, the analyst transforms this data into actionable insights as well as functional and non-functional requirements. They also guide and help the client define the most optimal scope - balancing budget constraints with delivering a product that brings real value without overspending.

Designer works based on business analysis results to create a design concept that targets the audience and builds wireframes using user journeys. Working prototypes are developed as needed by a request to test user experience before product development begins.

Tech analyst evaluates the project from the developer’s perspective, analyzing the technical side, like the best tools, platforms, and other effective solutions. They propose the architecture and development approach most suitable for your product.

How does SolveIt conduct the discovery phase?

"A meticulously conducted discovery phase transforms vague ideas into a clear, actionable roadmap. It aligns business goals with technical realities, uncovers risks early, and sets the foundation for a scalable, user-centered product. Skipping this stage often leads to costly missteps and inefficiencies down the line."

– Natalia Ivleva, Lead Business Analyst at SolveIt

Step 1: Kick-off call

The project manager, together with the sales manager and key team members from both sides, leads this initial session. During the call, we:

• Introduce teams and key contacts

• Understand the client’s project goals and background

• Discuss project stages, scope, constraints, roles, and communication

• Set clear expectations for collaboration

• Identify risks and agree on next steps and iteration plans

Before the call, the project manager prepares a kick-off presentation that serves as the meeting agenda. After the call, this presentation is shared with the client and sales manager as a reference to ensure alignment.

Step 2: Business analysis

Our business analyst investigates the situation in-depth to uncover root causes, business needs, or opportunities. We study the strategic context and analyze competitors to shape the project scope clearly. The process includes:

• Documenting vision, scope, and business requirements

• Eliciting and interpreting detailed functional and non-functional requirements

• Collaborating closely with both client and development teams to clarify and prioritize requirements

• Conducting user analysis and managing scope changes

This thorough analysis ensures alignment between your business goals and the product’s functionality while minimizing risks.

Step 3: UI/UX design

Designers dive into understanding your business needs and user profiles by reviewing documentation and holding knowledge transfer sessions with the business analyst. Based on these insights, they develop a design concept, defining the core idea driving the product’s look and feel. They may conduct client or user interviews if needed. The result includes a design concept and prototypes (upon request) that help visualize the user journey before development starts, keeping effective app design cost management in mind.

Step 4: Architecture

Our technical architect models the solution architecture by preparing diagrams such as ERD and infrastructure layouts. They identify necessary APIs and third-party services, analyze their offers and costs, and select the best options. This step creates a clear technical blueprint that supports the solution’s scalability and reliability.

Step 5: Presentation and deliverables

After completing all discovery activities, we present a comprehensive project proposal that covers your business vision, technical plan, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation. This presentation includes a final cost estimate designed to help you release the optimal solution within your expected budget.

If the proposed cost exceeds your budget, we work with you to break down the scope into multiple releases, focusing first on the highest-priority features. This phased approach ensures you get a valuable product quickly while managing investment and risk effectively. Once you approve the plan, we confidently move forward to MVP development.

Discovery phase deliverables

At SolveIt, there is a standard set of artifacts we typically provide by the end of the discovery phase:

• Vision and Scope document – outlines the product vision, supported by an analysis of key trends and insights aligned with your business goals. 

• Product backlog and roadmap – a detailed Excel document listing features included in the release and future versions, with timelines and priorities agreed upon with you.

• ERD diagram – illustrates business entities such as users, products, and intangible assets like logs, along with their relationships within the system.

• 3rd-party integration analysis – detailed documentation of all proposed integrations including costs, and help deciding which external services to connect.

• Technical stack and architecture – clear, documented choices of technologies, infrastructure, and APIs supporting scalability and reliability.

• List of additional costs – transparent overview of any expected extra expenses.

• Proposal and development plan – a strategic document outlining step-by-step development phases, timelines, and cost estimates for MVP and subsequent releases.

Regarding design, we offer two approaches – both resulting in 2–4 key app screens:

• If you have existing design assets such as logos, fonts, or brand style, our designers tailor a concept around your identity and produce the key app screens accordingly.

• If you’re starting from scratch, we conduct competitor analysis, prepare mood boards, and style references through design sessions. Once you approve the direction, we create app screens leveraging the approved concept.

We also offer several deliverables upon request: 

• Prototype – an interactive model simulating the final product experience to validate concepts early on.

• Investor pitch deck – based on discovery insights, we can craft a compelling pitch deck tailored for investors to secure funding.

Discovery phase: SolveIt experience 

Yes, in some cases the project discovery phase may seem time-consuming and resource-intensive. But, at the same time, it works very effectively for determining the project's timeline, budget, final product requirements, and specifications. 

It also helps cut development costs by clarifying which features must be in the first MVP and which can be added later. Let’s look at some of our cases proving the importance of a proper discovery phase.

Medical mobile app development

Through the discovery phase, we defined key features for the MVP, optimized scope, and avoided costly changes later. This focused approach reduced development costs by a quarter, speeding up time-to-market without sacrificing quality.

Benefit: Clear MVP scope and 25% cost savings

Food delivery mobile app

The client had an existing app with usability and navigation issues causing customer loss. Our discovery phase identified user pain points and gaps, leading to new detailed user stories and a dynamic design concept aligned with market trends. The improvements enhanced search speed, order management, and checkout, boosting user engagement and revenue.

Benefit: Enhanced user experience that attracted new users and boosted client revenue.

B2B Marketplace web app

A detailed discovery process revealed the app’s core logic and tech needs. The resulting React-based MVP included scalable architecture, monetization, and an SEO-friendly landing page. This foundation allowed the client to digitize offline workflows and accelerate revenue growth.

Benefit: Accelerated launch and scalable product architecture supporting future growth.

How long does the project discovery phase last?

Typically, the discovery phase takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending mostly on the complexity of the product and scope. For instance, if we talk about developing a custom software product for an enterprise to automate in-house processes, the discovery phase in this case may take up to 1,5 months or even longer.

On the other hand, the discovery phase for digital products, which don’t require any complex technologies or integrations, in most cases takes less than a month.

Cost of the discovery phase

Generally, the cost of the discovery phase ranges between 10% and 15% of the total project budget. For very simple projects, it can start from around $10,000.

At SolveIt, the starting cost of a discovery phase typically begins at $8,000, varying according to the complexity and specific needs of your product. We offer tailored discovery packages for startups, business product building, and custom software for business automation. We also provide custom calculations if your project requires a unique approach.

Key benefits of the discovery phase

The discovery phase offers critical advantages that pave the way for a successful project:

• Clear product vision and goals – thorough market and competitor research help define what to build and why.

• Deep understanding of users and market needs – user feedback and analysis prevent building unwanted features.

• Robust product architecture – a scalable, well-planned technical foundation reduces rework later.

• Defined technologies and smooth integration – choosing the right tools and planning integrations upfront.

• Reduced development cost and risks – minimizing changes during development through precise planning.

• Effective product roadmap – clear timelines, priorities, and release plans keep the project on track.

Key risks of skipping the discovery phase

• Insufficient investment estimation – failure to accurately estimate necessary funding can lead to financial challenges and put successful project completion at risk.

• Changes in functionality and requirements – skipping discovery often causes frequent and challenging changes during development, which strain team and stakeholder relationships.

• Overused budget – poor understanding of project scope can lead to overspending beyond allocated funds.

• Market value risk – without validating the idea properly, there is a high chance of creating a product that does not meet market needs or user expectations.

• Lack of time for proper architecture – ignoring discovery can result in poor architectural planning, creating integration issues, feature incompatibility, and technical debt.

Including a discovery phase sets a clear path forward, builds confidence, and aligns all stakeholders, maximizing the chances for timely delivery, budget control, and product-market success.

Summary

Clients often tend to omit the discovery phase, thinking that this stage is unimportant. In reality, when it comes down to practical work, the discovery process works incredibly well for getting the clearest product vision/strategy and obtaining a precise development plan with all necessary specifications already listed in there.

The discovery phase helps to dive into the development workflow with confidence, knowing that all risks have been carefully thought through and minimized. Most importantly, the client is 100% sure that all processes connected to product development will stay within the budget and meet deadlines.

As for our development approach at SolveIt, it’s tied to the business needs of every client. Contact us for detailed information on our product discovery phase services!

Discovery Phase FAQ

What is the discovery phase of a project?

The discovery phase is the first stage of a software development project. During this time, the team researches the market and competitors, analyzes your business goals, and helps define the optimal solution scope. This balance between product value and investment results in a detailed software specification and a technical architecture plan. Key deliverables often include a design concept, an interactive prototype (upon request), and a clear roadmap guiding the project forward.

What happens if you skip the discovery phase?

Skipping discovery puts your project at risk of misaligned goals, budget overruns, and timeline failures. Without this crucial groundwork, companies often create products that don’t solve real problems or miss the market fit entirely. It also leads to uncontrolled scope creep, frequent requirement changes, and costly rework. Our practical experience confirms that discovery significantly improves project success rates.

How much does a discovery phase cost?

Discovery typically costs between 10–15% of the total project budget. For simple projects, prices start around $8,000 to $10,000. At SolveIt, we offer tailored packages for startups, business products, and custom software automation. Exact pricing depends on your project’s specifics and complexity.

How long does the discovery phase take?

Typically, the discovery phase lasts 4 to 6 weeks, varying by product complexity and scope. Highly complex, custom software projects may take longer – up to 1.5 months or more. Simpler digital products without complex integrations usually complete discovery in less than a month.

What are the steps in the discovery phase?

While steps may vary by project, we generally follow this approach:

• Kick-off call to align stakeholders and set expectations

• In-depth business analysis to define scope, risks, and priorities

• UI/UX design concept 

• Technical architecture planning and integration strategy

• Presentation of comprehensive project proposal and deliverables

This structured process ensures clarity, risk mitigation, and alignment for a smooth development journey.