Behind the Scenes: Unveiling Simpu's CPO approach to developing features

When those captivating blue lights start flickering in the engineering room, you can be sure that something exciting is in the works! In the course of this year, Simpu has introduced a host of new features, and our curiosity got the best of us. We decided to delve into the behind-the-scenes action to uncover the real story. We got in touch with our Chief Product Officer to give the marketing team the inside scoop!

As it turns out, creating a new feature for Simpu is no walk in the park. It requires a dedicated team of skilled engineers, meticulous planning, and plenty of office banter to bring the vision to life. Here's a detailed look at how it all unfolds:

Simpu’s feature development process?

At Simpu, the pre-sprint planning phase is the essential first step in creating features for our app. During this phase, the product team works closely with the feature owners which includes both the marketing and customer support teams to gather valuable feedback from our users.

Through close collaboration, we analyze customer feedback and incorporate key insights into our feature development roadmap. This thorough planning process ensures that we build features that address our users' needs and exceed their expectations and to do so, the product team carries out research to build the user story.

After the pre-sprint planning phase, Simpu’s product team moves on to the sprint planning phase. During this phase, the team meets with the engineers responsible for building the new feature to discuss the idea in more detail. Together, they determine the necessary steps and tasks required to bring the feature to life, carefully outlining each stage of the development process.

Based on the requirements and timelines established during the sprint planning phase, the team assigns specific responsibilities to individual engineers who will take ownership of each task. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that each team member understands their role in delivering the new feature successfully.

But let's not forget about the main event - the actual sprint phase. This is where the engineering team rolls up their sleeves and gets down to business - building the feature. It's like a marathon, except instead of running, we're building something that'll make our users' lives easier and more efficient.

Simpu’s testing and deployment process?

Next, the team enters the testing phase. We take pride in the quality of our work, and that's why we've established a rigorous testing process to ensure everything is in perfect shape before it's released to our users.

First up, our trusty QA engineer gives the feature a thorough test to certify that it meets our high standards. When it's been given the stamp of approval, we use the ever-reliable GitHub as our repository system to keep everything organized.

Testing can sometimes take longer than expected but we're committed to getting it right. After a week of testing, the team provides feedback on any issues or bugs they've encountered. And speaking of bugs, we take those seriously too! We prioritize them into four different categories: low priority, medium priority, normal priority, and high priority.

During the testing phase, the product team rigorously tests the new feature while comparing it to the user stories developed during the pre-sprint planning phase. They meticulously note any issues or bugs that arise, ensuring that the final product is of the highest quality. All feedback and bug reports are diligently recorded on Clickup for future reference.

Once it's been given the green light by our QA engineer and the product team, the features are moved to be deployed for production.

Most challenging feature to build?

Simpu's engineering team took on a tough challenge with the Shared Team Inboxes feature. This feature took Simpu in a new direction from its original mission of connecting channels to a central inbox. But the team thought, "Why not make it easier for users to share access to their inbox?" It was a major shift from the original plan, which focused on connecting personal inboxes.

This feature required a significant restructuring of the backend code, making it one of the most challenging features to build. But it was worth it, as it has become the most popular feature on Simpu.

How secure is Simpu?

We take data privacy and security very seriously at Simpu. We are fully GDPR and SOC 2 compliant, but we don't stop there. To ensure the highest level of security, we have implemented built-in encryption in our inbox to safeguard against any potential leaks.

Our team is comprised of top-notch developers with expertise in full-stack development, UI/UX design, and mobile app development using React. Our developers are proficient in multiple languages, including Python, JavaScript, and Node.js. Our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our users includes ensuring that their data is protected at all times.

Check out our privacy policy here

What’s next for the team?

It's not just about introducing exciting new integrations; it's about the highly anticipated arrival of Simpu AI for both our Inbox and Marketing platforms. We're also enhancing our products with features like Conversation Summary, Merge List, and Duplicate Checker, all of which will be at your fingertips this month.

But wait, there's more! We're working diligently to ensure effortless integration with your favorite apps and building our very own mobile app, soon to grace the app store. We're on a mission to elevate your productivity, so gear up for an exhilarating journey!

In essence, building a new feature on Simpu demands a considerable amount of hard work and collaboration, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Our passion for what we do is unwavering, and there's nothing more gratifying than witnessing our users reap the rewards of our dedication.

Get started on your journey with Simpu. Enjoy a 14-Day free trial now!