Why "Deliver working software frequently"?

"Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale," is one of the Twelve Principles behind the Agile Manifesto. However, in many companies, software projects and programs can take several quarters or even years before the first line of code is delivered to production. This delay prevents organizations from getting their product into customers’ hands early, impacting another key Agile principle: "Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software."

So, what is there to gain by following this principle and delivering solutions frequently?

**More Frequent Customer Feedback**: Delivering software frequently allows for early and continuous feedback from customers. Adjusting a plan or direction early based on these insights is much easier and less costly than making changes later. The longer teams wait to share solutions and gather feedback, the greater the risk of missing critical learnings. Frequent communication between development teams and customers ensures that decisions are based on the best available information.

**Faster Time to Market**: To remain competitive, organizations must adapt quickly to market changes driven by threats, opportunities, and evolving customer demands. Delivering solutions frequently enables a company to better navigate these changing conditions and increase its chances of survival.

**Establishing a Cadence with Built-In Quality**: Establishing a regular delivery cadence helps a team find its "flow," leading to greater predictability. A predictable delivery cadence allows for more accurate planning and better meets customer expectations. Automation technology supports cadence consistency and enables more frequent delivery of working software. Increased delivery frequency also requires built-in quality, which is further facilitated by automation technologies.

**Return on Investment**: Deploying working software to production allows customers to benefit from solutions sooner, enhancing their lives and generating revenue for the organization. The frequency of delivery determines how quickly this value can be realized by both customers and the organization, making frequent software delivery a win-win situation.

By adhering to the principle of frequent delivery, organizations can enhance customer satisfaction, adapt more swiftly to market demands, maintain high quality, and achieve a better return on investment.