Customer-Driven Architecture
An architectural approach that places the customer at the center of design and development decisions.
Classification
- ComplexityMedium
- Impact areaBusiness
- Decision typeDesign
- Organizational maturityIntermediate
Technical context
Principles & goals
Use cases & scenarios
Compromises
- Unclear customer wishes
- Delayed implementation
- Resistance to change
- Involve customers early.
- Utilize open feedback loops.
- Respond flexibly to customer requirements.
I/O & resources
- Market research results
- Customer data
- Competitive analysis
- Market-relevant products
- Optimized user experiences
- Stronger customer loyalty
Description
Customer-driven architecture aims to center customer needs in architectural and design decisions. This ensures that systems are functional and meet the real needs of users.
✔Benefits
- Increased customer satisfaction
- Better product launches
- Higher product acceptance
✖Limitations
- High time investment for feedback
- Potential delays in decision-making
- Risk of over-customization
Trade-offs
Metrics
- Customer satisfaction
Measurement of customer satisfaction with the product.
- Market share
Share of the product in the total market.
- Feedback rate
Number of feedbacks per season.
Examples & implementations
E-Commerce Platform Customization
An e-commerce company customized its ordering system based on customer feedback and achieved higher sales.
Mobile App Improvement
A mobile app was fundamentally improved through user feedback, leading to increased user satisfaction.
Adjusting Banking Services
A bank adjusted its services to better meet the needs of its customers, resulting in increased customer loyalty.
Implementation steps
Analyze customer needs.
Develop a feedback system.
Make iterative adjustments.
⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks
Technical debt
- Too many unbalanced adjustments
- Lack of standardization
- Outdated technologies
Known bottlenecks
Misuse examples
- Collecting feedback only once a year.
- Implementing too many changes without customer feedback.
- Focusing only on technical aspects.
Typical traps
- Over-customization to customer wishes
- Ignoring market trends
- Sticking to old models
Required skills
Architectural drivers
Constraints
- • Budget constraints
- • Time limits for product development
- • Resource availability