Skip to product menu
close
  • Recent Launches
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Recent Launches

New

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Try now
New

Robotic process automation software to automate high-volume, rule-based tasks.

Try for free
New

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

Try now
New

Business formation service to launch and grow your businesses.

Try now
New

Privacy-friendly application analytics solution.

Try for free

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Skip to main content

The rapid application development model: Rapid results, remarkable software

Sign up for free

What is the rapid application development (RAD) model?

The rapid application development (RAD) model focuses on iterative and incremental prototypes, aiming to accelerate effective software development and foster rapid holistic business process automation.

Conventional software engineering approaches emphasize time-consuming and effort-intensive rigid processes to ship software. But agile software engineering approaches, like the rapid application development (RAD) model, instead insist on tangible minimum viable products built incrementally based on continuous user feedback, ensuring speed of delivery, alignment with business goals, and stakeholder empowerment.

The principles of the RAD model

Prototypes: Iterative engineering

In the RAD model, you develop software based on the concept of prototypes. A prototype is a functional but basic version of the end product, which is incrementally built and improved on after taking into account feedback from stakeholders at the end of each iteration. The prototype is cumulatively improved till you obtain the final desired end product. From a prototype with only one feature, it's gradually metamorphosed into a fully functional software solution at the end of the RAD model's development cycle.

Focus on what's essential: Features instead of documentation

Where other software engineering approaches insist on extensive documentation and other mundane aspects of software engineering, the RAD model focuses on actionable deliverables whose feature capabilities do the talking. The focus is on working software, not ancillary documentation, which is in stark contrast to the traditional waterfall model, where you dedicate an entire phase of software development to documentation.

Constant end-user engagement

Unlike other software engineering approaches, like the waterfall model, where you consult end users and business stakeholders mostly during the initial phases, with the RAD model, you expose them to functional prototypes from the beginning till the conclusion of the software engineering process, gathering their counsel at every step.

Reuse components and infrastructure

Focusing on speed, the RAD model emphasizes reusing code infrastructure while developing modules and avoiding "re-inventing the wheel" during the engineering process. For example, if you develop a module and, at a later point, a requirement arises that can make use of this module, you simply tweak it, modify it, and use it. This saves the hassle of going back to the drawing board.

Cross-functional involvement and collaboration

Under the RAD model, teams involve members from different functions, such as development, business, quality assurance, and scrum teams. This creates a unique and dynamic blend of personnel who can contribute holistically to the software engineering process. These cross-functional teams constantly share input with each other, to ensure that business goals align with the software they build.

Key features of the RAD model

Jump-started development

The focus is on the software deliverables. Unlike the waterfall model, there are no extensive documentation efforts. This frees up time and saves on effort, allowing teams to focus on what's essential and improve their efficiency and throughput.

What is application development?

End user-empowered engineering

Right from the beginning, you inform all stakeholders, including end users of the software, about the status quo for each prototype. The teams ensure that feedback from all stakeholders is taken into account while they develop the product. This ensures holistic coverage of requirements and ensures that there is no scope creep or missed requirements.

What is application development?

Incremental prototyping ensures conformity

Each prototype release ensures you build the features required incrementally, improving the software with each release. Feature-driven development ensures holistic functionality implementation, with an emphasis on quality.

What is application development?

Accelerated deployment times

Faster development means accelerated deployment times; you deliver working prototypes much faster than conventional methods. What used to take a couple of years or several months with the waterfall model will only take a few weeks with the RAD model.

What is application development?

Phases in the RAD model

The RAD model comprises the following phases, executed cyclically:

  • Requirements
  • Design
  • Engineering
  • Deployment

Requirement gathering

First, you determine the essential requirements of the end product, with a focus on the big picture. Requirements aren't gathered extensively—just the essentials. The onus is on gathering the crucial features that you expect from the end product and capturing the key goals for each prototype.

Comparing the RAD model with other approaches RAD vs. Waterfall

Feature

RAD

Waterfall

Requirements gathering

Done for each prototype. Builds cumulatively.

Done in the initial stages. You can make changes via a "change request (CR)" at the end of deployment, which necessitates a repetition of the effort.

Flexibility in incorporating change in mid-development stages

Highly flexible. You can introduce changes into the prototypes at any phase of product maturity.

Highly inflexible. You cannot implement changes without repeating the development life cycle, once you deploy the product.

Product development approach

Iterative. Each build improves upon the previous one.

Linear. Processes proceed in a predefined manner.

Business stakeholder involvement

Completely involved in the product, from the first feature developed to the final sign-off.

Business stakeholders are involved only during the initial phase of requirements gathering.

Quality assurance and testing

Continuous, right from the first function coded. Done for each prototype.

Only done at the end.

Why choose RAD?

Persistent stakeholder engagement

You engage stakeholders at every point of the software engineering process. This is a win-win situation for all pertinent stakeholders.

Modular

You build features module by module. This reduces the need to revamp the end product when you deploy it and avoids the possibility of scope creep or missed features.

Speed of delivery and quality

You deliver functional software at a breakneck speed, compared to the protracted development cycles in other engineering approaches. Constant evaluation and testing at every stage of development ensures impeccable quality and minimal room for bugs and defects in the end product.

Affordable

Clear, defined timelines ensure that costs remain within estimates. The minimized need for going back to the drawing board also eliminates the requirement for reallocation of funds for process repetition.

The RAD model: A definitive solution for fast and effective application engineering

There are several approaches to leveraging the RAD model for effective application engineering. One of them is the use of low-code platforms, like Zoho Creator. This platform allows you to implement the RAD model while you develop your applications, ensuring that you accomplish application engineering up to ten times faster than conventional methods. Sign up for a free Zoho Creator trial today and evaluate the RAD model for yourself!

Sign up for free

X