Before a single line of code is written, there’s a process that sets everything in motion.
It’s where clear strategy and inspired creativity blend seamlessly to shape results.
Business Development and Product Design teams join forces, blending deep market insight with creative thinking to fuel every stage of the development journey.
Curious how this collaboration plays out in real projects?
Let’s dive in.
What does Business Developer do?
The Business Development team drives company growth by analyzing markets, spotting opportunities, and shaping go-to-market strategies.
Their mission?
Understanding the market while anticipating trends to position the company and its solutions for long-term success.
One of the ways they do this is by working with the Product Design team to create clickable prototypes. These aren’t just mockups. They are tools that help the sales and marketing teams showcase what software can do.
What does a Product Designer do?
While Business Development focuses on the "why" and "for whom," Product Design dive into the "how."
Their job is to translate ideas into user-friendly digital experiences. They map out functionality, structure the user journey, and build interactive designs that are not only visually appealing but also highly intuitive and purposeful.
Design is not just about how something looks. It’s about how well it works in practice.
How do they work together?
Business Development focuses on purpose and audience, while Product Design handles structure, interaction, and usability.
Here’s how it works:
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Meanwhile, Business Development develops a campaign around the prototype, crafting the story, visuals, and messaging that will engage the market.
Why It Matters
This kind of cross-functional collaboration is a core part of how we work at ICodeFactory.
By combining strategic thinking with product design, we’re able to explore new ideas faster, validate them earlier so that we can build stronger tools to support our sales and marketing efforts.
*If you’re interested in how software solutions are shaped before development even begins, this is the kind of experience that gives you a front-row seat to real innovation.*
Why are soft skills important in the IT industry and what do they encompass? Moss and Tilly define them as "skills, abilities, and traits linked to personality, attitude, and behavior rather than formal or technical knowledge." These skills are crucial for success at every level within an organization.
Strong soft skills are essential for achieving great results in every field.
Here are the key soft skills we consider vital in the IT industry:
Assertive Communication
The foundation of negotiation, expressing opinions, respecting others, and encouraging new ideas lies in communication. It plays a major role in our work and success. At ICodeFactory, assertive communication is at the core of what we do. We aim to share our thoughts, needs, and opinions while equally valuing those of others. Together, we strive to find the best solutions that drive collective success. We invest in ongoing training in this area.
Problem-Solving
A vital part of the IT industry is a strong focus on finding solutions - whether anticipated or unexpected. All our employees approach challenges by asking: How do I solve this? How can I improve efficiency? What’s the best possible solution? This mindset fosters creativity and logical thinking, leading to continuous improvement in our work and processes.
Teamwork
Behind every successfully completed task is a team - not just an individual. We share ideas, insights, and innovations. Teamwork fuels growth through guidance, support, constructive feedback, and a shared vision. We contribute as much as we receive. Knowledge is passed on and expanded upon.
Critical Thinking
We think constantly, but what matters is thinking that challenges us and drives growth. It starts with a strong foundation and a willingness to self-reflect. In our company, critical thinking empowers IT professionals to anticipate problems, find solutions, and enhance processes.
When working on projects and developing products for clients, it is essential to understand the field where we aim to add value. We dive deep into the heart of the problem before providing the final solution. There’s always the question: how does it benefit the intended users? What problem does it solve?
Our approach is focused on uncovering true value by understanding the underlying needs. We strive to go beyond and make meaningful impact.
Time Management
Last but definitely not least - this skill enables all of the above. How can we bring ideas to life, stay productive, and achieve results? It all starts with effective time management. This skill helps us prioritize, stay organized, and focus on meaningful tasks. Time management powers our daily success in the IT industry and it’s something we continually refine.
All of them can be developed with effort and dedication. Success isn’t just about talent - many other factors play a role.
These are the soft skills we consider really important for growth and success. Do you agree? Which soft skills do you believe can be valuable in the IT industry?
Six months after donating equipment to a children's shelter – a space for children from vulnerable groups in Novi Sad – we revisited the shelter to see the impact this support has had on their daily lives. We spoke with Nikola, one of the children's shelter administrators, who shared honest insights about the importance of access to digital tools, how the children are using them and what more can be done.
How has the donated equipment helped in everyday activities, and in what ways do children most often use computers – for learning, research, or entertainment?
“It has helped us a lot, honestly,” Nikola begins. “The children use the equipment for learning, research, but mostly for entertainment. The Xbox is always in use, and we really take care of it.”
How many children currently use the donated equipment, and how many children are there overall at the children's shelter?
“As of December 31st, we finished services with 839 children. Currently, there are between 40 and 60 users in the shelter on a daily basis. We work from 8 AM to 8 PM, and children go through children's shelter all day.”
In what ways do children use computers to collaborate, help each other, or engage in activities?
“Well, they help each other, honestly, mostly with social media, but certainly with other things too.😊 Soon we’ll be collaborating with an IT specialist who will hold a workshop for them on how to create an email and similar things. We’ve also collaborated with a math teacher who showed them how to create avatars, and they used them afterwards. That was a real opportunity to use computers and for the children to work together and learn something new.”
Have you noticed that some children discover special interests or talents through working with computers?
“Yes, they have. Many children have a talent for drawing or singing, but I’ve also noticed some talents related to computers. I regret that we can’t dedicate more time to this area—honestly, I think we lack that part, to educate them more about computers and other skills, and that’s something we should work on in the future.”
Are there any children who clearly show a special enthusiasm for technology?
“I think some of them, when it comes to computers and technology, would prefer to acquire basic knowledge independent of school. That’s why we organized courses for a while, like basic Word skills, using the internet, searching for web addresses, and similar skills. The children really adapted well to that and were thrilled when they received certificates and awards.”
How would you like to further develop educational activities in children's shelter?
“We are trying, in addition to the primary schools, to involve as many organizations as possible from the non-governmental sector and other institutions and associations, where children can gain knowledge outside the school environment.”
How important is it that children have access to modern technology in a space like a children's shelter?
“It is very important. Aside from places like children's shelter, some children often don’t have access to computers or phones. They don’t have access to such technology, which further deprives them of many opportunities for learning and development. That’s why it’s extremely important that places like this provide children with access to technology.”
Is there anything that would make your work easier in the future?
“We’re always in need of computers and a color printer, which we’ve been trying to acquire for a long time, but unfortunately, we haven’t succeeded yet. It doesn’t have to be new; it just needs to be functional because we often print different materials for the children, which makes them very happy. In addition to technical equipment, we are always in need of clothing, diapers and baby supplies.”
Join the Effort – Help Us Empower Children
At children's shelter, every donation counts. You don’t need to make a big gesture to make a big impact. We believe every child deserves the chance to explore, learn and grow in a supportive environment.
We invite everyone to consider donating to a children's shelter. Together, we can ensure that children from marginalized backgrounds have the tools and opportunities they need for a brighter future.
To learn more or to donate to children's shelter: svratistezadecuimlade@gmail.com
