Clear communication with your software outsourcing partner is critical. As Nordic companies pursue digital transformation and sustainable innovation, CEOs and CTOs must act like product owners when briefing their tech partners. A well-crafted brief aligns the custom software development, mobile and web development, and AI/ML work with your business goals. It also helps mitigate Nordic talent shortages by maximizing the impact of your remote tech teams.
In this edition, we share practical steps and examples – from outlining your vision to defining MVP features – so your tech partner can hit the ground running.
Nordic software developers sketch an MVP roadmap in a Stockholm startup office. A clear product vision aligns stakeholders and accelerates MVP development.
Start by describing the big picture: business goals, target audience, and strategic benefits.
For example, if your project is part of a sustainable digital transformation initiative, explain how it supports green goals or social values. Provide market context (e.g. “Nordic cities demand eco-friendly solutions”), key success metrics, and any regulatory requirements. This high-level overview sets direction for the project. It also helps tech partners suggest innovative solutions early – for instance, proposing AI/ML-driven analytics or cloud engineering on AWS/Azure/GCP to meet your objectives.
Key Briefing Checklist:
State the product vision, business objectives, and KPIs upfront – don’t wait until later. – Identify your core users and how the software will solve their pain points. If your company has sustainability goals, mention them (the Nordics lead in green tech and expect products to align with those values).
Define Scope and MVP
A common pain point in outsourced projects is an undefined scope or unclear MVP vision.
To avoid this, break down the project into a Minimum Viable Product. List the must-have features first, then nice-to-haves later. For each feature, describe the what and why: e.g.
“Users must be able to log in with SSO (what) to streamline onboarding (why).”
Prioritizing this way prevents feature creep and keeps the team focused on delivering real value fast.
Write user stories or scenarios
Engage like a product owner by drafting a few example user stories (e.g. “As a customer, I want to track my order on my mobile app”). This concrete format helps developers and designers understand needs.
Set a target release
Tell your partner if you need an MVP launch by a certain date (e.g. a trade show or fiscal milestone). That way, they can phase development and suggest alternative approaches (like iterative sprints and fast feedback loops).
Document requirements
Use shared tools (confluence, Notion, or similar) so all details live in one place. As one outsourcing guide warns, without clear documentation “the space between your expectations and what is being built is going to get bigger and bigger”. Putting deliverables in writing upfront avoids big surprises later.
A good product owner also wires in UX/UI design and QA testing considerations. For example, if a mobile-first experience is critical, specify mobile app development early (iOS, Android, hybrid or web). Or if you have an existing ERP system, note that the new software must integrate with it. These technical details are covered in the next section.
Specify Technical Requirements and Constraints
Once the big ideas and MVP features are clear, dive into tech specifics. Supply any architecture preferences or constraints so your partner can propose the right solution. For example:
Platform & devices:
Will this run as a web application, a native mobile app, or an embedded/IoT device interface? If it’s an IoT project (common in Nordic smart-home or industry 4.0 initiatives), explain the hardware requirements and sensors involved.
Technology stack:
Mention if you prefer certain technologies (e.g. cloud engineering on AWS vs Azure, or React vs Angular). Even if your team isn’t technical, sharing what you’ve used before or what your clients expect can speed up the architecture design.
Integration points:
List any third-party APIs, databases or ERP systems to connect with. For instance, “Integrate with our Azure-based CRM and third-party payment gateway,” or “Collect data from RFID sensors – use embedded systems knowledge.”
Performance and security needs:
Does the app require high availability, GDPR compliance, or special encryption? These factors (e.g. cloud deployment on GCP for global scale) shape the development approach.
Being as thorough as possible here yields better estimates and a smoother handover. As Apptension notes, developers give more precise quotes when you specify features, scale, and complexity upfront.
For example, telling your partner “80% of users are on iOS” lets them choose the most efficient tech stack. Likewise, if you foresee heavy data (AI/ML algorithms or analytics), highlight that so they can plan for data pipelines and DevOps support.
Align on Process, Roles and Communication
Effective briefing is not one-way. It requires an ongoing partnership throughout the project lifecycle. Clarify who will act as the Product Owner (likely you or a delegated stakeholder) and who represents the tech team (project manager or Scrum Master). Agree on an agile framework: for instance, will you have 1-week or 2-week sprints?
Communication channels:
Decide on primary tools for tracking progress (e.g. Jira, Trello, or GitHub issues) and for daily chat (Slack, Microsoft Teams). Regular stand-ups or sprint demos keep everyone in sync.
Meeting cadence:
Schedule kickoff meetings to go through the brief live. As work proceeds, hold backlog grooming and review sessions where the product owner can give feedback. This is how the partner’s remote tech team remains engaged and aligned with your vision.
DevOps & QA:
Discuss deployment frequency and testing. Will there be continuous integration pipelines? Who sets up the staging environment? Clarify your acceptance criteria early (e.g. “all user stories must pass automated tests”). This avoids last-minute surprises when code is handed over.
Good collaboration means treating your tech partner as a strategic ally. Encourage them to ask questions and share ideas. A well-briefed team often suggests improvements you hadn’t considered (for example, using machine learning for personalization, or containerizing services on Kubernetes for flexibility). Providing timely answers and decisions also builds trust. If approvals or budget limits are needed, mention them upfront. As one industry guide warns, poor communication “can lead to a failure to understand scope or an increased time to market”.
Product owner and engineers planning MVP and AI/ML features on a transparent board. In Nordic companies, bridging business and tech often means blending DevOps, UX design, and emerging trends like AI. Ensure your brief includes a sentence on each: for example, “DevOps pipeline using Azure DevOps”, or “UX designs should follow our brand guidelines for accessibility”. Treat UX/UI design and QA testing as deliverables too – your brief can list tasks for design sprints and testing cycles. This way, nothing is left to guesswork.
Real-World Pitfalls and Best Practices
To see why these steps matter, consider two contrasting scenarios. In the first, a Swedish manufacturing CEO tells the tech partner: “We need an IoT dashboard.” With no further details, the team builds a basic UI that fails to meet the actual use case. Requirements were unclear, so the project stalls and incurs rework. In the second scenario, the product owner has prepared a brief with user flows, prioritized features (e.g. real-time sensor alerts first, historical reports later), and usage context.
The remote development team could immediately set up a prototype and iterate – delivering the MVP on time. This difference comes down to the quality of the brief. Writing down expectations up front prevents misalignment. As one outsourcing expert puts it, when you clearly define your scope “from the word go,” you avoid scope creep and cost overruns. He also advises: “create clear documentation to outline your expectations on deliverables”
In practice, that means no handoff is “too small”: share wireframes, budget estimates, or any prior research. If something is unknown (say, future AI features), flag it as an assumption to revisit.
Tip: Include a short appendix or links in your brief with relevant material – competitor analyses, design assets, brand guidelines, existing code repos – so the devs have all they need.
The Nordic Advantage with FiftyFive
In the Nordic tech ecosystem, partnering with a vendor who understands local values can be a game-changer. FiftyFive Technologies, for example, has a local presence in Sweden (based at Epicenter Stockholm), yet combines it with global expertise in remote tech teams. Our consultants and engineers specialize in custom software development, ERP implementation, cloud engineering (AWS, Azure, GCP), IoT, embedded systems, DevOps, and more. By briefing us like a seasoned product owner, you leverage our full capabilities. Whether you need an AI-driven mobile app, a scalable web platform, or MVP development for a startup idea, clear requirements help our team deliver value faster. Check out our portfolioto see examples of digital transformations we’ve driven in the Nordics.
Takeaways for Effective Tech Briefs
Be comprehensive and clear. Cover vision, user needs, MVP features, tech stack, processes and KPIs. Ambiguity leads to delays.
Engage continuously. Treat the tech partner as part of your extended team. Regular check-ins and feedback keep the project on track.
Leverage local insights. Work with partners who understand Nordic market demands – from sustainability to regulatory norms. FiftyFive’s presence in Stockholm (and knowledge of trends like talent shortages and AI innovation) means we speak your language.
A well-structured brief is your first step toward digital success. It shortens development time, reduces costs, and ensures the final product fits your vision. By following these guidelines – and partnering with a trusted Nordic tech company – you position your project for on-time delivery and high impact in the market. Ready to turn your idea into reality?
Learn how FiftyFive Technologies can help as your software partner. Our experts at Epicenter Stockholm are here to guide your next project from brief to launch.