Agile development of industrial software systems

Why agile development is crucial for industrial software

Agile development processes lay the foundations for developing software in an iterative and transparent manner, whilst remaining closely aligned with the actual requirements of the product, the machine and the user.

ITQ supports companies in effectively applying agile methodologies to industrial software projects. This involves a structured approach that systematically links planning, development, testing, integration and feedback. As a result, working software releases are produced sooner, risks become apparent more quickly, and decisions can be made on the basis of reliable interim results.

The key here is combining an agile approach with technical engineering expertise. In mechanical and plant engineering in particular, software, control technology, HMIs, embedded systems and mechatronic frameworks must be considered as a whole. Agile development processes must therefore be compatible with the system architecture, the toolchain and the existing development structures.

By combining clearly defined roles, iterative planning, automated testing and continuous integration, development processes can be made more transparent and software quality can be improved in the long term.

Your benefits at a glance:

Faster response to changing requirements
Early transparency regarding progress and risks
Better collaboration between departments and the development team
Shorter feedback cycles and software releases available at an early stage
Higher software quality through continuous testing
Structured integration of CI/CD, DevOps and test automation
Step-by-step improvement of existing development processes

Tobias Herkert, Graduate Engineer

Senior Consultant

„Agile development only becomes effective in an industrial setting when methodology, architecture, testing and integration work together seamlessly and are integrated into the organisation.“

Let’s talk about your project

Your point of contact for agile development processes will be happy to advise you on your specific requirements.

Agile development requires structure, technology and clear processes

In many organisations, agile methods are being introduced into software development without giving sufficient consideration to the technical framework and the integration with supporting business processes. Meetings, boards and roles are in place, but the architecture, testability, toolchain and integration often do not align with the desired development cadence.

This leads to unclear priorities, lengthy integration phases and project statuses that are difficult to assess. Requirements change faster than the software architecture can keep up. At the same time, there is often a lack of reliable feedback on the quality, maturity and impact of new functions on the system as a whole.

This is precisely where we come in: requirements are prioritised in a structured manner, broken down into actionable work packages and regularly validated. In addition, automated tests, code reviews, CI/CD mechanisms and transparent release processes ensure that development outcomes can be continuously validated.

Agile processes hampered by a lack of technical interoperability

Typical challenges within a company:

Agile methods are being introduced at an organisational level, but are not supported from a technical perspective
Problems with integration with other business areas and processes
Lack of transparency regarding progress, quality and risks
Long integration and testing phases at the end of the development process
Inadequate integration of requirements, development, testing and release

It is only through a combination of methodology, architecture, tooling and quality assurance that agile development processes can be effectively implemented in industrial software projects.

Services relating to agile development

ITQ helps companies to systematically integrate agile development processes into industrial software projects.

An overview of our services

Analysis of existing development processes and project structures
Introducing agile methods to software and engineering teams
Structuring requirements, backlogs and development cycles
Integrating tests, code reviews and CI/CD into the development process
Supporting teams in the step-by-step improvement of processes

Technological expertise

Agile methods such as Scrum, Kanban and hybrid process models
Requirements management, user stories and acceptance criteria
Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery and automated builds
Test automation, reporting and software-assisted quality assurance
Agile software development for machinery, plant and networked systems

Approaches to agile software development projects

The introduction of agile development processes requires a structured approach. ITQ combines agile methods with industrial software and engineering expertise.

Project phases

Analysis of the initial situation

Mapping of existing processes, roles, toolchains and technical framework conditions.

Definition of the agile vision

Defining appropriate methods, roles, artefacts and process interfaces.

Structuring requirements and backlogs

Translating functional and technical requirements into prioritised work packages.

Integration of quality assurance and tooling

Integration of tests, code reviews, CI/CD mechanisms and reporting into the development process.

Continuous improvement of development processes

Regular assessment of collaboration, quality and speed, as well as step-by-step optimisation of the process.

Agile Development in Practice

Sector: Industrial automation, Logistics, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics

Secure authentication with Keycloak

We have implemented a central single sign-on platform for Jungheinrich based on Keycloak. The solution brings together several internal and external intralogistics applications under a modern, secure identity and access management architecture.

Further ITQ solutions

The services described form part of ITQ’s comprehensive service portfolio. ITQ combines technological expertise, a methodical approach and a deep understanding of processes to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the entire life cycle.

FAQs – Agile Development

What are agile development processes and why are they relevant to industrial software projects?

Agile development processes describe an iterative approach in which software is developed, tested and continuously improved in short cycles. In an industrial context, they make it possible to respond to changing requirements at an early stage, identify risks more quickly and deliver working software versions sooner – without compromising on planning and structure.

What is the difference between Scrum and Kanban?

Scrum operates with fixed development cycles (sprints), clearly defined roles and regular reviews. Kanban, on the other hand, continuously visualises the workflow and limits the number of tasks being worked on at any one time. Both methods have their strengths – depending on the project structure, team size and frequency of requirements, a hybrid approach may also be appropriate.

What does CI/CD mean, and what role does it play in agile development processes?

CI stands for Continuous Integration – code changes are automatically merged and tested. CD stands for Continuous Delivery and ensures that software is ready for release at any time. Both practices are key components of agile processes: they enable rapid feedback, detect errors at an early stage and ensure consistently high software quality.

How can agile methods be introduced into existing engineering teams?

Agile methods are best introduced in stages – starting with an analysis of existing processes and a clear definition of roles, artefacts and process interfaces. ITQ supports teams in establishing agile structures step by step and adapting them to the technical constraints of the respective project, without abruptly replacing existing engineering processes.

Any further questions ...

How does agile development fit in with long product life cycles in mechanical engineering?

Agile development and long product life cycles are not mutually exclusive. Particularly in the case of industrial software systems, an agile approach enables software to be continuously developed, to respond to new requirements and to ensure quality in the long term – even over many years. It is crucial that the architecture, testability and processes are designed from the outset to ensure longevity and extensibility.