Software development

Solution Architect: Roles, Responsibilities, Skills, Qualifications

This specialist can be introduced to a company’s enterprise structure through software architecture consulting services. Having a clear vision for the project and a clear understanding of the client’s business needs, a solutions architect maps out the parts that will constitute the software solution and how they are going to work together. Solution architect description encompasses many skills that are essential for a successful leadership role. To be sure, solution architect technical skills are a must, but communication skills are also equally important. They should be a master of both technical competencies and personal interaction.

  • There is always a myriad of technologies your organization can choose to utilize in its information technology environment.
  • Solution architecture belongs to the list of most important practices executed before any tech solution development begins.
  • This specialist develops and proposes strategic technological initiatives to the business’s top executives and explains their benefits.
  • Most businesses rely on a deep and wide technology stack that’s interconnected and integrated.
  • The best way to become a solution architect is by gaining experience in the field.
  • This person should be experienced with how to orchestrate those business operations which contribute to a company’s ongoing success.
  • An architect is responsible for translating the vision for the project to the development team and plays a pivotal part throughout the entire systems development lifecycle.

You can read some details about the components of architecture development in our article on the product design stage. Digital transformation requires businesses to reconsider either how they deliver value to their customers or what they will eventually deliver. There’s no way to answer these questions without linking technology and business perspectives, which is squarely in a solution architect’s wheelhouse. Certifications are intended to validate the skills and expertise of solution architects. So, having one or more credentials proves the expert’s proficiency in specific skills. If you have already realized the importance of solution architecture in your projects, the next step is to source and hire the person for the role.

Outstanding Communication Skills

Therefore, they have to decide which decisions are beneficial and which are useless in a particular situation. Solution architecture is a description of a specific solution that comprises business-related, informational, and technical points of view. Solution architectures help developers define the requirements and strategies needed to successfully implement a software solution. Our software development services include web and mobile solutions development, product engineering, UI/UX design, as well as QA and testing. Additionally, we offer comprehensive IT consulting and outstaffing services like dedicated teams. An enterprise architect has a much larger scope of work compared to other architect specializations.

This person should be experienced with how to orchestrate those business operations which contribute to a company’s ongoing success. Moreover, an architect should be well-informed about various technical specifications. Solution architects need to be comfortable with analysis on a variety of business levels. An enterprise architect hones in on constructing complex enterprise eco-systems and is focused on solving high-level technical problems. Enterprise architecture is characterized by strategies of the business structure (architecture) while providing a better handle on what technical aspects are needed to uphold the architecture.

Top 6 Challenges in Enterprise Application Development & Their Solutions

If you’re already an IT architect, hopefully, you have a better understanding of your peers that are working hard to help put the systems you help create to good use. I am assigned to an account and I help the account manager focus on what it is they’re selling. So, those conversations basically can be very high level — like a 10,000 feet away kind of view — or a detailed technical conversation. The overall goal of an architect is to ensure a smooth development lifecycle and efficient use of available resources in building enterprise architecture for each application. The enterprise architect is responsible for overseeing the entire corporate ecosystem of the company. Enterprise architects focus on creating and managing end-to-end solutions that address the company’s critical strategic issues.

define solution architect

If you want to learn more about solutions architects and their importance to your organization, reach out to a skilled development partner for additional information and context. However, this role is critical to organizations that want to utilize technology. There are several different certifications that can illustrate the technical expertise of an experienced solution architect. Depending on your organization’s existing environment, certain certifications will be more important to your organization than others.

What is a solutions architect? A vital role for IT-business alignment

While enterprise and technical architects focus on specific parts of the organization. A solution architect will help to fill the communication gap between technical and non-technical specialists. Also, by collaborating with the project management team, solution architects cover the risks of product misalignment with stakeholder requirements and ensure that the solution fits the defined purpose. Designing a solution requires understanding how different parts of the business work together.

define solution architect

If a solution is created to optimize internal processes, it is essential to develop a solution that will be easily integrated into the corporate structure. In such a situation, the solution architect must understand the company’s business processes in the solutions that are already used in the company. By understanding these processes, they will design a specific solution that is most suitable for the environment. An IT solution architect is a professional in charge of developing a comprehensive architecture for a future software solution.

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A solution architect is in charge of leading the practice and introducing the overall technical vision for a particular solution. An ‘architect’ is the title given to someone who can design multiple layers of applications that work together well at a high level. Anything that gets into a generic type of ‘architect’ without a specific type of technology (i.e. «Solutions», «Applications», «Business», etc) is marketing speak. If SA is involved in the development, you can be completely confident that the new software product will solve key business problems. This means that at the end of development, the company receives not just a working application, but a product that will lead to scaling. Solution architecture is concerned with defining and designing the building blocks for a program and a very high level.

The process requires regular feedback, adjustments, and problem-solving in order to properly design and implement potential solutions. It’s also worth mentioning that the role of a solution architect is not limited just to ideation. This person takes part in all stages of the product development process. To make it clearer, let’s look at the tasks solution architect job description should include. Here at Intellectsoft, we have delivered over 600 digital solutions of different types and complexity to businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises like Mitsubishi, Harley Davidson, Melco, Intel, and many others. We have 15+ years of experience in providing business solutions for multiple industries like fintech, healthcare, construction, logistics, eCommerce, and others.

How to Become a Solutions Architect

We are not selling the product, we are providing them the best solutions they can use to solve their problems. For me, I come in there, understand their problem, and have those big conversations. We still need to collaborate and integrate with other vendors, at the end of the day. But our aim is to make sure that who we’re talking to has the best solution and we are there every step of the way in that decision-making process. To me, this is very, very important in my role as a Solutions Architect — we don’t sell something and then go away.

define solution architect

A solution architect role also presupposes strong technical skills that help him or her communicate a product vision to a development team. A solutions architect designs and implements IT systems architectures that meet the set business requirements. Their role starts with gathering the requirements, understanding the specifications, evaluating the systems that are in place, and working closely with stakeholders to deliver the right solution. The importance of solution architects lies in their ability to bridge the gap between technical and business aspects of a project. They play a critical role in ensuring that technology solutions meet the needs of the organization and contribute to its success. A solutions architect evaluates business needs and supports those business goals and needs with tech solutions.

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The solution architect should consider all software development requirements and provide updates about the development process, expenses, etc. In addition, the solution architect is responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met during development. He must examine the limitations define solution architect of the project in order to optimize possible alternatives and reduce risks. In general, the solution architect is the link between the technical team and the project manager. It ensures the speed and accuracy of information transfer, as well as controls key development processes.

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