# Understand before you build. > Explore the five stages of a Bump engagement: audit, analysis, proposal, implementation and maintenance. Technology consulting designed for SMEs. Canonical: https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/approach First published: 2026-10-26 Last updated: 2026-10-27 A real need. A clear scope. An implementation you can follow. ## At a glance A Bump engagement follows five stages: audit, analysis, proposal, implementation and maintenance. The audit establishes the current situation. Analysis prioritizes needs. The proposal defines scope and deliverables. Implementation puts the solution in place, followed by the agreed maintenance. ## 01. Audit — understand how work happens. With your team, we examine the processes, tools and constraints related to the need. The aim is to understand where work stalls, which data moves and who is involved. For a security audit, authorization and intervention conditions are explicitly defined. - Identify stakeholders and affected users. - Define the systems and processes to examine. - Gather relevant information without submitting secrets through a public form. ## 02. Analysis — choose what is worth changing. We connect findings to business priorities. A task might be removed, a tool used better, an integration added or software developed. Risks, dependencies and adoption constraints are considered before choosing a solution. - Separate symptoms from causes. - Compare the available options. - Define criteria for evaluating the change. ## 03. Proposal — know what you are agreeing to. The proposal describes the selected work, deliverables, exclusions and responsibilities. It specifies assumptions, required approvals and maintenance terms. Budget and schedule are established around that scope. - Describe what will be delivered and how it will be accepted. - Specify dependencies and required access. - Distinguish implementation, follow-up and future changes. | Stage | Deliverable or agreement | Decision to make | | --- | --- | --- | | Audit | Findings on the process or systems examined. | What problem needs to be solved? | | Analysis | Options, constraints and dependencies. | Which option should be selected? | | Proposal | Scope, deliverables, budget and validation. | Which work is approved? | | Implementation | Agreed solution, tests and documentation. | Have the acceptance criteria been met? | | Maintenance | Responsibilities and ongoing support. | How will fixes and changes be handled? | ## 04. Implementation — build, verify, hand over. The solution is developed or integrated within the agreed framework. Testing covers everyday journeys and important exceptions. Documentation and guidance help the team understand changes and operate the system. - Validate operation with the affected users. - Check access controls and exchanges between tools. - Prepare the rollout and recovery conditions. ## 05. Maintenance — make the change last. Follow-up depends on the selected systems and agreement. It may cover corrections, updates, integration checks or parameter adjustments. New capabilities are scoped separately when necessary. - Define who monitors, who intervenes and under what conditions. - Keep documentation useful as tools evolve. - Prioritize improvements based on actual use. ## Frequently asked questions ### What should we prepare for a first conversation? Describe the process or problem, the tools involved, the people using them and the desired change. A concrete description is enough to begin. Avoid submitting passwords or confidential information through a public form. ### Can we start with a small scope? Yes. A limited scope can help verify operation and usefulness before expanding a project. It should still be coherent enough to evaluate and operate. ### Do we need to buy a Bump platform? No. Bump offers consulting, development, integration and cybersecurity services. Proprietary systems discussed in our vision are future ambitions, not products currently available to buy. ## About the publisher [Bump](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/about#editorial-policy) — Bump is a technology consulting company founded by two entrepreneurs in Montréal. Its services connect workflow optimization, AI and software development, and cybersecurity for SMEs. Technology consultant for SMEs · Montréal, Québec ## What changed - Clarified what to agree on before implementation. - Added deliverables and decisions for each of the five stages. ## Contact [contact@bumpconsultation.ca](mailto:contact@bumpconsultation.ca) ## Related - [Workflow automation for small businesses.](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/services/workflow-automation) — Analyse processes, automate repetitive tasks and connect business software with Bump in Montréal. Workflows designed around your SME’s operations. - [AI integration for your business.](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/services/ai-integration) — Integrate AI into business tools and processes with Bump: focused agents, document search, summaries and dashboards, with human approval. - [Software built around your operations.](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/services/custom-software-development) — Web applications, portals and internal systems for Québec SMEs. Bump builds custom software connected to your CRM, ERP and APIs. - [Cybersecurity, with a clear framework.](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/services/cybersecurity) — Authorized audits, vulnerability identification, remediation and system hardening. Bump supports SMEs in Montréal and Québec. - [Good questions, before you begin.](https://bumpconsultation.ca/en/faq) — How do you choose between automation, AI and custom software? What does an audit cover? Answers for SMEs considering a technology engagement with Bump.