When is the best time for a development team to engage the support team for a product?

Engaging the support team during the iteration demo for feedback and insights is the most effective approach because it fosters collaboration and ensures that the support team is aligned with the product's current state and functionality. The iteration demo is specifically designed for stakeholders, including the support team, to review the work completed in the iteration. This engagement allows the support team to understand new features and improvements, ask questions, and provide input that can enhance the user experience and address customer concerns.

Involving the support team at this stage ensures they are well-equipped with knowledge about the product, which is essential for providing effective customer support after the product is launched. This collaboration can lead to a smoother transition into support once the product is live, as any potential issues or concerns can be identified and addressed proactively.

In contrast, engaging the support team only after the product launch may hinder their ability to provide effective support initially, as they may lack important insights into the product's features. Engaging them during the final testing phase could be beneficial, but it is often too late to incorporate any significant changes based on their feedback. Lastly, prior to detailed planning meetings might not optimize the timing for valuable input, as the support team may not yet have the context of the current iteration's deliverables.