MVP development
Step 1
Idea validation (CustDev)
Product creation always starts with an idea. The idea generally evolves from a hobby or professional activity. As the subject is well-known, the problem and solution are easy to identify.
DEFINING THE TARGET AUDIENCE
Despite personal ambitions, it is extremely important to check the idea for market demand in the very beginning. The easiest way to do this is to interview potential customers. he following rules should be adhered to during that process:
divide the audience into product users and customers who pay for it. These roles are not always the same because of different motivations (e.g. corporate software will be actively used by employees but the decision to purchase it will be made by the CEO)
evaluate users’ interest
test a user-friendly business model
To collect the most in-depth and high-quality feedback, it is necessary to clearly define the product’s functionality and its main advantages.
At this stage, our team will help to:
- define a basic set of functions
- select users
- represent goals and objectives for CustDev analysis
- prepare CustDev questionnaire (forms for analytics collection, a system for automatic analysis)
As a result, consumers will evaluate the idea and a decision regarding development will be made.
The duration of this step is 2-8 weeks, depending on the size of the product.
Not only will we help implement the idea at each stage, but we will also form a cohesive team that will launch the product on time and support it throughout the life cycle. As a result, after 4 to 12 months of collaboration, the product will be launched and the idea will become a business.
Step 2
Prototype & Design
After CustDev is conducted and development decisions are made, the following stage is SoW creation and basic product architecture prototyping.
While working with our team on the first stage, we’ll determine the functional requirements and basic MVP prototype to be created by the beginning of the second stage. The goal is to create technical specifications in accordance with the results of CustDev.
DURING THIS STEP
We create an accurate and complete image of the product, assess the time and cost of development, and organize the development team
These actions not only have a positive impact on project development, but they also save significant resources. Our team’s philosophy is to integrate the client with the development team, which allows for fluid communication and effective cooperation. The duration of this step is 3 to 6 weeks.
Not only do we help with the implementation of the idea at each stage, but we also form a cohesive team that will launch the product on time and support it throughout the lifecycle. As a result, after 4 to 12 months of collaboration, the product will be launched and the idea will become a business.
Step 3
Development
We use the Scrum framework to develop products. It allows us to identify any weaknesses and make necessary changes in the early stages.
The MVP software development team, together with the client, plans “sprints,” i.e. short stages (about 2 weeks long) during which a certain block of work is performed. Breaking down the project into sprints not only allows us to evaluate the implementation period, but also to track the overall result of each sprint.
The number of sprints is agreed with the client and a certain amount of resources is allocated for each sprint. This allows us to predict the development budget and control deviations.
How it works
For example, according to the results of decomposition of the project:
4 sprints
200 hours per sprint
20 USD / hour - dev rate
4 000 USD - sprint budget
16 000 USD - total project budget
At the end of each sprint, the team evaluates any deviations from the plan. If the sprint is 90% completed, the project budget will increase by around 400 USD, and if the sprint is 110% completed, then the budget will be reduced by 400 USD.
Thanks to this system, the client can predict any changes in the cost of the project for each sprint.
The duration of the step is 2 to 10 months.
Not only do we help with the implementation of the idea at each stage, but we also form a cohesive team that will launch the product on time and support it throughout the lifecycle. As a result, after 4 to 12 months of collaboration, the product will be launched and the idea will become a business.
Step 4
Launch & Promotion
After the development phase is completed, the product will be launched. The MVP launch should include promotional materials: landing page, promotional pages in stores, banners and more.
Preparation for the launch and presentation to customers is one of the most important steps; the right start attracts a loyal audience.
For certain products, it is recommended to start this step during the final sprint. This allows us to attract users before the product is released, so the first 300 to 1,000 users will be able to give feedback by the time of launch. It is also recommended to conduct 1 or 2 short-term advertising campaigns in order to draw attention to the product before launch. The duration of the step is 2 to 4 weeks. It is also worth focusing on promotion of the product and collection of feedback from users over the next 2 to 3 months.
Not only do we help with the implementation of the idea at each stage, but we also form a cohesive team that will launch the product on time and support it throughout the lifecycle. As a result, after 4 to 12 months of collaboration, the product will be launched and the idea will become a business.
Step 5
Support & Extension
When the product is launched and the first feedback from users is collected, we receive ideas for improvement.
In this case, you may need:
– a technical team that will be responsible for supporting existing functionality
– a development team that will create new features
The MVP support and development processes are carried out throughout the product’s lifecycle.
Not only will not only help with the implementation of the idea at each stage, but we also form a cohesive team that will launch the product on time and support it throughout the lifecycle. As a result, after 4 to 14 months of collaboration, the product will be launched and the idea will become a business.