We often talk about MVP (minimum viable product) when it comes to development. Many people know that this is a minimally viable product. But we decided to expand this concept even further and talk in detail about the importance of MVP in the process of creating new products.

Minimum viable product and eclairs

Imagine that you have an idea — an application with a full set of features and options, available on all platforms, capable of serving millions of users around the world. Great!

Now let's take the conversation to a more mundane level and pretend that the idea of your app is an eclair. But not just a cake, but an extra eclair in the form of a dachshund, dressed in a cream-based on Alpine butter, with whipped cream and a sprinkle of three types of chocolate. This is a delicious, attractive, and very complex product. And it is also unclear whether people need it.

This is where the MVP comes in handy to test ideas. The very first version of your app should be more like a simple eclair-one that people know, love, and want to try from a new vendor. MVP apps should only have basic features enabled. When the software product is ready, you can introduce it to users. Such a solution will be relatively cheap and fast to develop.

How can MVP help?

Select Technologies

The shape of the MVP and the final product depends on the development technology. These can be native or cross-platform solutions, we have already written about this choice in our blog, take a look.

In any case, it is worth consulting with the developers with whom you have decided to cooperate. They will provide information about deadlines, costs, team size, and possibly suggest new solutions. For example, instead of creating a mobile app, you can start with a PWA (progressive web app) and collect feedback from first-time users before spending resources on a real product.

Collect app reviews

With a live app, you can continue the development based on facts, not assumptions. Real users will test the product and give feedback: they will tell you what they did not like, and what needs to be added.

Thanks to the reviews, you will learn how your "regular eclair" is doing and get more information on how it can be improved. If no one asks for the original form of the fee, it may not make sense to invest in its development yet.

Decide on the scaling

The MVP approach gives a good idea of future product development needs. You can continue to add cream and sprinkle on the eclair. But what if the product becomes so popular that people want it everywhere, not just in one candy store? Then it will be more relevant to think about scaling.

The mobile app will have limits on the number of users it can serve without clogging up the server. It also has geographical restrictions — the language or countries in which it is available. With data on the use of the app, you can now prioritize what to do next: improve the recipe or open new pastry shops.

Five reasons to invest in MVP

Reason number one. A minimally viable product becomes a simplification of a large project and lets you know what users want. The needs of the market and the functions that are critical to the success of the product become apparent. This is the perfect way to test assumptions and get a clear idea of the path the project should take.

Reason number two. It is easier for startups to get invested with MVP because there is a direct presentation of the current mobile application. This demonstrates the seriousness of intentions and strengthens the position.

Reason number three. MVP provides an opportunity to learn how UX and UI components contribute to the usability and intuitiveness of a mobile app.

Reason number four. MVP is also a great strategy for testing monetization ideas. It is better to test the hypotheses for earnings with the help of MVP and determine which of them will bring the greatest profit.

Reason number five. With MVP, you can enter the market faster and still have enough room for change.

Summary

The minimum viable product makes it possible to become better: you will be able to make significant changes to business processes based on real user experience. You can postpone the development of less important functions and spend money on urgent tasks.

Let's say your eclair has a serious flaw, such as poor flour quality. In this case, it will be more important to fix it than to add new features and further complicate the situation.

MVP is a promising way to implement ideas based on the needs of users and the requirements of the owner.

If you are looking for an application development company that has experience in creating MVP and other products - do not hesitate to call or write to us! We are available and ready to help you win the market.