MVP development can sometimes be a lengthy and difficult process. In order to shed some light on this topic, we’ve made a list of helpful tips to help individuals developing their Minimum Viable Product.

If you are only somewhat familiar with what an MVP is, let’s start out by explaining the basics. An MVP is a product with only a basic list of features, just enough to give customers an idea of what it will eventually look like. The reason a business might want to develop a Minimum Viable Product is because it allows them to release their idea into the market as quickly as possible, it reduces implementation costs, the demand for the product can be tested before fully launching it, and an initial user base can be developed before the full launch as well.

When we look into how to develop an MVP, the first thing you need to focus on is communication.

For starters, make sure that you are using high-quality project management and communication tools to facilitate responsiveness across your entire team.

Along with communication tools, we should remember to document information from meetings and conversations. Anything that has to do with states of production, timelines, and promises should also be documented immediately. The best way to go about doing this is to send an email after each meeting or conversation summarizing what was discussed, and then have all the participants confirm that they understood the information. By having these emails on file, you can always review them if there is any misunderstanding or if legal issues arise.

Design First, Code Later

Product owners now have the option to make a clickable prototype of their application so that investors and customers can experience it before any code is written. You can make a prototype on Adobe XD or Invision and then have your potential users and stakeholders explore the prototype and provide feedback. By doing this, you can make any necessary fixes and adjustments before any final development is done.

It’s also a good idea to invest in an experienced User Experience Designer to work on your application’s prototype and User Interface Design. The reason for this is because if the user experience lacks in quality, extra money (and time) that could be spent on coding will end up being spent on making UX improvements.

Take Care of Your Code

If you’re a product owner or founder, you should make sure that you are the main owner of the code repository and the only one granting access to the developers. By not taking control of your code repository, your provider might take over and this can bring on a number of issues. If you end up on bad terms with your provider, you risk becoming hostage to them and they can do whatever they want with your code.

Unfortunately, this tends to be a very common situation and it’s something all product owners should try to avoid.

Mandate Good Code Documentation

As part of any contract. You should also have someone technical on your side to periodically make sure that good code documentation is being done by the provider’s resources.

Stick to your Word and Establish Trust

When trying to get investors involved in your project, be very careful with the story you communicate to them. If over the course of time your story steers far from the original concept, it can result in people losing trust in you.

Although it’s natural for startups to change and evolve throughout the years, make sure you don’t wander off too much from the original concept. If possible, always try to prevent any future issues as early on as possible.

These are just a few helpful tips to help you with your Minimum Viable Product development plans.

Do you need any further MVP development help or do you simply have a question about the topic? If so, feel free to contact us today!