Your path to becoming an MVP: Understanding and implementing it yourself

What is an MVP?

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the smallest feasible version of your product idea. It offers just enough functionality that you can use it to test your basic idea.

It works with an MVP not about representing the full potential already. Extensions, a sophisticated design and “nice-to-have” functions are deliberately left out.

Objective of an MVP

With an MVP, you can test your product on the market for the first time. This is how you learn from real users whether your idea works. The core purpose of an MVP is:

• Test basic function: You learn whether the main benefit (the Value Proposition) is understood and used.
• Quick feedback: You want to know whether your idea is well received by your target group.
• Risk management: You avoid making big investments in a direction that could later prove to be a dead end.

In short, your MVP will get you the first insights from the real market with minimal effort and in a short time.

MVP as a prototype: 
Instead of investing months in a fully sophisticated solution, you'll immediately collect feedback and find out whether your product is needed and which features are actually important. With these findings, you then go into actual development.

Types of MVPs

There is not just one fixed form of MVP. In fact, there are different paths to take, depending on the product idea and resources:

• Single feature product: You only develop a single central feature of your app and put it live — this is how you check whether the main problem of your target group is being solved.
• Product demo or mockup (smoke test): At first, you just build mockups or a simple clickable design. Users can see what the application looks like and roughly click through, but many functions have not even been implemented yet.
• Wizard of Oz MVP: The software logic in the background isn't even automated yet, but people (you or your team) do most of the work. For the user, it looks as though everything is automatic.

Concierge MVP: First, you offer the service manually. Example: You're testing a food delivery service — instead of a fully automated app, you first take orders via chat and deliver yourself.

You choose the specific form depending on resources, your product idea and the question of exactly what you want to validate.

Advantages and disadvantages of an MVP

A software prototype in the form of an MVPs is always a compromise. As an owner, you consciously adjust yourself to this compromise and can live with the advantages and disadvantages. However, your testers may be less understanding.

Benefits of an MVP

• Quick feedback: You'll immediately find out how your market is reacting.
• Early customer understanding: You get to know your target group and understand better what they truly wants.
• Low risk: For now, you invest less time and money.
• Focus: You don't lose yourself in details, but focus on the core problem.

Done is better than perfect.

Disadvantages of an MVP

• Limited functionality: Not all customers understand why features are still missing. So be prepared for negative feedback and sort it out for yourself.
• Impression of imperfection: An MVP can appear rudimentary. Therefore, you won't immediately be met with the approval of the entire market.
• Take feedback into account: After launching your MVPs, you need to be able to respond quickly to feedback. Consciously plan resources for this time.

MVP Requirements

Even though minimum Is in the name of the MVP, you mustn't save in the wrong place. There are therefore some basic requirements for an MVP so that it is Test balloon can also fulfill its purpose:

• Provide core value: The users' main problem must at least be solvable or testable.
• Assured basic quality: Even though there are only a few functions, they must be stable to use.
• Clearly communicate what it can't (yet): If features are missing, point them out openly — if appropriate, also with humor. Users accept this sympathetically.
• Evaluability: Your MVP should be technically set up in such a way that you can collect and evaluate usage data and feedback as completely as possible.

Step-by-step: How do you get your MVP?

Implement your MVPs in a planned manner and with a good overview. Even if your idea is burning under your nails, it's important for an MVP to keep an eye on long-term goals. Here is the process that takes you step by step through the test phase.

1. Define your main problem and added value: Write down which problem you want your software or app to solve. Summarize it in a maximum of two sentences: What is the most urgent request of your target group? What do you offer as a solution?
2. Identify the core characteristics: Consider which features truly are necessary to solve the problem — and which additional features can wait for now. Pay attention: Few but all the more clear features.
3. Choose the appropriate MVP type: Need a simple click demo? A manual “Wizard of Oz” process? Or is a single feature enough that you can publish right away? Decide based on effort and learning goals.
4. Build a first version: Start small. Sometimes it can even be just a simple website where you present the idea so that interested parties can sign up or provide feedback (smoke test). Important: It must work and show the core benefits.
5. Test and collect feedback. Invite targeted people who belong to your target group. Ask them for honest feedback. Watch how they interact with your MVP. Where do they get stuck? What are they missing?
6. Analyze the results: What did you learn? Have you gained new insights that confirm or refute your assumptions? Document anything that was surprising.
7. Improve and retest: Take the most important feedback points as a basis for your next step. You may notice that there is particularly high demand for a particular feature and that others are significantly less relevant. Then implement the improvements in a targeted manner and test again.
8. Take a look at your long-term plan: An MVP is not an end product, even if you've developed it over the test phase. As you continue to develop, you should check again and again: Does the new feature meet the wishes of your target group? Does it fit the big picture?

Tip 1: 
Writing it down in point #1 sounds simple, but it forces you to formulate the idea in an understandable way outside of your mind. Based on this wording, you can get feedback from other people as to whether what you have written is comprehensible and understandable.

Tip 2: 
The analysis in point #6 is the wrong time for pride. Accept objectively the feedback that the market gives you. If your thesis was wrong, this is the right opportunity to adapt the idea and target group. The better you do this, the greater the likelihood that your product will be successful later on.

Examples of Minimum Viable Products

Here we show you three of our software projects that started as MVP. After the MVP iteration phase, we continued to support the respective customers through the development process — all the way to the finished and full-fledged software, which is now in daily use.

MVP example 1: AI platform for personalized communication

Project name:AI-driven SaaS platform for AI startup in2humans, which revolutionizes business communication through personalized recommendations.

Our customer's request was:

‍“We need a scalable SaaS solution that streamlines business interactions through accurate, personalized, science-based recommendations with Al.”

In our portfolio, you will find the entire case for in2humans AG communication platform.

MVP example 2: Online marketplace for luxury watches

Project name:
Transforming Yourasset's luxury watch marketplace into a visually stunning digital experience for financing and tracking luxury watches.

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Our customer's request was:
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“We want to design a digital marketplace for luxury watches with financing options that reflect the high-end character of our brand.”

In our portfolio, you will find the entire case for Yourasset AG online marketplace.

MVP example 3: Freelancer app for payment and pricing

Project name:
Development of an app that offers freelancers precise pricing and innovative QR payment tools without third-party hardware.

Our customer's request was:
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“We need an app that helps freelancers precisely price their services.”

In our portfolio, you will find the entire case for Freelancer app from The Freelance Suite Ltd.

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MVPs in software development: If it costs extra, how is it supposed to save money?

Die Software development costs are topics of conversation for every customer contact that we have as developers — and that is as understandable as it is correct. When it comes to an MVP, the question always arises as to whether this detour is really necessary. Our experience has given rise to a clear position on this:

An MVP is a wayfinder, not a detour.

With an MVP, you'll explore the route before you build a multi-lane road on this route. It is the most cost-effective way to discover all bumps, obstacles and surfaces that cannot be built on before the actual work begins.

Imagine How much more expensive it would beto have to change direction in the middle of construction of the multi-lane road, because you don't know the terrain yet. This picture can be transferred almost completely to software development:

The better you've defined and tested your product idea with the help of an MVP, The straighter the full-stack development is then of your software. An unexpected change of direction in this complex process, on the other hand, quickly becomes much more expensive than an MVP would have cost in total.

Do you already have a specific project idea on your desk and don't know whether an MVP is really necessary? We will advise you on your case and can Show based on customer examplesIn which cases an MVP can be skipped, and in which we strongly recommend it.

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