Product + Design Archives | HatchWorks https://hatchworks.com/category/blog/product-design/ Your US-based Nearshore software development partner Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:53:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://hatchworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hatchworks-favicon-150x150.png Product + Design Archives | HatchWorks https://hatchworks.com/category/blog/product-design/ 32 32 A Guide to Prototyping Your Digital Product https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/digital-product-prototype/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:20:44 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29129 Digital product prototypes are an essential part of the product development process, allowing designers and developers to test and refine their ideas before committing to a final product. There are various types of prototypes, including wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes, which can be used at different stages of development and for different purposes. The process […]

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Digital product prototypes are an essential part of the product development process, allowing designers and developers to test and refine their ideas before committing to a final product.

There are various types of prototypes, including wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes, which can be used at different stages of development and for different purposes.

The process of creating a prototype involves defining the idea and target audience, researching similar products and gathering feedback, creating a plan, designing the user interface, building the prototype, and testing and iterating on the prototype.

From Idea to Execution - A Guide to Prototyping Your Digital Product.
In this guide, we’ll cover:

What a digital product prototype is and what it can be used for

A digital product prototype is a preliminary model of a digital product that is used to test and demonstrate its core functionality and user experience.

It is an important tool for designers and developers as it allows them to explore and refine the design and functionality of a product before investing the time and resources required to build a fully-featured product.

Prototyping can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Demonstrating the concept and user experience of a product to potential investors or customers
  • Identifying and addressing usability issues early in the development process
  • Gathering feedback from potential users to refine and improve the product
  • Facilitating communication and collaboration among team members
  • Providing a foundation for the development of a fully-featured product

Prototyping is an essential part of the product development process as it allows designers and developers to test and refine their ideas before committing to a final product.

The different types of digital product prototypes

There are several different types of digital product prototypes that can be created, ranging from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity interactive prototypes. The type of prototype you choose will depend on your goals, the stage of development you are at, and the resources and time available to you.

Here are some common types of digital product prototypes:

Wireframes

Wireframes are simple, low-fidelity diagrams that outline the layout and structure of a product. They are typically used early in the design process to establish the basic structure and functionality of a product. Wireframes are usually black and white and do not include detailed design elements or interactive features.

Mockups

Mockups are static, high-fidelity visual representations of a product. They typically include more detailed design elements and may include some interactive features, such as clickable buttons and links. Mockups are useful for demonstrating the overall look and feel of a product, as well as for gathering feedback on the design.

Interactive prototypes

Interactive prototypes are dynamic, high-fidelity representations of a product that allow users to interact with the product as if it were a fully-featured product. They can include a wide range of interactive features and can be as detailed and functional as the final product. Interactive prototypes are useful for testing the usability and user experience of a product and for demonstrating the full range of features and functionality to potential investors or customers.

Wireframes and mockups can be useful for early-stage prototyping, while interactive prototypes are more suitable for later stages of development when you are ready to test and refine the full range of features and functionality of your product.

The different steps involved in creating a digital product prototype

Creating a digital product prototype typically involves several steps, including designing the user interface, building the prototype, and testing and iterating on the prototype. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the process:

  1. Define your idea and target audience: Before you start prototyping, it’s important to clearly define your idea and identify your target audience. This will help you focus your efforts and ensure that your prototype addresses the needs and pain points of your intended users.
  2. Research similar products and gather feedback: It can be helpful to research similar products and gather feedback from potential users to identify unique features and functionality that will set your product apart, as well as any issues that you may need to address during the prototyping process.
  3. Create a plan: Develop a plan for your prototype that includes a list of features and functionality, as well as a rough timeline for development. Keep in mind that your prototype does not need to be a fully-featured product – it just needs to demonstrate the core functionality and user experience.
  4. Choose prototyping tools: There are a variety of tools available for prototyping digital products, ranging from simple wireframing tools to more advanced prototyping software. Choose the tools that best fit your needs and skill level.
  5. Design the user interface: Begin designing the user interface of your product by creating wireframes or low-fidelity mockups. These should outline the basic layout and structure of your product, including the placement of key elements such as buttons, links, and menus.
  6. Build the prototype: Once you have a clear idea of the layout and structure of your product, you can start building your prototype. Depending on the complexity of your product, this could involve adding detailed design elements, interactive features, or even functional code.
  7. Test and iterate: Once you have a working prototype, it’s important to get feedback from potential users and make adjustments as needed. This can help you identify any usability issues and fine-tune the design and functionality of your product.
  8. Refine and polish: As you gather feedback and make changes, be sure to pay attention to the overall user experience and design of your product. A polished prototype can help you attract investors or customers and give you a solid foundation for building a successful digital product.

The process of prototyping a digital product involves a combination of design, development, and testing to create a functional and user-friendly product. By following these steps, you can create a prototype that effectively demonstrates the core functionality and user experience of your product and helps you refine and improve it before launching it to the market.

Tips for creating a successful digital product prototype

Here are some tips for creating a successful digital product prototype:

  1. Clearly define your goals: Before you start prototyping, it’s important to clearly define your goals for the prototype. This will help you stay focused and ensure that you are creating a prototype that meets the needs of your intended users.
  2. Gather feedback from potential users: One of the key benefits of prototyping is that it allows you to gather feedback from potential users. This can help you identify usability issues and refine the design and functionality of your product.
  3. Use effective communication tools: Prototyping often involves working with a team of designers, developers, and other stakeholders. It’s important to use effective communication tools, such as project management software or online collaboration tools, to keep everyone on the same page and ensure that the prototype is moving forward smoothly.
  4. Create a design that is easy to understand and use: The user interface of your product should be easy to understand and use. This means using clear and intuitive navigation, consistent design elements, and clear calls to action.
  5. Test and iterate: Prototyping is an iterative process, which means that you will likely need to make adjustments to your prototype based on feedback and testing. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things – the goal is to create a product that meets the needs of your users.
  6. Keep it simple: It’s important to keep your prototype as simple as possible, especially if you are working with limited resources or time. Focus on the core functionality and user experience of your product, and save more advanced features for later iterations.

By following these tips, you can create a successful digital product prototype that effectively demonstrates the core functionality and user experience of your product and helps you refine and improve it before launching it to the market.

Testing the functionality of a digital product prototype

Testing the functionality of a digital product prototype is an important step in the prototyping process, as it helps you identify and address any usability issues and fine-tune the design and functionality of your product. Here are some ways to test the functionality of your prototype:

  • Gather user feedback: One of the most effective ways to test the functionality of your prototype is to gather feedback from potential users just like you would during a beta test. You can do this through surveys, focus groups, or individual user testing sessions. User feedback can help you identify any usability issues and areas for improvement.
  • Conduct user studies: User studies are more in-depth evaluations of your prototype that involve observing users as they interact with the product. User studies can be conducted in a lab setting or in the field, depending on your goals and resources.
  • Use analytics and metrics: If your prototype includes functional code, you can use analytics and metrics to track user behavior and identify any issues or areas for improvement. This can be particularly useful for testing the performance and scalability of your product.
  • Use A/B testing: A/B testing involves testing two versions of a product side-by-side to see which one performs better. This can be a useful tool for comparing different design or functionality options and identifying the most effective solution.

Overall, there are a variety of methods for testing the functionality of a digital product prototype. It’s important to gather as much feedback and data as possible to help you identify and address any issues and improve the overall user experience of your product.

The importance of prototypes when developing new products

Prototyping is an essential part of the product development process, as it allows designers and developers to test and refine their ideas before committing to a final product. Prototyping can reduce development time and costs by identifying and addressing any issues or challenges early in the development process. It can also improve customer satisfaction by gathering feedback from potential users and making adjustments based on their needs and preferences.

In addition, prototyping can facilitate communication and collaboration among team members by creating a shared visual representation of the product. Prototyping can also be an effective way to demonstrate the concept and user experience of a product to potential investors or customers.

Overall, the use of digital product prototypes can greatly benefit the development of new products. So, it is highly recommended to use digital product prototypes in product development to improve design accuracy, reduce development costs, facilitate communication and collaboration, and demonstrate the concept and user experience of a product.

Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Product Prototypes

Digital product development is the process of designing, creating, and launching a digital product, such as a website, mobile app, or software application.

The product design process involves understanding the needs and pain points of the target audience, generating and prototyping design ideas, testing and refining the design, and creating a final product.

A high-fidelity prototype is a detailed and functional representation of a product that allows users to interact with the product as if it were a fully-featured product.
Some common mistakes that people make when using iterative design include failing to define the problem, not involving the user in the design process, and not testing the design before moving on to production.
You can generate design ideas by brainstorming, researching similar products and user needs, sketching out concepts, and prototyping different ideas.

A great digital experience is one that is easy to use, efficient, and enjoyable for the user.

To come up with new product ideas, you can identify problems or needs that are not being met by existing products, think about how technology could be used to solve these problems, and prototype and test potential solutions.
A concept model is a simplified representation of a product that is used to communicate the basic concept and functionality of the product to stakeholders. It can be used to test and refine the concept before moving on to more detailed design and development.

Summary

If you’re interested in taking advantage of our Digital Product Prototyping service at HatchWorks, contact us to schedule a consultation.

Our team of designers and developers will work with you to create a prototype that effectively demonstrates the core functionality and user experience of your product.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or need more information.

Do You Need Help with Your Design Process?

Our experts can help you build confidence that your product is on the right track. No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you accelerate your path to success.

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]]> How Iterative Design Helps You Build the Right Product the Right Way https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/iterative-design-process/ Wed, 08 Feb 2023 21:14:09 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29098 The iterative design methodology is a design process that involves repeating cycles of designing, testing, and refining a product or service. This process is often used in software development but can be applied to any type of design. The goal of iterative design is to create a product or service that meets the needs of […]

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The iterative design methodology is a design process that involves repeating cycles of designing, testing, and refining a product or service. This process is often used in software development but can be applied to any type of design. The goal of iterative design is to create a product or service that meets the needs of the user or customer, while also being feasible to produce.
How Iterative Design Helps You Build the Right Product the Right Way.
In this guide, we will cover:

The basics of the iterative design process

The iterative design process begins with an initial design, which is then tested by users or customers. Based on feedback from these tests, the design is refined and improved. This process is then repeated until the desired outcome is achieved.

One of the advantages of iterative design is that it allows for constant feedback and refinement. This helps to ensure that the final product or service is more likely to meet the needs of the user or customer.

Iterative design is gaining popularity for a number of reasons. The rapid pace of change in the world today means that products and services must be able to adapt quickly to new needs and demands. Iterative design is well-suited to this environment because it allows for constant feedback and refinement. Additionally, the rise of digital technologies has made it easier to test and prototype new designs.

One challenge of iterative design is that it can be difficult to know when to stop refining the design and move on to production. Additionally, iterative design can be costly and time-consuming, especially if the initial design is far from the desired outcome.

The 5 stages of the iterative design process

By breaking the design process down into smaller, more manageable steps, iterative design helps you build the right product the right way. By testing each new iteration of your product, you can identify and fix any issues before they become major problems. Practicing continuous discovery and delivery throughout the process ensures that your product is always relevant to your users.

1) Define

In this stage, the first step is to identify and define the problem that the product means to solve. This may include the identification of competitive product alternatives or the product-market fit.

It is also important to develop a flexible plan for the process to ensure that regular and quick feedback loops are established. This allows the team to make appropriate adjustments through each iterative cycle.

2) Ideate

From here, Product Designers generate ideas and sketch low-fidelity examples and workflows. Those ideas are then evaluated and refined by the team before advancing to the prototyping stage.

For a visual example of this process, check out the whiteboard illustration in our SpringHills Product Portfolio:

Workflow on a whiteboard.

3) Prototype

Having selected and refined the strongest ideas from the team, you can now build a prototype.

Keep in mind that prototypes can be effective in low-fidelity, high-fidelity, or a combination of both. Low-fidelity prototypes consist of wireframes based on sketches produced in the previous stages. These are used for the foundational UX (User Experience) and layout of your product, and can be a good way to test common interactions and basic functionality that most users would be familiar with.

High-fidelity prototypes represent high-value areas of your product and can be used to convey the unique value and/or perspective of your product. Polished UI Designs are used in this case to communicate the brand and unique visual elements.

4) Test

Next, the team conducts UX research to validate that their concepts are on the right track. It is essential to have a well-defined UX research process.

User testing of prototypes can take many forms, but the goal is always the same: to see how real users interact with your product. Does it solve your user’s problem? If so, how well does it accomplish this?

The first step in this stage is to create a testing plan that outlines how, when, and with whom the product will be tested. Even if you can only test with a handful of users, the feedback you gain will be valuable.

The collection and analysis of user feedback is followed by creating user personas and user stories. User stories help the team understand the user’s needs and which specific features may meet those needs.

From here, document all of your user feedback and team insights for the final evaluation stage.

5) Evaluate

Once you’ve adequately tested your prototype, it’s time to synthesize and analyze all of your feedback and see where you stand.

If your prototype is effective, your team can be confident in proceeding to develop an MVP, or minimum viable product. From there, additional functionality can be added with subsequent iterations.

If your prototype does not effectively meet the needs of your users, the iterative design process can cycle back to the prototyping stage, or further back to the ideation stage if flaws are significant.

In any case, it is important that this cycle of ideate-test-evaluate remains at the heart of your design process. By repeating it enough times, you can be confident that you’re building the right product the right way.

Different types of feedback to use during iterative design

  • Usability Testing allows you to collect insights, findings, and anecdotes about how representative users interact with your product or prototype. This data can be used to identify areas of improvement.
  • Analytics collects statistics and metadata about how people are using a product. This data can be used to identify trends.
  • A/B Testing is a type of experimentation where two or more variants of a product are compared against each other to determine which one performs better.
  • Interviews collect data from individual people. These are better suited for engaging, two-way conversations with your users, but can take a fair amount of time and energy to conduct.

The tools that iterative designers love to use

Common tools that are used in the iterative design process include pencil and paper, digital sketching, wireframing, and prototyping tools. Here are some of our favorite iterative design tools:

Miro

Miro is a great collaborative tool for brainstorming, wireframing, and prototyping. It’s easy to use and has a ton of features and integrations. One of the best parts is the Miroverse community where you’ll find plenty of free templates for strategy & planning, retrospectives, Agile workflows, workshops, and more. Check out our Miroverse profile to download our free templates.

Sketch

This Mac exclusive is a powerful, all-in-one design tool for sketching, wireframing, and prototyping. It could replace the use of Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator on your team. Unlike Figma, Sketch doesn’t allow live collaboration.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a mockup and prototyping option for web and mobile applications. It’s a complete all-in-one app allowing for UI design, co-editing, and collaborations. Integrations with the rest of the Adobe Creative Suite allow for easy editing of photos and vector graphics.

Figma

Recently acquired by Adobe for $20 billion, Figma is our favorite collaborative interface design tool. As a cloud-based tool, it has the ease of access of a program like Miro with all the power of Sketch. We are very excited to see where Figma takes the greater Adobe suite of products next.

How to manage and track progress

There are a couple of methods to manage and track the progress of your iterative design process:

  • Project management software to track tasks like JIRA, Asana, or Trello
  • A Gantt chart to visualize the overall project timeline and milestones

There are benefits to each method and many project management tools include Gannt visualization capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iterative Design

An iterative design cycle can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the project. In general, the goal is to complete each cycle as quickly as possible so that the product or service can be improved and refined on a regular basis.

The main difference between iterative design and Agile development is that Agile development is a software development methodology that includes iterative design.
Product design is an important part of the iterative design process, as it helps to ensure that the final product meets the needs of the user or customer. Additionally, product design can help to reduce costs and time-to-market by helping to simplify the production process.

Usability engineering is the study of how people interact with products and services. It is often used in conjunction with iterative design in order to improve the usability of a product or service.

Some common mistakes that people make when using iterative design include failing to define the problem, not involving the user in the design process, and not testing the design before moving on to production.

There is no set number of times that a design should be iterated before it is finalized. The goal is to continue iterating upon the design until the desired outcome is achieved.

An experienced design agency can help with both initial prototypes and iterations of a design. They can provide valuable insights and feedback that can help to improve the final product.

It is not always necessary to create a new prototype after each iteration. In some cases, it may be possible to reuse existing prototypes.

Summary

Iterative design is a process where designers start with a basic idea, prototype it, and then test and refine it based on user feedback. This process is repeated until the final product meets the user’s needs. Iterative design is often used in conjunction with Agile development in order to create better software products.

Do You Need Help with Your Design Process?

Our experts can help you build confidence that your product is on the right track. No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you accelerate your path to success.

The post How Iterative Design Helps You Build the Right Product the Right Way appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> The Evolution of Digital Transformation: From Pre-Internet to Post-Pandemic https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/history-digital-transformation/ Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:45:16 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29097 Digital Transformation has an interesting history before becoming one of the most talked about buzzwords in the business world today. You likely have heard it mentioned in your CEO’s strategic initiatives. However, what once seemed like lip service for stakeholders and investors has now become a critical part of staying competitive in today’s market. Spending […]

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Digital Transformation has an interesting history before becoming one of the most talked about buzzwords in the business world today.

You likely have heard it mentioned in your CEO’s strategic initiatives. However, what once seemed like lip service for stakeholders and investors has now become a critical part of staying competitive in today’s market.

Spending on digital transformation has reached a staggering $1.6 trillion in 2022 and is projected to reach $3.4 trillion in 2026.

That is some serious investment.

But where did the idea of digital transformation come from? Let’s first define what it is.

The Evolution of Digital Transformation: From Pre-Internet to Post-Pandemic.
In this brief guide, we cover:

What is digital transformation?

Digital transformation refers to the use of digital technologies to modify or create new business processes, customer experiences, and organizational culture in response to changes in the market and business needs. In some cases, this can lead to complete shifts in business models creating seismic waves throughout an organization.

Now that we have a better understanding of what digital transformation is, let’s look at its history and how it has evolved over time.

A brief history of digital transformation

There are four distinct eras in the evolution of digital transformation that has forced companies to adapt how they operate and serve their customers. Those who have been unable to adapt typically go the way of the dodo bird.

Pre-internet Era

1950 – 1989
This is where the foundational building blocks of the digital revolution were created. The invention of microchips and semiconductors enabled manual processes to be converted into digital technologies.

This started the first major digital transformation. Companies focused on shifting outdated processes to digital data. Worldwide, this created a need for business transformation and cultural change.

  • 1958 The microchip and semiconductor were invented
  • 1960 Moore’s Law defined

Post-internet Era

1990 – 2006
The next digtal era created massive change. The internet started the shift from a siloed world into a global one. Connection and access to data through the public accessibility of the internet createda more ubiquitous playing field. Personal computers exploded during this era, giving people terminals to the world wide web in their living rooms, and the first social networks began to crop up.

This era drove change in existing processes and business operations with the creation of the internet and increased access to customer data. More importantly, it caused companies to rethink their customer interactions as the internet significantly changed how people interacted, search, and buy.

  • 1990 Internet becomes publicly available
  • 1998 Google founded
  • 2000 Half of US households have a personal computer
  • 2004 Facebook founded
  • 2005 Internet users reach $1 billion worldwide
  • 2006 AWS created

Mobile Era

2007 – 2019
Just when companies were becoming comfortable with the modern internet and its impact on their business, another foundation shift happened with the introduction of the iPhone and the shift to mobile. This opened up a world of possibilities, new business models, and the introduction of new social and mobile channels, which drove another spike in digital transformation.

Marc Andreesen’s seminal writing, “Why Software is Eating the World”, laid out a clear vision of the future where software would disrupt every industry across the globe, and how new software-centric players would have the upper hand in this new world.

Interestingly enough, this is also around the time when the term “Digital Transformation” was first coined. Now the cycle of change required to stay competitive had a name.

  • 2007 iPhone released giving rise to the mobile revolution
  • 2011 “Why Software is Eating the World” written
  • 2013 The term “Digital Transformation” is coined

Post-Pandemic Era

2020 – Present
The last major era, and the one we are currently in right now, is the post-pandemic era. The pandemic accelerated digital innovations as companies were forced to rethink how they served their customers in a non-contact and remote world.

This ushered in shifts in business models and forced companies to take their digital transformation initiatives from the board room to the front lines with new urgency. This acceleration was the push many companies needed to implement a better customer experience.

Advances in AI and machine learning are playing a huge role in digital transformation initiatives. While the history of AI warrants its own timeline, advances in machine learning and tools like ChatGPT are clearly going to drive even more change in the way we work, interact, and live.

  • 2020 Global Pandemic
  • 2022 Digital Transformation spending at $1.6 trillion

How to approach digital transformation

Each digital era has caused businesses to rethink their internal operations and customer expectations. It has created fertile ground for new market entrants and has shifted, created, and even retired whole business models.

Where businesses get digital transformation wrong is by viewing it as something that can be completed or reach a state of maturity. Instead, digital transformation should be viewed through a lens of continuous development. Something you are always improving and optimizing upon.

However, even if you approach it in this manner, digital transformation is HARD.

Changing processes and replacing existing systems are not for the faint of heart. At HatchWorks, we leverage a proven approach when modernizing digital solutions called MVR (Minimal Viable Replacement). This approach focuses on breaking up the needs of the new system(s) into a clearly defined roadmap. This roadmap focuses on delivering valuable chunks of functionality into the hands of real users as soon as possible with minimal impact on their existing work.

Essentially, an MVR is the culmination of all the MVPs required to migrate existing customers to your new solution with minimal loss of existing customers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Transformation

Some key events in the history of digital transformation include the rise of the internet, the emergence of social media, the development of mobile technology, and the growth of cloud computing and big data analytics.

All industries have been impacted by digital transformation to some degree, but some of the most significant changes have occurred in the retail, financial services, media, and entertainment industries.

Digital transformation has had a profound impact on society, enabling people to connect, communicate, and collaborate in ways that were previously unimaginable. It has also changed the way we access information, shop, and consume media.

The future of digital transformation is difficult to predict with certainty, but it is likely to involve continued advancements in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies. It will also involve the ongoing integration of digital technology into all aspects of business and society.

Organizations can benefit from digital transformation in many ways, including improved efficiency and productivity, enhanced customer experiences, greater agility and competitiveness, and the ability to generate new revenue streams and business models.

Organizations may face a number of challenges when undergoing digital transformation, including the need to update legacy systems, the complexity of integrating new technologies, and the potential for disruption to existing processes and organizational culture.

Digital transformation has changed the way we work in many ways, including the ability to work remotely, the use of digital tools and platforms for collaboration and communication, and the rise of the gig economy and other flexible work arrangements.

Getting Started with HatchWorks Is Easy

Want to learn more about how to modernize your existing digital solutions through an MVR approach?

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]]> MVP or Prototype? A Guide to Choosing the Right Approach for Your Idea https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/mvp-vs-prototype/ Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:06:51 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29100 When it comes to bringing a new product to market, it’s important to test your idea to ensure its success. One way to do this is by using prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs). Both prototypes and MVPs can be useful tools in the product development process, but it’s important to understand the key differences […]

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When it comes to bringing a new product to market, it’s important to test your idea to ensure its success. One way to do this is by using prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs). Both prototypes and MVPs can be useful tools in the product development process, but it’s important to understand the key differences between the two and how to choose the right approach for your product.
MVP or Prototype? A Guide to Choosing the Right Approach for Your Idea.
In this guide, we’ll explore the definitions and purposes of prototypes and MVPs, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each approach. We’ll also discuss how to decide between a prototype and an MVP and provide some examples of each. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of the role of prototyping and MVPs in product development and how to choose the right approach for your product.

What is a software prototype?

A software prototype is a preliminary model of a software application that is used for testing and demonstrating the concept. Prototypes can range from simple wireframes or mockups to complex, functional prototypes that closely resemble the final product. The purpose of a software prototype is to test the application’s design, functionality, usability, and feasibility before it is fully developed.

Prototyping allows developers to identify and fix any design or technical issues early on in the development process, saving time and resources in the long run. It also allows for user testing and feedback, which can help fine-tune the application and ensure that it meets the needs and preferences of the target audience.

There are 3 main types of prototypes:

  1. Wireframes: Wireframes are simple, low-fidelity diagrams that outline the layout and structure of a product. They are typically used early in the design process to establish the basic structure and functionality of a product. Wireframes are usually black and white and do not include detailed design elements or interactive features.
  2. Mockups: Mockups are static, high-fidelity visual representations of a product. They typically include more detailed design elements and may include some interactive features, such as clickable buttons and links. Mockups are useful for demonstrating the overall look and feel of a product, as well as for gathering feedback on the design.
  3. Interactive prototypes: Interactive prototypes are dynamic, high-fidelity representations of a product that allow users to interact with the product as if it were a fully-featured product. They can include a wide range of interactive features and can be as detailed and functional as the final product. Interactive prototypes are useful for testing the usability and user experience of a product and for demonstrating the full range of features and functionality to potential investors or customers.

The benefits of software prototyping include:

  • Identifying and fixing the design and technical issues early on
  • Gathering user feedback and testing the usability of the application
  • Demonstrating the concept and functionality of the application to potential investors or customers
  • Allowing for iteration and improvement of the application before full development

It’s important to note that software prototypes are not meant to be the final product, and are typically not intended for sale or distribution. They are simply a way to test and refine the concept before moving on to the next stage of development.

What is an MVP?

An MVP, or minimum viable product, is a product with just enough features to be viable for a specific group of customers. The purpose of an MVP is to quickly test a product idea with a small group of users in order to gather feedback and data. This information can then be used to improve the product and make it more appealing to a larger audience.

MVPs are typically stripped-down versions of a product, with only the most essential features included. This allows the product to be released and tested in the market more quickly and at a lower cost. MVPs are intended to be functional products that can be sold, but they are not necessarily the final version of the product.

Examples of MVPs include a basic version of a mobile app that only includes the most essential features with limited customization options.

The benefits of MVPs

The benefits include:

  • Allowing for quick testing and validation of a product idea
  • Gathering valuable data and feedback from real users
  • Reducing development time and costs by focusing on only the most essential features
  • Providing a way to test the market and gather traction before investing in a full product rollout

It’s important to note that MVPs are not meant to be a fully fleshed out product, but rather a way to quickly test and validate an idea. As such, they may not be suitable for all products or industries.

How to decide between a prototype and an MVP

When it comes to choosing between a prototype and an MVP, there are several factors to consider. Here are some things to think about when deciding which approach is right for your product:
  • Stage of development: If you are in the early stages of product development and are still trying to figure out the basic concept and functionality of your product, a prototype may be the way to go. Prototyping allows for more experimentation and iteration. It is a good way to test and refine the basic idea. On the other hand, if you have a more fleshed out product idea and are ready to test it in the market, an MVP may be the better choice.
  • Purpose of the product: Consider the purpose of your product and whether a prototype or MVP is better suited to achieving your goals. For example, if you are developing a complex product with many features, a prototype may be necessary to fully test and demonstrate all of the functionality. On the other hand, if you are trying to quickly test a simple product idea with a specific group of users, an MVP may be more appropriate.
  • Resources and time constraints: Prototyping can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, especially if you are creating a complex prototype. If you are working with limited resources or time constraints, an MVP may be a more feasible option. MVPs can be developed and tested more quickly and at a lower cost than prototypes, making them a good choice for startups and small companies.

Pros and cons of prototyping

  • Pros: Allows for more experimentation and iteration, allows for full testing and demonstration of product functionality, can be useful for complex products
  • Cons: Can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, may not be suitable for testing in the market

Pros and cons of MVPs

  • Pros: Allows for quick testing and validation of a product idea, can be developed and tested more quickly and at a lower cost, provides a way to test the market
  • Cons: May not be suitable for complex products or products with many features, may not provide a full understanding of the product’s functionality

Conclusion

Prototyping and MVPs are both important tools in the product development process, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to carefully consider the stage of development, the purpose of the product, and the resources and time constraints when deciding which approach is right for your product.

Prototyping is a good choice for testing and refining the basic concept and functionality of a product, especially for complex products with many features. MVPs, on the other hand, are a good choice for quickly testing a product idea with a specific group of users and gathering data and feedback.

An additional approach is the MVR (Minimal Viable Replacement) which comes in handy when you are looking to modernize an existing digital product. To learn more, check out our blog, Minimum Viable Replacement: A New Approach to Modernizing Legacy Solutions.

By understanding the role of prototyping and MVPs in product development and how to choose the right approach for your product, you can ensure that you are well-equipped to bring your product to market successfully.

HatchWorks’ Proven Approach to Iterative Software Development

Building a new digital product is not easy, but we have the approaches and frameworks to ensure you are building the right digital product the right way, one that your customers and business will love.

The post MVP or Prototype? A Guide to Choosing the Right Approach for Your Idea appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> Minimum Viable Product (MVP) vs Minimum Viable Replacement (MVR) – Understanding the Difference https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/mvp-vs-mvr/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:04:06 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29128 Contrary to popular belief, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach is not the only way to build a digital product. While it is a proven approach to building and validating new solutions, it falls flat when looking to replace an existing solution. So how do you approach modernizing an existing solution? Enter the Minimal Viable […]

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Contrary to popular belief, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach is not the only way to build a digital product. While it is a proven approach to building and validating new solutions, it falls flat when looking to replace an existing solution.

So how do you approach modernizing an existing solution? Enter the Minimal Viable Replacement (MVR), which focuses on building the minimal set of features needed to replace an existing solution and provide an improved experience for users.

Whether you’re in product, engineering, or running a project, understanding the difference between MVP and MVR will give you a powerful toolset for creating and improving digital products. Let’s start by defining each and then get into what makes them different.

MVP vs MVR - Understanding the Difference.
In this guide, we cover:

What is a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?

An MVP, or minimum viable product, is a product with just enough features to be viable for a specific group of potential customers. The purpose of the MVP development process is to quickly test a product idea with a small group of users in order to gather feedback and data. This information can then be used to make a determination to continue, pivot, or stop development if the idea does not prove viable.

MVPs are typically stripped-down versions of a product, the smallest possible product, with only the most essential features and minimum functionality included. This allows the product to be released and tested in the market more quickly and at a lower cost. MVPs are intended to be functional products that can be sold, but they are not necessarily the final product.

The MVP approach is typically taken by startups who are looking to quickly validate a business idea or larger companies who are looking to test a new greenfield idea separate from their current products.

What is a Minimum Viable Replacement (MVR)?

A Minimal Viable Replacement (MVR) is an approach, popularized by Kevin Mireles, to replace a legacy solution that has an existing base of users or customers. With an MVR, you already know a market exists for your solution. The question becomes, can your new solution meet and exceed the value delivered by your old solution?

The approach focuses on decomposing the needs of the new system(s) into a clearly defined roadmap. This roadmap focuses on delivering valuable chunks of functionality into the hands of target users as soon as possible with minimal impact on their existing work.

Essentially, an MVR is the culmination of all the MVPs required to migrate existing customers to your new solution with minimal loss of existing customers. This approach is typically taken by mid-market or large companies that have existing solutions that need modernizing in some way.

To learn more about the approach, check out Minimum Viable Replacement: A New Approach to Modernizing Legacy Solutions.

What is the difference between MVP and MVR?

The key difference between MVP and MVR is in the goal and approach. While nuanced, they are critical to understanding when determining which approach is ideal for your software development project.
MVP MVR
Primary goal: validate a market or product hypothesis
Primary goal: migrate existing customers to the new modern system with minimal churn allowing for more agility
No existing customers
Existing customer base
Focused on attracting new customers
More focused on retaining existing customers than attracting early adopters
Competing against other companies or existing behaviors
Competing against your existing solution
Deeper research required to vet the viability of the solution
Minimal research required as the solution has already been proven to have market fit
Focused on a very small set of target customers and use cases to prove out the product’s value proposition
Focused on identifying the most valuable and sometimes extreme use cases for your most valuable customer segments among the many existing customer segments
Focused on new functionality
Focused on improving core functionality first, and typically new capabilities second
Targeted few specific workflows
Many existing workflows exist with existing users typically creating their own a-typical process within your system
Leverage new technology
Have to account for existing legacy technology
Ability to create new processes with a greenfield project
Must account for existing organizational norms, process, and culture

Why building new products and updating existing ones require a completely different approach

MVP and MVR are two important approaches in product development. Understanding each can help you determine which approach is best for you, and prevent you from wasting time, money, and resources, and losing customers.

Taking on an MVR is not for the faint of heart. You need a partner who can help guide you through the process, and not only protect your existing base of users but ensure you are set up for future growth.

Contact us to learn more about the MVR approach and how we can use it to turn your modernization project into one that will be the gold standard for future projects to come.

Getting Started with HatchWorks Is Easy

Want to learn more about how we deliver solutions that are valuable, usable, feasible, and viable through our integrated US and Nearshore delivery model? No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you create a user experience your customers will love.

The post Minimum Viable Product (MVP) vs Minimum Viable Replacement (MVR) – Understanding the Difference appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> 15 UX Statistics You Need to Know in 2023 https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/user-experience-statistics/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 21:05:59 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=28966 A great UX (User Experience) feels like magic. It feels effortless, leaving the user saying, “How did you do that?!” Even more important, they tell their friends. Getting organizational buy-in for UX can be difficult though. These stats can help you make the case for why you should invest in UX, and the risk if […]

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A great UX (User Experience) feels like magic. It feels effortless, leaving the user saying, “How did you do that?!” Even more important, they tell their friends.

Getting organizational buy-in for UX can be difficult though. These stats can help you make the case for why you should invest in UX, and the risk if you do not. Before the stats, let’s define what is UX.

15 UX Statistics You Need to Know in 2023.

What is UX?

UX encompasses all aspects of your user’s interactions with your company, its products, and services from initial interaction with your brand, through purchase, use of your solution, and ultimately end of use.

The first core principle of a great user experience is actually meeting the needs of your customers. You need to complete their specific job to be done in an easy, seamless way.

This requires simplicity and elegance in how your experience is designed. Your product should be a joy to use. You want to leave them saying, “I have to tell someone about this!”

Now let’s get into 15 statistics that show why UX is crucial for your business.

Why you should invest in UX

1. Research shows that, on average, every $1 invested in UX brings $100 in return. Source: Forrester

That is a 100X return. If you are needing to get buy-in from your CFO as to why you should invest in UX, show them this.

2. The top companies leading in user experience outperformed the S&P index by 35%. Source: Forbes

Good user experience ultimately is the difference between winning and losing in today’s market. The customer has the power and an endless pool of options.

That is why top companies around the world like Airbnb, Apple, and Google invest heavily in UX. They know it is the secret to growth and competing in a crowded market.

3. 8 in 10 customers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience. Source: Capgemini

Back to the ROI of UX, your users crave a simple elegant solution. A thoughtful user experience is the way to do that.

4. A well-designed user interface could raise your website’s conversion rate by up to 200%, and a better UX design could yield conversion rates up to 400%. Source: Forrester

Yes, UI is important but UX is the real driver of growth. It is easy to get sucked into the aesthetics of your solution. Don’t do this. Start with the experience, and then add the coat of paint and tchotchkes to make your solution stand out.

The risk of not investing in UX

5. Businesses lose 35% of sales due to bad UX. Source: AWS

According to a study by Amazon Web Services, eCommerce businesses leave 35% of sales on the table due to bad user experience. This translates to roughly $1.4 trillion worth of sales. (yes trillion with a “T”)

Lost sales because of bad UX are over $1.4 trillion whereas projected global sales due to good UX are over $5 trillion.

6. 70% of customers abandon purchases because of bad user experience. Source: Baymard

User Experience encompasses the whole experience including purchase. Don’t just focus on your post-purchase experience. Otherwise, you are leaving money on the table.

7. 32% of users will leave a brand they love if they have one bad experience. Source: PWC

This is mind-blowing… While it takes many great experiences to create “love” in the mind of your customers, it only takes one bad experience for some to leave your brand altogether.

8. 67% of customers claim unpleasant experiences as a reason for churn. Source: Forbes

This should be no surprise. Keeping your existing customers is one of the easiest ways to drive and grow revenue. Good UX can accomplish this.

9. 62% of customers say they share their bad experiences with others. Source: Salesforce

Not only is it bad when your customers churn and you lose revenue, but it can have a multiplier effect by telling others about the negative experience. This can create the worst type of snowball effect that can be tough to control once it starts rolling.

10. 3 out of the 12 reasons why projects fail are attributed to user experience failures. Source: AWS

So much time and effort is focused on the technical solution and how it looks, while 3 of the 12 main reasons projects fail are directly attributed to your UX.

11. The time spent by developers reworking a project with avoidable faults is 50%. Source: AWS

It is important to be proactive with your UX, and not reactionary. Not only because it is easier for you and your team, but it is also way more cost-effective. Start with UX first. Then build your product.

UX stats that make you think

12. 85% of UX problems can be solved by testing 5 users. Source: Nielsen Norman Group

One of the most important elements of UX is talking to your customers. This seems like a big hurdle and is often not done due to the perceived effort. It may not be as intensive as you think. Just talk to 5 people, and you may uncover some major issues and opportunities.

13. There was a success rate of 80% when people used the navigation scheme structured according to most users’ mental model. There was a success rate of 9% when people used the navigation scheme structured according to the company’s internal thinking. Source: Nielsen Norman Group

In the world of UX, new is not always good. Sometimes it is better to be familiar. Use common mental models as a tool to make your user experience easier for your customers. That way they are using fewer brain calories when learning how to use your product.

14. Today customers manage 85% of their relationships without interacting with a human. Source: Gartner

User experiences without human interaction provide so many different options to delight your users. Be intentional about your experience. Customers don’t just prefer non-human interaction, they expect it to work seamlessly.

15. 81% Of Consumers Say They Want More Self-service Options. Source: CXM Today

The pandemic changed many things in our world including how people interact with brands and products. Customers don’t just prefer self service, they require it. If your experience doesn’t measure up, customers will look for other options.

Final thoughts

In today’s world, you can’t afford not to prioritize UX. It is a foundational aspect of any software solution. Don’t discount its value. Make it a priority early in your solutions life, even before you start building. If you already have an existing solution, it isn’t too late. Identify the biggest opportunity areas and start executing those changes.

Your customers will thank you.

Do You Need Help with UX Research?

Our experts can help you define and execute a comprehensive UX research study to validate and build confidence that your product is on the right track.

No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you create a user experience your customers will love.

The post 15 UX Statistics You Need to Know in 2023 appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> Minimum Viable Replacement: A New Approach to Modernizing Legacy Solutions https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/minimum-viable-replacement/ Wed, 18 Jan 2023 19:30:55 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=29000 Minimal Viable Products (MVPs) have become the sole defacto way of building software. If you are not taking an MVP approach, you may get strange looks nowadays. It has been proven time and time again as an effective way to quickly test a market hypothesis or build a proof of concept to test the technical […]

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Minimal Viable Products (MVPs) have become the sole defacto way of building software. If you are not taking an MVP approach, you may get strange looks nowadays.

It has been proven time and time again as an effective way to quickly test a market hypothesis or build a proof of concept to test the technical feasibility of a solution. But what happens when you are not building a new solution and instead you are modernizing or replacing an existing one?

If you are using an MVP approach in this scenario, you will be in for a rude awakening in the form of wasted time, money, and unhappy customers.

Don’t worry… there is a better way. The Minimal Viable Replacement (MVR).

Minimum Viable Replacement: A New Approach to Modernizing Legacy Solutions.
In this guide, we’ll cover:

What is a Minimal Viable Replacement (MVR)?

A Minimal Viable Replacement (MVR) is an approach, popularized by Kevin Mireles, to replace a legacy solution that has an existing base of users or customers.

These modernization or replacement projects are often labeled with the overused term, Digital Transformation. No matter what you call it, they all have one thing in common.

Complexity.

With an MVR, you already know a market exists for your solution. The question becomes, can your new solution meet and exceed the value delivered by your old product?

The approach focuses on decomposing the needs of the new system(s) into a clearly defined roadmap. This roadmap focuses on delivering valuable chunks of functionality into the hands of real users as soon as possible with minimal impact on their existing work.

Essentially, an MVR is the culmination of all the MVPs required to migrate existing customers to your new solution with minimal loss of existing customers.

Why the MVP doesn’t work when replacing an existing solution

By now, we have all seen this age-old MVP metaphor.
A diagram illustrating why incremental progress doesn't cut it for modernizing legacy solutions.

The goal of an MVP is to provide end-to-end value in an incremental fashion. In this example, the desired outcome is to get from point A to point B, and the first iteration of the solution, the skateboard, accomplishes that right off the bat.

The problem is, your existing customers are not willing to trade down to a skateboard when they are currently driving a car with a leather interior, air conditioning, and Bluetooth. Oh, and a few of those other important features like seat belts, airbags, and brakes…

To make this real, picture handing your existing customers a skateboard and asking them to test it out riding down the highway. That is a sure recipe for disaster and guaranteed loss of revenue.

Aerial photo of a busy freeway.

The major differences between an MVP and an MVR

MVP MVR
Primary goal: validate a market or product hypothesis
Primary goal: migrate existing customers to the new modern system with minimal churn allowing for more agility
No existing customers
Existing customer base
Focused on attracting new customers
More focused on retaining existing customers than attracting new ones
Competing against other companies or existing behaviors
Competing against your existing solution
Deeper research required to vet the viability of the solution
Minimal research required as the solution has already been proven to have market fit
Focused on a very small set of target customers and use cases to prove out the product’s value proposition
Focused on identifying the most valuable and sometimes extreme use cases for your most valuable customer segments among the many existing customer segments
Focused on new functionality
Focused on improving existing functionality first, and typically new capabilities second
Targeted few specific workflows
Many existing workflows exist with existing users typically creating their own a-typical process within your system
Leverage new technology
Have to account for existing legacy technology
Ability to create new processes with a greenfield project
Must account for existing organizational norms, process, and culture

Why an MVR is unique

The typical approach for an MVP leverages the 80/20 rule, which in essence states that 20% of the functionality will serve 80% of the needs of your users. So therefore you should focus on that 20%.

With an MVR it is not that simple…

With an MVR, you have multiple customer segments you must satisfy in order to successfully replace a legacy solution. On top of that, those customers represent different value to your business, typically in the form of revenue or profitability.

Surprise, surprise – your larger, higher value customers typically require more extensive and complex functionality compared to 90% of your typical users.

This is why in an MVR you must consider the edge cases of your most valuable customers.

On top of having to consider edge cases (usually a ‘no no’ with MVPs), there are also two core psychological phenomena at play in an MVR.

Endowment effect: People are more likely to retain an object they own rather than acquire a similar object (either in value or appearance). In essence, people feel a sense of ownership over the systems and technology they currently use and are not typically gung-ho about giving it up.

Loss aversion: People value losses more than they value potential gains. Not just by a little either. They tend to value it by 2 to 4 times more. Anything less than that is likely to be perceived as incredibly negative. In essence, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

We are ultimately creatures of habit, which makes an MVR unique.

A metaphor fitting for an MVR

Picture a 100-story condo. Let’s say you built the first 99 floors in a relatively standard fashion with 12-foot ceilings, standard bathrooms, and fixtures. They each pay $2K a month in rent.

Then you get to the last floor. The penthouse.

This is just one tenant, but they pay $30K per month.

They also have different requirements such as a swimming pool, 30-foot ceilings, and a helipad. If you didn’t account for this upfront, your architecture and design likely won’t support it.

So how do you approach an MVR to ensure you aren’t doing more harm than good?

The MVR approach

The goal of an MVR should be to meet and exceed the value delivered by your old solution without losing your existing customers in the process.

The approach focuses on decomposing the needs of the new system(s) into a clearly defined roadmap that focuses on delivering valuable chunks of functionality into the hands of users as soon as possible with minimal impact on their existing work. The roadmap should show them they don’t have to fear a loss of functionality because you have clearly communicated and mapped out when the functionality will be delivered.

There are 3 standard approaches to the MVR when considering how to develop your roadmap and define key milestones.

Functional Approach: If there is little overlap in functionality between end-user segments, you can structure your roadmap based on the specific functional needs of those different customer segments.

Diagram of a functional approach.
Process Approach: If your system covers long processes with no clear delineation by customer segments you can approach structuring your roadmap by the different processes and workflows within the system. Look for a natural break in the process to define replacement points where you can take segments of the process and replace them with the new system.
Diagram of a MVR process approach.
Add-On Approach: If you are looking to go after a new market or customer segment this is a good approach allowing you to create a newer leaner system focused on first adding that new target market or customer base. Then as the functionality builds up, you can migrate your existing customers to the new solution. This can be packaged as an add-on to your existing solution so as to not disrupt existing users, or make them feel like they are loosing their existing legacy solution in the process.
Diagram of a MVR add-on approach.
Below are some key elements to consider when taking on an MVR:
  1. Identify, define, and prioritize your different customer segments based on required functionality and value to your business
  2. Identify the edge cases your highest value customers must have to switch
  3. Align on if you are building the replacement solution for a new customer segment you are targeting in the market, and identify if this shift in strategy will result in churn of existing customer segments.
  4. Identify instances of customers using your solution in unintended ways (note: these are opportunity areas to build functionality to make these workarounds easier)
  5. Determine all the downstream applications and organizations using your systems inside and outside of the company
  6. Understand how users and organizations are using your solution and its data.
  7. Identify any regulatory or compliance-related requirements
  8. Determine if the new solution can start as an extension of the legacy one and sold as an add-on to start. Then, integrate the core functionality as part of your replacement strategy.
  9. Identify if there are any underserved customer segments that are not currently using your solution and would be happy with a true MVP
  10. Define your roadmap by breaking up the project into mini MVPs defined by functionality and customer segment served

Summary

At the end of the day, it is not a question of if you will need to replace legacy solutions. It is a matter of when.

While legacy solutions, processes, and technical debt have a knack for slowing down progress, you can’t let them hold you hostage.

Leverage an MVR approach to enable agility and innovation in your organization so you can continue to deliver value for your customers and your business.

Getting Started with HatchWorks Is Easy

Want to learn more about how we deliver solutions that are valuable, usable, feasible, and viable through our integrated US and Nearshore delivery model? No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you create a user experience your customers will love.

The post Minimum Viable Replacement: A New Approach to Modernizing Legacy Solutions appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> The #1 Reason Your Product is Failing – You Don’t Have a Product Trio https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/the-1-reason-your-product-is-failing-you-dont-have-a-product-trio/ Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:43:38 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=26667 How many legs does a stool need to stand? Three? Good answer! So why are you treating your software development like a supply chain instead of a collaborative, multidisciplinary activity working together to support your product development. While it sounds good in theory to develop requirements, then design the solution, then develop the solution – […]

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How many legs does a stool need to stand?

Three?

Good answer!

So why are you treating your software development like a supply chain instead of a collaborative, multidisciplinary activity working together to support your product development.

While it sounds good in theory to develop requirements, then design the solution, then develop the solution – it is one of the worst ways to build software.

The approach of throwing requirements and design over the wall to the next group is like playing a bad game of telephone. It is not fun, it is costing you a ton of time and money, and results in a mediocre product that leaves your customers AND your business saying, “Meh…”

You’re in a perpetual state where…

  • Things get lost in translation
  • There is no feedback loop established
  • There is zero collaboration

Instead, the goal should be to create a multidisciplinary team of experts – each skilled in their respective area, and each bringing a unique perspective to the table. This creates the type of dialogue and collaboration that even Gandhi would be proud of.

When you bring these experts together from product, design, and engineering, you create a real-time feedback loop that reduces rework, sparks discussion, and builds amazing solutions.

The Product Trio consists of experts from product, design, and engineering: a solution designer, a product strategist, and a solution architect.

Intro the Product Trio

Sound like a group of superheroes?

It should.

These are the folks that are going to dictate whether your solution sinks or swims.

The goal of this product trio, popularized by Marty Cagan (Silicon Valley Product Group) and evangelized by Teresa Torres (Product Talk), is to build a solution that is valuable, usable, feasible, and viable.

What does that mean?

Valuable: Will customers buy it, or will users choose to use it?

Usable: Can users figure out how to use it?

Feasible: Can our engineers build what we need with the time, skills, and technology we have?

Viable: Will the solution work with the various aspects of our business?

Practicing continuous discovery and continuous delivery is the most important element of a product trio, and it enables the team to build a solution that meets these four requirements. It allows the product trio to move perpetually between the problem and solution space.

By getting this team of experts in the room at the same time throughout the entire process, you begin to have next-level discussions.

  • Product provides direction on the strategy and priorities.
  • Design provides insight into the user experience and usability.
  • Engineering provides direction on what is doable relative to the tech team’s constraints.

Risks are brought to the forefront, assumptions are tested, and different ways to achieve the desired outcome are ideated in real time.

HatchWorks’ Proven Approach to Iterative Software Development

At HatchWorks we subscribe to the Product Trio approach in How We Deliver.

We have proven through the successful solutions we have delivered for our customers that this approach isn’t just window dressing. It works.

We practice continuous discovery and continuous delivery to ensure what we are building adapts to the needs of your end-user and your business, giving you the flexibility needed to build great software.

A diagram displaying our practice of continuous discovery and delivery.

We ensure the product trio is represented, whether that is with a full HatchWorks team or supplemented by your team. We tailor the team to your specific needs and ensure the product trio principles are practiced throughout the life of your solution.

A chart displaying the team composition of HatchWorks Discovery and Delivery Pods.

When you bring these experts together from product, design, and engineering, you create a real-time feedback loop that reduces rework, sparks discussion, and builds amazing solutions.

Don’t be left trying to balance on a stool with only 1 or 2 legs. Get your Product Trio in sync today.

Getting Started with HatchWorks Is Easy

Want to learn more about how we deliver solutions that are valuable, usable, feasible, and viable through our integrated US and Nearshore delivery model?

The post The #1 Reason Your Product is Failing – You Don’t Have a Product Trio appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> The Biggest Mistake Product Managers Make When Prioritizing Their Backlog https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/the-biggest-mistake-product-managers-make-when-prioritizing-their-backlog/ Mon, 08 Aug 2022 07:00:10 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=25840 Caution to all you product manager folks out there: BEWARE OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT When it comes to building a product, everyone knows you must make trade-offs, but prioritization is hard. There are competing priorities from: Customers Stakeholders CEO Developers Designers Other product managers And the list goes on… Product managers must ensure they prioritize the […]

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Caution to all you product manager folks out there:

BEWARE OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT

When it comes to building a product, everyone knows you must make trade-offs, but prioritization is hard.

There are competing priorities from:

  • Customers
  • Stakeholders
  • CEO
  • Developers
  • Designers
  • Other product managers

And the list goes on…

Product managers must ensure they prioritize the right thing and deliver value to both their customer and the business all while making sure they don’t end up with a product that looks like Frankenstein’s monster.

PS. “feature-rich” isn’t always a good thing. Too much complexity in your product can confuse your ideal customer.

So how do you go about prioritizing the RIGHT THING to build next?

Don’t worry – we have a framework that will make you become a prioritization rockstar and channel your inner Steve Jobs.

Funny enough it deals with apples (no pun intended).

Our Prioritization Framework

Chart to aid with feature prioritization, further described below the caption.

This framework will help you:

  • Visualize your competing priorities
  • Facilitate discussion with stakeholders on what to prioritize
  • Avoid falling into the low-hanging fruit trap

Here is a Miro template to help you with this framework.

Here is how it works:

Simply put Value on the y-axis and Effort on the x-axis.

From there, place your competing features ideas on the matrix based on their effort and value.

(PS. if you want to get fancy, you can color code your features by whether they provide value for your customer or your business. Also, whether they are a net new idea, an existing feature enhancement, or a technology enabler)

This will help you visualize where your competing feature ideas and requests stack up:

Quick Wins (High Value and Low Effort):
Do these first. No matter what.

This is a win-win at its finest. Easy for you AND valuable for your customer (can life get any better??).

Don’t Do (High Effort and Low Value):
As the Whos say to the Grinch, “I wouldn’t touch you with a 39-and-a-half foot pole”

Get these ideas out of your mind and, more importantly, off your product backlog.

It doesn’t matter if your CEO is requesting it. Show them this framework and say, “NO.”

Major Projects (High Value and High Effort):
This is where things get a bit more tricky…

Most folks get overwhelmed by these and shelf them for a sunny day.

The problem is that, many times, this is where those strategic differentiators live. There is no better way to build a moat around your product than to build the hard things that your customers find the most value in.

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Think hard about these and don’t discount them just because they are difficult. Focus on those features that align with your strategy and truly help you stand out in the mind of your ideal customer.

Trust us. It is worth it.

Beware (Low Effort & Low Value):
These are the fruits that will lull you into complacency and, as a result, leave you with a product that looks more like Frankenstein’s monster and less like something your ideal customer wants to buy.

While these features are easy to deliver and easy to justify, they are also an easy way to fall into the low-hanging fruit trap.

Don’t be that product:

  • The product that tries to serve everyone
  • The product that has so many features, no one has any idea what it actually does
  • The product that is so confusing, that people give up after a day of trying to use it

Be selective.

Be smart.

And don’t be afraid to take on the major project.

Your customers will thank you for it with repeat business and extended contracts, and your business will thank you for it in the bottom line results you are driving.

Do you need a product management guide?

Our product management experts help you build a process for prioritization that will deliver a solution your customers will love backed by product management best practices and proven frameworks.

We work collaboratively with you to bring your product idea to life, understanding your business goals and key metrics to define a solution that delivers value to your business and your customers.

No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you accelerate your path to success.

The post The Biggest Mistake Product Managers Make When Prioritizing Their Backlog appeared first on HatchWorks.

]]> Why You Should Establish a Well-Defined UX Research Process https://hatchworks.com/blog/product-design/why-you-should-establish-a-well-defined-ux-research-process/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 16:18:24 +0000 https://hatchworks.com/?p=24359 In the midst of ever-changing product expectations, User Experience research is a critical step in validating that a Product team’s concepts are on the right track. It not only fosters alignment between an idea and the reality of what your users actually want and need, but UX research also allows teams to fail early and […]

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In the midst of ever-changing product expectations, User Experience research is a critical step in validating that a Product team’s concepts are on the right track.

It not only fosters alignment between an idea and the reality of what your users actually want and need, but UX research also allows teams to fail early and adapt before large sums of time and money are spent on implementation.

In the midst of ever-changing product expectations, User Experience research is a critical step in validating that a Product team’s concepts are on the right track.

It not only fosters alignment between an idea and the reality of what your users actually want and need, but UX research also allows teams to fail early and adapt before large sums of time and money are spent on implementation.

But before diving headfirst into user interviews, it’s important to define a solid foundation so that the process runs smoothly.

Know Your User

Structuring UX research is first and foremost about clearly defining the target user of your product. Of course, there can be more than one target user in your orbit.

In general, try to unpack the psyche of those who will have the perspective you need to make informed decisions.

  • What are their tendencies?
  • How and where do they interact with your product?
  • What motivates them?

At this stage, it’s important to think critically and explore as many factors about your ideal user(s) as possible. Never assume “you just know” your user.

In practice, having your target user(s) defined upfront will help your team form more relevant UX research studies. For example, “Let’s put concepts X and Y in front of persona Z because those concepts present features that will resonate with their needs.”

Get Buy-in

Setting a solid research foundation is also about internal alignment, transparency, and dialogue. Be sure to involve stakeholders and decision-makers from all competencies of your business in open, formative conversations around the goals and intention of the research.

The input and perspective you gather here will ensure that you have a clear picture of organizational goals and expectations. This dialogue is also an opportunity to garner internal buy-in, support, and an overarching appetite for the research outcomes, which will add tremendous momentum and help ensure a successful study.

Align and Focus on Your Research Goals

Once your target user is defined and internal buy-in is established, your team must set a narrow focus on exactly what will be tested and explored during the research sessions. This is necessary in order to run efficiently and get optimal feedback.

Your team must understand the relationship between your research goals and the flow of the questions in your discussion guide. Interview sessions can (and often do) fly off the rails. Having a firm grasp on goals will help your team improvise and naturally steer the respondent back to providing valuable insight.

While the goals and scope of UX research can vary greatly depending on the maturity of a product, your team should always be grounded in keeping it simple, maintaining focus, and taking one step at a time.

Keep your UX research goals within the realm of what you can realistically assess and accomplish at your current state.

Also, be prepared to do it again and again…and again. UX research is never “one-and-done”. It is fluid and ongoing. Gather findings, analyze and learn, then adapt and expand your approach accordingly in the next study.

UX research includes feedback loops so that the process itself is informed and adapted by your findings.

So, what do you do with all of the valuable data from your research?

Tips for Organizing Your UX Research Data

  1. Before research even begins, teams should take time to choose and/or build their own model for organizing and analyzing user input. This can be as simple as using shared documents and spreadsheets, or more robust applications such as Airtable and Miro. It’s really up to the team’s comfort level.
  2. Teams should also test-run their process with generic data to ensure everyone is on the same page. For example, if a team decides to use mind mapping to organize user input, make sure everyone agrees upon what constitutes a core concept, a branch, and a sub-branch.
  3. Time is of the essence! Debrief and begin analyzing user input immediately after each interview. Having the interview fresh in your mind will ensure a quicker, more fluid analysis.

Summary

When defining your user experience research process, remember to clearly define your product’s target user(s), seek organizational buy-in for your research goals, and set a narrow focus on what will be tested. Your research has the potential to validate your product concepts as long as you establish a solid foundation for a smooth process that can be repeated and iterated upon. 

Do You Need Help with UX Research?

Our experts can help you define and execute a comprehensive UX research study to validate and build confidence that your product is on the right track.

No matter what phase you are at in your software solution journey, HatchWorks can help you accelerate your path to success.

The post Why You Should Establish a Well-Defined UX Research Process appeared first on HatchWorks.

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