Product Validation
A way to prevent startup failure
This article is a part of individual review for Software Engineering Project Course (Proyek Perangkat Lunak/PPL) in Faculty of Computer Science, Universitas Indonesia.
What is Product Validation?
Product validation is the process of validating a product (software) from just an idea in our head to a product that can really solve a problem in the society or have the demand in the market. This can be done by several steps, such as observing surroundings and not just build a product because we assume it definitely needed in the market.
Why We Need Product Validation?
When we’re going to build a product, we need to have a product validation. Product validation ensures that our software has demand and is needed by people. Skipping this step, or not doing it right can leads to abandoned software because of nobody is using it, moreover, this can leads to startup failures.
Pre-Product Validation
Based on zeitspace.com, before doing the process of product validation, we need to make a mapping of our assumptions with the team. Think about the biggest risk that will come up from our product idea. List down on the paper, sort it from the most to least risky. By doing this step with the team before product validation process, we can be aware of the probable “dangers” that can be happened, so we don’t get surprised if those “dangers” really happened.
How To Do Product Validation?
According to pixelgrow, below are the process of product validation:
- Define a problem
Before creating a product, make sure there’s a real problem that can be solved by the product. This step is critical because it will lead to the main product goal and determine whether the product is needed or not.
2. Vision statement
Start this step by defining our goal, then think about what our product will do to solve the problem and what is our minimum success criteria.
3. Market validation
Research the potential market of our product idea. We can look it up on in industry reports, such as Google Trends. It’s better to learn from the existing market’s mistakes than to look for a new market.
4. Competition
Look up for similar products that have been available. If there are any competitor that is big enough, it can proves that our product will also have a market.
5. Focus
Focus on the unique feature in our product, so the product can compete with other similar products out there.
6. Customer validation
Have qualitative customer research to understand more about our potential user’s behavior.
7. Prototyping
Create a prototype for the product’s core feature.
8. Build an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Build an MVP which is a software with just one core feature that can already be useful for the first customer in the market. We can then developed it gradually from time to time if our app users are increasing.
9. Interview or survey
Know what other think about our product.
10. Landing page
Create a landing page that consist of proper marketing, demo of our product, and signup page.
11. Crowdfunding
We can do this step to get investor funding.
12. Iterate or exit
Iterate the process if our product can be said ‘succeed’ by observing the number of app user. Exit the process if our product is not needed, so we don’t waste more time, money, and energy building a product that will fail in the future.
Conclusion
Product validation is a crucial process before we start to develop a product. By following the process of product validation, we can minimize the risk of our software being abandoned, and for startups, this process can prevent startup failures and maximize the chance to keep our startup growing. So, our effort, money, and time dedicated to developed the product are not wasted.
