Quick Guide on How to Build MVP in 2024

MVP is the very first version of a product with a minimum set of features sufficient to test the hypothesis, value, and demand for the product. It can be an app or a website with limited functionality, a chatbot in a messenger, etc. In this article, we will explain how custom MVP development happens and how to turn it into a full-fledged product.

Let’s say you want to make a food tech startup, a donut delivery app.

But there’s a problem – you don’t know what features should be in the app. Or maybe you should make a service that allows customers to pick up donuts from the bakery at a convenient time? And what if someone also wants to get a coffee? MVP development will allow you to understand at the very beginning whether the product meets the customers’ needs. To begin with, the app may have only one delivery and card payment option. If the product proves to be in demand, more features can be added, such as self-delivery, cash payment, order history, presales, etc.

Why should I develop an MVP?

An MVP in business must have a rational approach to creating a new product. By creating an MVP, you can test ideas in real-world conditions, get user feedback, and attract investments for product development.

If the idea is successful, you can get the first profit and customers even before the full functionality of the application or website is released. If users are not interested, you won’t spend as much money as you would when creating a full-fledged product. Still, you will understand how not to do it and will be able to move in a different direction.

When to develop an MVP?

MVP is necessary for both startups and large businesses. In the first case, you can understand with minimal cost whether the idea is viable, identify shortcomings, and choose the right direction for further product development.

For large businesses, MVP is suitable when developing a new line of business—in case of an unsuccessful launch, unnecessary expenses can be avoided.

For example, when developing a sports activities mobile app, we decided to start with MVP. Our client had previously tried to develop the app themselves but ran into a problem: there were more ideas than the development speed. We decided to discard the existing application code because it was not in line with best practices and was difficult to scale, which could lead to problems when expanding the project. The decision was made to build the application from scratch to better meet user needs and create a better product.

As a result, the application turned out to be fast, reliable, and secure. Later on, the functionality grew rapidly. MVP helped our client to test his ideas and develop the project functionalities further.

Search for a reliable IT partner for your MVP? Contact us at OS-System!

Stages of MVP development

Developing an MVP is divided into several stages. The order and number of steps may vary depending on the initial funding and the type of product.

Define the goal

At this stage, we define what user problem the product will solve and what needs it will close. For example, an application for making money transfers will always be at hand, allowing you to conduct transactions without visiting the website or bank branches.

Analyze the target audience

To increase the chances of success, it is better to choose a specific target audience and study it, as it is almost impossible to satisfy the needs of a wide audience. This will help you understand whether the product solves potential users’ problems and determine the promotion channels.

Analyze the market and competitors

At this stage, we analyze similar products, their strengths and weaknesses, user feedback, and needs. By studying competitors’ experiences, you can avoid mistakes and create a better or unique product. At the same time, you can see the opportunities for product development and potential risks. You can improve what other companies offer by discovering how future products differ from existing ones.

Describe the functionality and user flow

Identify the main functions without which the product cannot exist. Define how users will come to the product and what steps they will go through to take a target action. Functionality should be simple and clear so that the first experience of interaction with the product is positive.

Select a technology stack

A tech stack is a set of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and software required to develop an application or website. At this stage, we determine which technologies and development methods are best suited for a particular project, considering its functionality, budget, and development timeframe. 

Also, you should not forget about security. For example, if the service works with online payments, you should choose technologies that provide maximum data storage and transmission security and protection from cyberattacks.

Testing and launch

After MVP development, the application or website is tested on different devices while working out different user scenarios, eliminating errors in their work when detected. Then, we launch the website or publish the app on the App Store or Google Play.

Feedback and product updates

After launch, we collect feedback, visit statistics, and user behavior analytics. Based on this data, we can understand what needs to be improved and what can be removed or added to the product. If users like the MVP, new features can be gradually introduced in the next versions.

Search for a reliable IT partner for your MVP? Contact us at OS-System!

Conclusion

The task of an MVP is to give the user a basic idea of the product to get feedback and understand in which direction to move forward.

Often, at the initial stage of a new product development, the client and developers try to implement as much functionality as possible and work through all possible scenarios as much as possible. As a result, a lot of time, money, and effort is wasted, and the idea turns out to be unclaimed.

Another common mistake is rushing. Products enter the market without proper testing and debugging, and users are disappointed by the abundance of errors. Also, you should not ignore metrics data and user feedback at the initial stage.

The only way to avoid mistakes is to immediately turn to professionals for MVP development. Our OS-System team develops websites, online stores, and mobile applications of any complexity and always takes into account the specifics of user experience and customer requirements to create the highest-quality product. If you still have questions, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you and estimate the time and cost of project realization.