When beginning the mobile app development process, it’s not uncommon to hear the term “MVP.” Alas, this isn’t a reference to the most valuable player; it stands for “minimum viable product.”
MVP app development has its roots in the world of startups, which began using this strategy to develop a basic version of their offerings to test the waters and gather feedback from beta testers or early adopters. Some of the world’s most well-known apps released an MVP version of their interface, including Uber, Dropbox, Airbnb, Buffer and Foursquare.
But it’s not just startups that can benefit from MVP mobile development. A minimum viable product strategy allows for a phased development process and a more rapid launch, which can be important for enterprise mobile apps and consumer-facing apps alike.
What is Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in App Development?
A mobile app’s minimum viable product refers to a basic version of the application, with the most important core features. The MVP is the simplest possible version of the mobile app, while still retaining usefulness and functionality.
To arrive at your app MVP criteria, you’ll need to identify the most important features or functionalities. You’ll want to consider questions such as the following as you dive into the development process.
- What are the app’s core features?
- What’s motivating people to install and use the app?
- What functionalities will users find most valuable?
- Will users feel the app lacks sufficient functionality to be truly useful?
- Does the MVP version of the app have differentiators that make it stand apart from the competition?
Minimum viable product should be defined for all types of app, whether it’s an enterprise app for internal use within a company or a consumer-facing app that’ll be publicly marketed in the app stores.
7 Benefits of MVP App Development Strategy
A mobile app minimum viable product has many benefits. The team here at 7T has identified 7 key benefits of including an MVP as part of your mobile app development strategy.
Benefit #1 – It’s an opportunity to get conceptual validation from actual users — something that’s essential if you’re approaching investors. Validation is also important if you’re building an enterprise app and need to provide the company’s decision-makers with an idea of ROI and proof of concept.
Benefit #2 – Users can provide useful feedback and input to guide future development phases. Some may decide to present the app to the target user group as a beta release.
Benefit #3 – Market niche and product-market fit can be evaluated with the least amount of time and financial investment. The MVP app, with its core components, can be marketed to users in an effort to determine if it will bring the expected ROI.
Benefit #4 – You can release an app with mission-critical features and functionalities at the first opportunity. This allows you to leave less essential or more complex features for the next phase(s) of development. This is a great strategy if you’re pressed for time, but don’t want to sacrifice quality or cut corners. Developing in phases may also be a good option if an app is awaiting its next round of funding.
Benefit #5 – A minimum viable product mobile app development strategy is great for agility and flexibility. Modifying a simplified, streamlined version of a mobile app is typically much easier and far less involved than modifying a full-featured app interface.
Benefit #6 – The overall cost of mobile app development is often lower with this development strategy. That’s because you’ll be receiving important feedback at key points in the development process, which results in less re-design and alteration. In other words, there’s a better chance you’ll get it right on the first try because you’ll receive important input at key points in the development timeline.
Benefit #7 – An MVP version of your mobile app allows you to get an idea for potential strengths and weaknesses. This serves as a great foundation to allow for refinement. For example, you may find that an unexpected percentage of users are installing the app for a purpose that’s different from what you had originally intended. You could discover a new user profile, a slightly different app concept or even a new angle for marketing the app to the public.
Considering MVP as You Create a Mobile App Requirements Doc
It’s important for clients to spend a fair amount of time establishing the minimum viable product requisites for a successful software or mobile app development project. MVP consideration should be well underway as you’re compiling your mobile application’s requirements document.
7T has taken the time to compile an ebook explaining how to create a requirements document for your mobile app development project.
Whether you’re building an enterprise app or a public-facing mobile app that you hope will one day dominate the list of top sellers in the app stores, the team at 7T is here to help. We’ve earned a reputation as a top Dallas mobile app development company, with a reputation for developing dynamic mobile apps and innovative software platforms, from CRM platforms and ERP development, to Snowflake data solutions.
At 7T, our development team works with company leaders who are seeking to solve problems and drive ROI through digital transformation. Regarded as an innovative Dallas software and mobile app development company, 7T integrates cutting-edge solutions into virtually every project. We’re here to deliver collaborative, multi-phased software development services to clients in all business sectors.
7T maintains offices in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Austin, but our clientele spans the globe. If you’re ready to start your software or mobile app development project, contact 7T today.