You’ve heard of Snapchat, Uber, and Instagram? Of course, you have! Even those who prefer a no or low-digital existence can’t escape the constant chatter about these mega-companies with sky-high valuations. But did you know that they all started lives as MVPs? No, not most valuable players… they began their trek to industry domination using the minimum viable product method. What is MVP app development – and why is it the right answer for turning your idea into fully-functional reality?
5 Reasons Why You Need an MVP for Your Mobile App
Minimally viable product sounds… incomplete. It sounds like it’s missing features and functions. Yes. That is exactly the point of MVP app development. You identify the specific problem you want your app to address, and you build out only the core functionalities. Why? First, it fulfills that fundamental goal: it solves that basic problem.
Snapchat, for example, rolled out as a photo-sharing app that allowed users to set a time limit before their pictures would expire. (More on Snapchat later.)
The MVP app development process also allows solves a number of your problems as a business:
- It allows you to stay on schedule and on budget.
Some startups make the mistake of investing in a full-fledged, fully functional app right off the bat. It has all the bells and whistles they want – but it costs a lot and it takes a lot of time to develop. Worse, when it is ready to launch, it may not meet expectations. Worse, those expectations may now be obsolete. Consumer needs change rapidly, and it is essential that you keep up.
MVP allows you to do just that. It focuses on one core function, and that enables developers to work faster and more efficiently. You keep your budget and schedule on track. MVP app development is about agility.
- MVP is an invaluable learning tool.
We mentioned the harsh reality that many apps roll out with features that no one wants anymore. The opposite is true of MVP: they come equipped with the core functionality, and early adopters give you invaluable access to insights and opportunities. You can learn what they want and accommodate them much more quickly. Remember, MVP is about agility, and you’re ready to spring into the next step.
To use Snapchat as an example again: they acquired 1000 users in six months. All the while, they were accessing data and analytics, improving their products, testing… This allowed them to gradually add functionality that people really wanted. As of late 2020, Snapchat has over 249 million users and is an MVP (as in most valuable player) in the social media world.
- You maximize credibility.
Ready for some truth? Twenty-one percent of people drop a new app after just one use, and an astonishing 77 percent never use an app again just three days after installation. There are a variety of reasons for this, but one is problems with usage. An app may be buggy, slow, or have obsolete features, and rather than wasting their time, they just delete it and move on.
A lean, mean MVP app minimizes functionality (at first) but maximizes credibility. Everything works as it should; it’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s solid. It solves a need, and with strategic roll-outs of new features, it will continue to do so.
- Stay ahead of your competitors.
MVP app development sharpens your competitive edge. Not only do you have a great idea, you can bring it to market faster than those taking the traditional approach. This gives you an opportunity to win customer loyalty and affinity – and continue to please them as you roll out key features that they want and need. All without glitches, buggy behaviors, or slow speeds.
- Get going.
Launching a minimally viable product on an accelerated timeline allows you to scale up from there. But in the meantime, you’re attracting customers and building that fan base. Uber, for example, started as an aggregator service for drivers. From there, it added services for riders, multiple payment options, pool services, etc. Instead of waiting and coming out with a feature-rich app (which may or may not be relevant at this point), you can offer your customer the service they need now while working on adding the functionality they want next.
So… let’s get going. Contact MVP.dev to bring your app idea to life. It’ll be a lean, mean, customer-pleasing machine – and you can build easily and cost-effectively from there.
