How to make a client happy using MVP

Save time, save money

We are all busy. We are all in a constant rush. The world is looking for quick, easy solutions to simplify our lives. Every day, we can download new applications that are supposed to think, remember or count for us. There is an app that reminds you about eating your meals or another one that counts how long you brush your teeth. The way the world runs forces us to abandon simple everyday activities so that we can keep up with everyone else. This same can be applied to most businesses today.

We all do our best to provide an excellent product as quickly as possible, and that is why we search for the best solutions. Luckily, Eric Ries, the inventor of the lean start-up, popularised the MVP method. This acronym details a blessing for us, the professionals, and our clients. How does it work?

Golden rules of MVP

MVP, meaning Minimum Viable Product, represents the absolute minimum value we can deliver that satisfies the client simultaneously. However, it should not be seen nor understood as a finished product but as a process of creating it. This process saves our time and our client’s money while ensuring that the product is good and delivered quickly. To do so, we need to follow a few simple rules.

1. It has to be as simple as possible. There is one question you should be asking yourself every five minutes, and it is: can I make it simpler? Forget everything you have ever read about design, abandon all the guidelines you were taught and eliminate all the fancy additions you are used to. Feel free to make it rough.

2. It has to be functional. If you believe the teeth brushing reminder is functional, stick to the first rule. Make a list of all the elements you think may be useful for your client, then cross out all that is not crucial. Remember that you will have the possibility to add some features later.

3. It has to be easy to understand. There is no point in spending hours creating a product that does not get across what your client needs, which is why you need to ensure your MVP is clearly stated. Those three combined will give you a Minimum Viable Product.

Most valuable product

There is a reason why some call MVP the most valuable product. It is surprisingly helpful for both professionals and clients. How does the client benefit from this method, then? It is, without doubt, a win-win situation as our client can enjoy the product much faster, having spent much less money than he would typically do. Receiving the product quicker allows him to get used to it, notice what it lacks and understand what he needs simultaneously. This will improve future cooperation. One of the most significant examples of the MVP that the whole world has shared is Dropbox.

The company, worth more than 8 billion USD, started with a simple video presentation explaining what their product would do. The building of the product itself did not begin before their beta waiting list hit 75,000 people. That way, they knew they could start working on the project, and the clients knew exactly what they would get.

Sadly, a thin line exists between seeing MVP as a product and a process. Many companies decide to work on MVP, spending months creating a product with no value and no potential client. Remember that Minimum Viable Product is not about chopping out half of the features or providing the product earlier than you were supposed to. Taking shortcuts is not making life more straightforward, as you may end up getting lost.