What is MVP and how to develop it

What is an MVP?

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This is a Minimum Viable Product, that is, a basic version that includes only the basic features necessary to check demand and get the first feedback from users.

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Its main goal is to provide an opportunity to test an idea quickly and at minimal cost and understand whether it is worth investing in further development. The MVP gives a clear idea of which features are important, which ones should be improved and which ones should be eliminated.

You can invest months or even years in development, spend a lot of money, but eventually find that people are not interested, and the market is already full of competitors. That's why MVP is a real way to avoid failure and launch a project wisely.

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The basic version helps to test the idea in practice and avoid wasting resources on functionality that may be unnecessary. Instead of building a castle in the sand, a startup gets the opportunity to test hypotheses, collect feedback and improve the product based on the real needs of the audience.

Without an MVP, a launch turns into a lottery: either the product will “shoot” or it will be scrapped. But why take the risk when you can test demand in advance, test key features, and create something that actually works? MVP is a chance to start consciously and with the prospect of success.

History has many examples of successful launches through MVP.

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• Dropbox, for example, I started with a simple video that demonstrated how the service works. The team was able to assess user interest before the product itself was created.

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• Airbnb I first tested the idea within one apartment, offering guests to rent inflatable mattresses to check whether this type of accommodation was in demand.

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• Uber launched a pilot version of the app that simply connected users with drivers, and all additional features appeared later.

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• Amazon started the business as an online bookstore to test the e-commerce model and then expanded the range to a wide range of products.

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• Spotify At the start, it offered limited access to music to test users' interest in the streaming model before expanding the library and functionality.

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• WhatsApp It was originally created for sharing statuses, but after receiving feedback from users, it transformed into the messenger as we know it today.

If you miss important ones MVP development stages, you may find that the product will be unnecessary or unable to compete in the market. To avoid this, let's look at the key steps of creating an MVP.
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Market immersion and data analysis

• Who are your customers: we determine the target audience
  The first step is to identify your target audience: who are your potential users, what are their pains, and what tasks do they want to solve with the product? The better you understand the audience, the more accurately you will be able to create a solution that will be in demand.
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• We deal with competitors: what is already on the market
  ‍See what solutions already exist and explore their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you avoid other people's mistakes and find ways to distinguish your product from its peers. Perhaps your idea has already been implemented, but it lacks a user-friendly interface, specific functionality, or a solution to a specific problem faced by customers.
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• ‍Why are you better than others: formulating a value proposition
  ‍Why would users choose your product? What is its main feature? Why is it better or more convenient than its competitors? Unique benefits are what will attract early adopters and keep them staying.

Defining functionality
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At this stage, you need to understand what features are needed to solve the user's main problem and which ones are a priority. Let's consider the main MVP development stagesthat will help you make the right choice.

• We highlight the main thing: what features are really needed
  ‍It is necessary to define a minimum set of features that will allow the product to solve the user's main problem. The goal is not to complicate the product, but to focus on the essence.
  
  Imagine you're building a task scheduling app. Key features can include creating a task, setting deadlines, and receiving notifications. The rest are additional features that can be added later.

• Prioritizing features: what matters first
  ‍Once you have decided on a set of functions, you need to set priorities. Some features are critical to the product's performance, others can be implemented later. The ranking method helps here: evaluate features by importance and complexity of implementation.
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  For example, going back to the task scheduling app, the ability to create tasks and receive notifications are high-priority features. And integration with the calendar or the ability to share tasks with the team may appear at the next stages.
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• ‍Designing the user journey: creating interaction scenarios
  ‍Now it's time to think about how people will interact with the app. Scenarios are a kind of route: from the first entrance to the completion of the main task.
  
  For example, a scenario for a scheduler might look like this: a person logs into the service, creates a task, sets a deadline, receives a reminder, and completes the task. The simpler and clearer the path, the better.
  
  Sophisticated interaction scenarios will help avoid confusion and make the product pleasant to use. This is especially important at the MVP stage, as people need to quickly understand how to use the product and what benefits it gives them.

To understand What is MVP in programming  initially, it's important not to try to cover everything at once. An MVP should only include features that are needed to initially test the hypothesis and attract early adopters.
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Prototyping and design
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At this stage, the appearance of the service is born and the user experience is formed.

• Creating the basis: interface layouts
  ‍Prototyping begins with creating interface layouts — it's like the skeleton of an application. Here it is important to develop a screen layout and platform structure that will help you easily and intuitively understand how to use the product.
  
  You can draw layouts by hand or use special tools: Figma or Sketch. The main thing is to clearly define the location of the elements: where the button will be, how the user will go to the next screen, and what actions are available at each stage.

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• Focus on the user: testing usability
  ‍After creating layouts, you need to test usability and navigation. Let potential customers try the prototype to see how easy it is for them to complete their main tasks.
  
  Pay attention to the little things: is it easy to find the information you need? Is the interface clear? Is it easy to navigate? Feedback will help you adjust the design and fix problems before final development.

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• The final touch: brand design
  ‍Let's move on to the final design. At this stage, it is important to design the service so that it reflects the brand and meets UX/UI requirements. The color scheme, fonts, icons, buttons — everything should be harmonious and support the overall concept of the product.
  
  The final design should not only be pleasing to the eye, but also maintain usability. A consistent and attractive design helps to build trust among users and strengthen the product's positioning on the market.

Development
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It's time for the most interesting thing — development.
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What is an MVP in development? The stage when the product comes to life and turns from an idea into a working tool.

• Logic and interface programming
  The first step in development is to create a server and a client side. The server side is responsible for processing data, executing business logic and interacting with external services, while the client side is the interface that users will interact with.
  
  In simple terms, the server is the brain of the application, where all calculations take place and information is stored, and the client side is the face of the product that the user sees. For example, if you are creating a taxi booking platform, the server side will process requests, store data about drivers and users, and the client side will display a map and buttons for booking a ride.
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It's important not to try to complicate the code or implement all features at once. Remember that the goal of an MVP is to quickly test an idea at minimal cost.
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• Service integration: adding important features
  ‍At the development stage, it is important to connect third-party services: payment systems, cards, notifications and other features that are critical to the product's performance.
  
  For example, if an MVP includes the ability to pay for goods or services, integrating a payment system is a mandatory step. If the product has geolocation or maps, you need to enable appropriate APIs, such as Google Maps or Yandex.Maps.

• Preparing for testing
  Before transferring the service to testers, you need to make sure that the main functions are working correctly and that there are no critical errors. This stage includes fixing obvious bugs, checking the stability of the server, the correct display of the interface, and the main use cases.
  
  The goal is to make sure that the platform doesn't “crash” during standard use. A thorough review at this stage will save time and effort in the future when you are preparing to launch a full version of the product.

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Testing
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This is where key features are checked, bugs are fixed and performance is optimized.

• We check the performance
  When the service is ready, it's important to ensure that all features work as intended. At this stage, every feature is tested: from registering a user to paying for an order or sending notifications.
  
  Testing can be manual, when a team checks functions manually, or automated, when special tools are used. For example, if you have a restaurant booking app, it's important to check the ability to find restaurants, make reservations, get confirmation, and pay smoothly.
  
  Don't be afraid to involve real users in testing. Their feedback will help identify issues that may go unnoticed during the development process.

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• Fixing bugs: bug fixes
  After testing, bugs will inevitably appear. This is normal! Your task is to fix them promptly. There are various kinds of errors: minor visual crashes and critical errors that can cause the application to stop working.
  
  It is important to fix and fix bugs as they are discovered so as not to overwhelm the team with fixing all errors at the same time.
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• ‍Doing Better: Optimizing Performance and Usability
  ‍Once the bugs are fixed, it's time to perfect the product. Optimization includes improved performance and usability. Performance is important: the service should load quickly, not “freeze” or drain the device's battery.
  
  Analyze how convenient it is for the user to perform tasks. It might be worth making it easier to navigate or improve the design.

Launching and collecting feedback

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Congratulations! The MVP is ready, tested and optimized. Now it's time to take the last step — launching the product and collecting feedback.

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Publish an app
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‍The first step after development is complete is publishing.
If the product is designed for mobile devices, you can place it on the App Store or Google Play. Cloud services or your own server are suitable for web applications. It's important to choose a platform that fits your target audience.
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If the platform isn't ready to be put in stores yet, or you'd like to test the idea first on a limited group of people, you can provide access through beta testing or use special platforms like TestFlight or Google Play Beta.
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At this stage, it is important to make sure that the service is stable, easy to install and start using.

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Marketing support

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‍A product launch is a great opportunity to talk about yourself. Even if you're on a tight budget, it's important to consider a promotion strategy.

Use social media, create a product page, launch targeted ads, or reach out to bloggers in your niche.
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Marketing support will not only help you attract your first users, but also collect important feedback. Tell your audience about the problem the service is solving and why it can change their lives for the better.
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Don't forget about word of mouth — ask first users to tell friends about the app. Personal recommendations work like magic!
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Collecting and analyzing feedback: listening to users
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‍After launch, the most important part of the work begins — collecting feedback. This is a key point for any MVP because their goal is to test the idea and get feedback.
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Monitor reviews in service stores, communicate with users on social media, and monitor people's behavior through Google Analytics or Firebase. Pay attention to the metrics: how many users have completed registration, what features are used most often, and where difficulties arise.
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It is important not only to collect feedback, but also to analyze it. People can point out problems that weren't identified during the testing phase or suggest improvements that will make the product better. Update the platform regularly, fix bugs, and add useful features based on feedback.
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Starting and collecting feedback is not the end, but the beginning of a journey. This stage helps you not only enter the market, but also gain valuable insights for further product development.

Improvement and scaling
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And so, MVP has been successfully launched, users leave feedback, and you get the first results. Now it's time to improve and scale product.

• Evaluating data: how to understand what works and what doesn't
  ‍And the first step in improving it is a thorough analysis of the data collected after launch. Reviews, service behavior, usage metrics — all this information becomes the main source of truth.
  
  See what features they use most, where people are struggling, and what feedback they provide. If the app is slow or users lose interest after a certain stage, this is a signal to action. Data analysis will help you make informed decisions about which features need to be improved and which ones should remain unchanged.

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• Empowering: Adding the features you need
  ‍Adding new features will help the product stay competitive and meet expectations. For example, if you have a food delivery platform, customers may request the ability to track an order in real time or plan orders in advance. By fulfilling such wishes, you not only improve the experience, but also strengthen customer loyalty.

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• Process optimization: we improve performance and safety.
  ‍The improvement is not limited to adding new features. It is also important to work on what we already have: optimize performance, improve security, and improve the interface. Fast application response times, reliable data protection, and ease of use are what is appreciated.
  
  Make sure that the servers are up to the current load, that pages load without delay, and that the interface remains intuitive and easy to use. Security is especially important if the service deals with personal data or finances. Test your security regularly and update your protection.

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• Getting ready for growth: scaling the application. Scaling is the process of preparing an application for growth: increasing the number of users and entering new markets.
  
  First of all, you need to make sure that the architecture is able to withstand the increased load. This may require improving server infrastructure, optimizing code, or moving to more powerful cloud solutions.
  
  It is also important to adapt the product to new markets: translate the interface into other languages, take into account the cultural characteristics of users and customize marketing campaigns in accordance with local characteristics.

Today we have dismantled what is a project MVP and what role it plays in any launch.

This is a great opportunity to test an idea in practice, minimize risks and save resources. In addition, MVP helps you quickly get feedback from users, adjust the development course, and move confidently towards success.
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Each project is unique, and Beetrail we know how to turn your idea into a working product. We take care of the entire development cycle — from analysis and prototyping to technical support. You don't have to worry about complications — we'll do everything for you.
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Tell us about your idea and we'll help you make it happen.

Fill in the application form right now and take the first step towards the successful launch of your product!