A successful product requires careful planning and investment. Without proper research, product managers risk creating something that fails to meet customer needs. The product discovery process is key to ensuring the product is aligned with customer needs and has a higher chance of success. It involves researching the market, customer interviews, prototyping, and testing to validate and refine the product idea. Investing in product discovery reduces the risk of product failure and increases the chances of success by building products that meet customer needs.

This blog will walk you through the product discovery process in mobile app development and help you build useful and successful products.

Table of Content

1. What is Product Discovery in mobile app development?

2. What are the common phases of Product Discovery?

3. Does every mobile app need a Product Discovery phase?

4. Benefits of Product Discovery 

What is Product Discovery in mobile app development 

Product discovery is a crucial part of the mobile app development process. It is the process of understanding what the customer needs and then designing a mobile app that meets those needs. The product discovery process is part of the overall product design process and involves understanding the customer’s needs, researching the competition, and exploring the possibilities for the product. 
 

The product discovery process is an important part of the mobile app development process. It is essential to understand the customer’s needs, research the competition, and explore the possibilities for the product. This process helps to create a product that is both competitive and meets the customer’s needs.

Product Discovery Phases 

Product discovery typically involves several phases, which may vary in detail depending on the company or organisation. However, the following are common phases that are typically part of a product discovery process:

1. Problem definition: 

This is the first phase of product discovery and involves identifying the problem or need that the product will address. The team should gather information from various sources, including customer feedback, market research, and industry trends, to understand the nature of the problem and the target market's needs.
 

2. Ideation: 

In this phase, the team generates ideas for solving the problem and identifies potential solutions. This can involve brainstorming sessions, customer interviews, and market research.
 

3. Prototyping: 

In this phase, the team creates prototypes of the product to test and validate the solution. This can be a physical prototype, a wireframe, or a clickable prototype, depending on the nature of the product.
 

4. Testing: 

In this phase, the team tests the prototypes with small groups of potential customers to gather feedback and validate the solution. This feedback can help the team refine the product and make adjustments based on customer feedback.
 

5. Validation: 

In this phase, the team validates that the solution meets the needs of the target market and that there is a viable business case for the product. This may involve further market research and customer feedback, as well as financial analysis and market sizing.

6. Prioritisation: 

Based on the results of the validation phase, the team prioritises the features and functionality that are most important to the target market and decides which should be included in the final product.

7. Go-to-market planning: 

In this final phase, the team develops a go-to-market plan, which includes the launch strategy, marketing and sales plans, and any necessary partnerships. 

Does every mobile app need a Product Discovery phase?

Having realised about the 1:10:100 rule, skipping the crucial Product Discovery stage is NOT a good idea. While it would be tempting to get right into the development process, doing so raises the possibility of running into unforeseen issues and failures. The long-term success of your product can be increased by taking the time to execute a thorough Product Discovery process.
 

Would you, however, leave your app's success down to certain luck, keeping in mind that going with your instincts could end up costing you a profit? It could be discouraging to learn, during or after development, that your product's features need to be upgraded, that Flutter does not work well with the app's design, or that your competitors delivered more appealing goods sooner.

As a successful Business or Product Owner, the idea of working with a cross-functional team to develop a Product Strategy might not be appealing to you. However, incorporating various perspectives, such as those from a business, technical, social, and economic standpoint, can broaden your vision and provide a more forgiving environment for testing compared to the harsh market conditions and customer feedback.

Undoubtedly, conducting Product Discovery is always beneficial. But is it always necessary? If you already have a solid understanding of your product and a dependable Product Vision and Strategy in place, you can proceed with development and manage your Product Backlog. 

Benefits of Product Discovery 

Product discovery provides several benefits to businesses and organisations that are considering developing a new product. Some of the key benefits include:

Reduced risk: 

By conducting product discovery before fully committing to product development, businesses can reduce the risk of developing a product that doesn't meet market demand or customer needs.
 

Increased focus: 

Product discovery helps businesses focus their efforts and resources on the most promising product ideas, rather than wasting time and resources on ideas that are unlikely to be successful.
 

Better alignment with customer needs: 

Through the process of customer research and validation, product discovery helps businesses gain a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of their target market, allowing them to align their product development efforts with the needs of their customers.

Improved product design: 

Product discovery can help businesses design products that are more likely to be successful by incorporating the feedback and insights gained from customer research into the product design.

Faster time to market: 

By conducting product discovery early in the product development process, businesses can identify and address potential problems early on, which can help them get their product to market faster.

Cost savings: 

By identifying and addressing potential problems early in the product development process, product discovery can help businesses save time and money by reducing the need for costly rework or redesigns later on.

Product Discovery techniques 

Product Discovery is a complex process that involves multiple techniques. In recent years, Design Thinking has emerged as a popular approach to product discovery, bringing together the best practices of human-centered design. 

This technique follows a five-step process:

Empathy: Understanding the needs and challenges of your users through research and observation.
 

1. Definition: Clearly articulating the problems and needs of your users.

1. Ideation: Generating creative and innovative solutions by challenging assumptions and exploring new ideas.

1. Prototyping: Developing a tangible representation of your ideas to test and refine them.
    
2. Testing: Validating your solutions by gathering feedback and making iterations based on the results.

By following this process, teams can achieve a deeper understanding of their users and develop better products that meet their needs.

While Design Thinking is a powerful technique for product discovery, there are other approaches that may be beneficial to your business. Consider experimenting with a combination of the following techniques to find the best fit for your unique needs:

Jobs-to-be-done

Objectives and Key Results (OKR)

RAT (Riskiest Assumptions Test)

Inception

Impact mapping

Event Storming

Domain Storytelling

Don't be afraid to try new techniques and approach product discovery with an experimental mindset. By doing so, you'll be able to find the best methods for bringing your vision to life.

In summary, product discovery is a valuable tool for businesses that want to develop new products that are aligned with customer needs and are more likely to be successful in the market.
 

So never give up on Discovering!

At CreativeHub, we understand the importance of a well-designed mobile app in today's digital landscape. That's why we're here to offer our expertise in Mobile App Development services. Our team is dedicated to helping you bring your vision to life and create an app that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. Let's work together to bring your ideas to life!