MVP vs POC vs Prototype, In the beginning, every business wants to tread a clear path from the idea to a final product. However, at the very initial you can come across technical terms like what is MVP? What are the POC and Prototype? The terms seem changeable but you want to ponder on. To approach the best mobile application development, you should know the underlying differences between these terms. Understanding the details of these three methods of mobile application validation will help your business in gaining investors’ trust.
Amplework has been working with startups of different industries and we have a good idea about MVP vs POC vs Prototype. If you are not able to decide what strategy you should adopt, we are going to help you with this guide.
What is the MVP?
If you have gone through our latest article about MVP, you must understand about the MVP. An MVP is a procedure in which initially the mobile app comes with essential features that are required to go live, and find out whether the user wants an updated and more sophisticated version of this app with additional features. It is a standalone version of a mobile app. The MVP Development functionalities tell the user the main feature & functionality, and purpose of the app. After getting feedback from the users, the developers work in introducing other features and eliminating those which the customers find uninteresting or unnecessary.
An MVP version will help in identifying the feasibility of your app, assumptions about the application, and the usability demand in the market. An MVP helps you in getting the true and ultimate feedback of the application from the right users. Thereafter, you can allocate your resources, time, effort, and budget to those implications which can satisfy your business objectives.
The features of an MVP are:
- Greater Development Readiness
- App development comes with better quality through continuous feedback from the users.
- High retention within the minimal investment
- Prevents wastage of time and money
What is POC (Proof of Concept)?
POC, as the name signifies, is a method that validates the feasibility and idea of your mobile app concept. It introduces while initiating the development process of your mobile application. Almost every entrepreneur with an idea believes that his idea will definitely work in the real world. But if that would be true every third person would be Steve Jobs. A POC tests the idea and helps to come up with the best version of your app, in return saving time and money. It can also convince your investors to invest in your app. However, if you are working with an idea that has been already proven, then no POC is required. It is not generally shown to the public or customers for the main idea behind it, but just for checking out whether the idea is workable or not.
The features of a POC are:
- Identifies feasibility & the potential of the idea
- A cost & time-effective way to validate features
- Showcase risks & errors at the beginning stage
- You can get a clear yes/no at the initial stage of the project
Prototype
Prototype term you must have encountered one, probably in a different context. The prototype in a mobile application development process identifies the flow of design and screens in the app. It helps in knowing how the product look and feel will, and how the customer will react to its UX and UI. A prototype allows you to make all necessary changes in the app before it reaches the development stage and it becomes too late plus expensive for making any changes to the UX.
It validates the early concept and gives you the opportunity to explore new ideas for the development process. User testing can help identify possible improvements to make before the product is complete. It also helps in saving your costs in the long-run. Obviously, it is less expensive to make changes at the beginning rather than towards the end.
You can also involve your investors to ensure research makes the most impact. They can collect all information about your project strategy and direction. Working with the right people establishes support and secures funding for the time and resources for each necessary design iteration.
It can also validate the user experience. Running a prototype through a user test is one of the most effective ways to validate usability and UX.
The features of a prototype are:
- Get early feedback on the application
- You can identify the mistakes in design & development
- The complex ideas get simplifies into an understandable format
- Business owners can validate the flow of the application
Which approach is best for you?
The above-mentioned methods are having their own USPs and efficient ways to validate your app idea. But if you are finding which is the best among the three, then the question is itself wrong. There can be different scenarios. If you are in the idea validation stage that you should first go through POC then Prototype and then MVP.
However, if you have already entered the idea validation stage then you need to make a choice between an MVP vs POC vs Prototype. Then you need to choose MVP if you have to show your customers a working app, and the app should be ready to be used by the world.
If you require a seed-funding and check how the idea works, then you require POC. The prototype is best when you require visualization of how the app would function.
At Amplework, we are having the expertise in mobile application development with the right approach. We are having expert consultants who will help you in finding out the right method and then best mobile app development services, meeting your custom requirements.
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