The mobile app development process starts with the creation of a product roadmap. A roadmap is a strategic guide that outlines the direction, goals, and features of your mobile app.
“Roadmaps are evidence of strategy. Not a list of features”. – Steve Johnson
While it’s intuitive to get your mobile app out in the market as soon as possible, mobile app startups must take their time to create a product roadmap for long-term success. This mobile app roadmap is very beneficial for the mobile app development company you hire, as it tells them your exact requirements.
Mobile App Product Roadmap Development Steps
Here are the essential steps to creating an effective product roadmap for your mobile app:
Define Your App’s Vision and Objectives
You’ve got to jot down the vision for your app in a document in an organized way. Here are the questions you need to answer:
- What problem does the app solve?
- Who is your target audience?
- What value will it provide to users?
This will help you set the tone for the entire roadmap, allowing you to invest your resources in the right places.
Understand Your Target Group & Competitors
It’s your target group that’s going to download your app, so you must ensure that your app is curated to meet their requirements. For this, you have to understand their preferences, behaviors, and pain points. Create multiple user personas for your ideal customers. Define their characteristics in exact detail.
Conduct thorough market research to understand your competitors and find gaps that your app can fill. These insights will help you select the right features for your app.
Create a List of Features
Brainstorm a list of potential features to enhance your app’s user experience based on the app’s objectives and audience research. Be creative and don’t hold back. Your goal is to gather as many ideas as possible.
Understand that not all features are created equal. Use techniques like the MoSCoW method (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won’t-have) or the RICE scoring model (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) to prioritize your list of features.
Align with Business Goals
A successful mobile app development isn’t just about the features; it should align with your business goals. Whether your objectives are to increase revenue, boost user engagement, or enhance brand visibility, ensure that your product roadmap supports these goals.
Every feature of your app should contribute to your overall business strategy. Aim for a balance between core functionality and innovative features. Core features are essential for your app’s basic operation, while innovative features can set your app apart from the competition. Once you strike this balance, it’ll ensure that your app meets users’ expectations while surprising them with unique offerings.
Set Realistic Timelines
Estimate timeframes for the development of each of your prioritized features. You’ve got to figure this out based on the complexity of each feature. Break down the tasks and activities needed to complete the features. This could include design, development, testing, and deployment. It will make your mobile app development process more manageable, giving your team a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
This timeline will be altered by the mobile app development company you hire, but it is good to have a reference point.
Document Assumptions and Risks
Assumptions and risks are critical parts of mobile app product roadmap development. By analyzing potential risks beforehand, you’ll be well prepared to address them as they arise. Especially address the third party dependencies of your app and the risks associated with them.
Once you’ve documented all the risks, note down the ways you plan to mitigate them. These might involve contingency plans, alternative approaches, or steps to reduce the impact of potential risks.
Use a Visual Format
A visual representation of your mobile app developers product roadmap will help you present your plan more effectively. You can use tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira to create visual roadmaps that can be easily shared with your mobile app development company.
Plan for Updates and Enhancements
The launch of the app is just the beginning of your app’s journey. Every app requires timely updates to stay in touch with the latest market trends. Successful apps are the ones that evolve with updates and enhancements. Your product roadmap should account for future releases, including new features, bug fixes, and optimizations.
You must plan ahead for these updates to keep your app fresh and competitive in the market.
Mobile App Product Roadmap Example
Creating a product roadmap serves as a foundation for the development journey. It’s one of the documents you can share with a mobile app development company to provide them with a point of reference. Remember, flexibility and adaptability are key as you navigate the ever-changing mobile app landscape.
Here is an example of a product roadmap for an Edutech mobile app.
| Year: 2023 |
|---|
| Quarter 1: January – March |
|---|
| 1. Define App Vision and Objectives |
| 2. User Research and Persona Development |
| 3. Initial Feature Set |
| 4. Align with Business Goals |
| Quarter 2: April – June |
|---|
| 1. User Feedback Integration |
| 2. Course Enrollment and Progress Tracking |
| 3. Expanded Content Library |
| 4. Social Features Integration |
| 5. Mobile App Performance Optimization |
| Quarter 3: July – September |
|---|
| 1. Monetization Strategy Implementation |
| 2. Gamification Elements |
| 3. Live Virtual Classes |
| 4. Mobile App Marketing |
| Quarter 4: October – December |
|---|
| 1. Advanced Analytics |
| 2. Enhanced Content Creation Tools |
| 3. Integration with Learning Management Systems |
| 4. International Expansion |
Get Your App Developed by WDI
Once you create a product roadmap for your mobile app, share it with WDI. Our mobile app developers can build a mobile app that ticks all the right boxes for your business requirements. For the past two decades, we’ve guided hundreds of startups to achieve their objectives. Our technical expertise expands to all application development frameworks and advanced AI/ML algorithms.
Talk to us today and let our business analysts start working on refining your app concept without any delay.
