How do you turn an idea into a commercially viable product? From development to product launch, there are many questions that companies must answer.
Defining Your Product
Purpose
The first step is to understand whether your product has a significant impact to be understood, conceptualized, and needed.
- Who will be involved in defining your product?
- What is the problem you are trying to solve?
- Who is your end user?
- Does your end user have a real pain point or need for the product?
- How will your product address and capitalize on this need?
Documentation:
- Strategic Business Plan – Includes value and mission statements.
- Investor Proposal – Outlines the value of the product and helps conceptualize the plan.
Functionality
Remember that you might be disappointed once you start a prototype. Visualizing something and actually seeing it are two different things. These questions can help you decide whether to continue or change course.
- What are the functional requirements of the product?
- What are the technical constraints? (If your product needs Wi-Fi, what happens when your end-user is in an area where there is none?)
- What external technologies are needed?
- Are field trials or HFE needed?
- What are the regulatory requirements or standards for your product?
- What are the safety constraints?
Documentation:
- Product Documentation/Product Use
- Quality Management Systems
- FDA and Other Regulatory Documents
Differentiation
A successful product is one that stands out. Consider any commonalities between other products and your own, and then determine your product’s differentiator.
- Is your product truly one-of-a-kind?
- What are its assets and insufficiencies?
- What is the estimated lifespan of the product?
- What does the competitive landscape look like?
- What current and future technologies are people talking about?
Documentation:
- White Paper – Details product uniqueness and lifespan of the product.
- Case History – Speaks to the market trends, competitive landscape, product benefits, and other details of entering the market.
Launching Your Product
Strategic Planning
The big-picture questions are just as important as the more minor product details. Without well-reasoned, well-documented strategies, a new product launch can unravel.
- Do you have a strategic business plan?
- What is your business model?
- Where are you getting funding?
- What are the cost constraints?
- What is your assembly cost?
- What is your marketing cost?
Documentation:
- Compliance Documentation
- User/Operator Guides and Manuals
- Instructor-Led or Online Training Manuals
- Troubleshooting Guides
Sales & Service
Your sales and service teams are essential to product adoption and customer satisfaction. Documenting relevant processes ensures they are performed consistently and accurately, benefiting your employees as well as customers.
- What is your sales demographic?
- Who will sell the product? (Internal or external team?)
- Who will train your salespeople?
- Who will service your product? (Internal or external team?)
- Who will train your service technicians?
Documentation:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- Service Training
- Job Aids
- Instruction Manuals
- Product Manuals
- Quality Processes
- Workflows
- Case Studies
Contiem has helped many companies get their products successfully to market. Let us know how we can help you.