The Cheesecake Labs’ secret to success<\/h2>\n
Fewer than 0.01%<\/a> of apps succeed upon launch. A failed app doesn\u2019t just hurt the ego. It amounts to countless hours of wasted work, budgets stretched to breaking point and a lack of confidence from current and future investors.<\/p>\n At Cheesecake Labs, we strive to build that 0.01%. We\u2019ve designed a three-phase methodology for successful app development: product definition, product design<\/a> and product development<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our process ensures the final product not only meets the business, market and user needs, but that it\u2019s the best possible use of your resources. It\u2019s also achieved in total collaboration. We like to think of ourselves as the digital product experts, but you\u2019re the spokesperson for your business. By working together, we\u2019ll make a success of your mobile app idea.<\/p>\n In this article, we\u2019ll tell you everything you need to know about Phase 1: Product Definition. We\u2019ll look at why it\u2019s essential to pause and explore the opportunities before you start building. We\u2019ll also outline what\u2019s involved in this early stage of app development and what you \u2014 as a client \u2014 can expect to get out of it. The Product Definition<\/a> phase can be summed up in one simple question: \u201cwhat are you going to build?\u201d.<\/p>\n Without a clear product definition, you\u2019re guiding a ship through the fog without a lighthouse. You may \u2014 with luck \u2014 end up where you wanted to be. But chances are you\u2019ll sink.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why we champion the Product Definition stage with every client who comes to us in the early days of their mobile app development. Some other clients may be more evolved in their thinking \u2014 they already know how their app will benefit users\u2019 lives and what form their app should take. Those clients need hands on deck to facilitate the build and that\u2019s why they come to us. But there are a number of clients, in our experience, who aren\u2019t nearly at that stage at all.<\/p>\n Other agencies may be chomping at the bit to sign a contract and get building, no matter whether the client is ready, but we\u2019re not. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n There\u2019s no shortage of ways to waste money in the early stages of app development \u2014 especially if you push ahead without a plan. Building features for feature\u2019s sake creates a lot of unnecessary overhead. Setting unrealistic go-live dates may drain your funds (and team) entirely. That\u2019s not how we do things.<\/p>\n By incorporating the Product Definition phase into our early conversations, we are able to give realistic estimates and a well-defined roadmap before a Statement of Work for design and development is agreed. The Product Definition phase is also costed separately to the rest of the development process. If the app idea isn\u2019t a go-er at this stage, nothing\u2019s really lost. In fact, you\u2019ve likely saved yourself a lot of time and money. Either way, you\u2019ll have a fantastic body of insights to help hone your thinking and ideate again. Go or no-go, this phase mitigates risk.<\/p>\n Your app needs users. That\u2019s why one of our core objectives in the Product Definition phase is to understand how and why a customer would engage with your idea.<\/p>\n Again, it\u2019s better to know now whether you\u2019ll have traction or not. By taking the time to explore whether users really need your app before costs start adding up, you\u2019ll be able to progress with confidence \u2014 you\u2019ll be building with the user in mind, right from the start.<\/p>\n Collaboration is key when building a digital product. You\u2019ll want your internal teams aligned on what needs doing and when, and you\u2019ll want any investors or additional stakeholders to support your idea as well.<\/p>\n The Product Definition phase helps facilitate that buy-in. Proof of concept acts as a crucial motivator for your teams, while the roadmap provides a structured approach for the weeks and months ahead. Any extra funding required should be easier to obtain too, as backers will know what they\u2019re funding and why it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n The short answer here is \u201cno\u201d.<\/p>\n Some clients come to us having already done this thinking. They understand the opportunity, have validated their space in the market and are ready to go. But these clients are more often in the minority. Most companies aren\u2019t at that stage, even if they think they are.<\/p>\n That said, if you come to us with confidence and have enough evidence to move forward, we can skip straight to the next step: Stage #2: Product Design.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to remember that there\u2019s no \u201cone-size-fits-all” solution to defining your digital products. Cheesecake Labs isn\u2019t here to take over your process, we\u2019re here to collaborate and offer unique solutions tailored for every client\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n From a top-level approach though, there are the four main steps for Product Definition. And at every step of the process, you\u2019ll be working with senior members of the Cheesecake Labs team \u2014 a Product Manager, Project Manager, Tech Lead and a Lead Designer:<\/p>\n Your leadership team will have a lot of valuable intel to help steer the Product Definition process. That\u2019s why we interview the key stakeholders, to better understand your business mission.<\/p>\n The best digital products reinforce your brand values and vision \u2014 taking the time to hear from your team will help us understand how that can be achieved.<\/p>\n Next, we\u2019ll look at what the market needs and explore what your competitors are doing, or more importantly, aren\u2019t doing in this space. If there\u2019s a gap in the market, how can we \u2014 as a team \u2014 capitalize on it? That\u2019s what we\u2019ll capture in your benchmarking and competitors’ feature matrix.<\/p>\n Market analysis isn\u2019t just about your competitors though. Your ideal customer is a deciding factor too. What issues are your customers facing \u2014 and how can you solve them? Are potential customers using other digital products to fill this need today? If so, how can you steal them away?<\/p>\n These crucial insights will feed into your product idea and help it thrive when it hits the market. We\u2019ll help you explore the market opportunities you have and then decide on an app that speaks to that need \u2014 not the other way around.<\/p>\n Our years of experience make us pretty quick at spotting tech with usability issues. But we also need to make sure that your app is technically possible to build.<\/p>\n It\u2019s in this validation process that we\u2019ll begin to map out the frontend and backend of your app idea. How will it work? What integrations may be needed? We don\u2019t want to get bogged down in the details just yet, but there\u2019s also due diligence required before the idea takes shape.<\/p>\n The final step of Product Definition: putting (proverbial) pen to paper.<\/p>\n This is where we lay down the foundations for future development. Having collected all the necessary information, we can build a realistic roadmap<\/strong> for the development process. The roadmap will include time management and financial estimates<\/a><\/strong>, allowing you to gauge if the product will be viable with your budget, or if adjustments need to be made. We can work with a set-in-stone budget, designing within those constraints, or we can plan more iteratively \u2014 whichever works for you.<\/p>\n A customer journey map<\/strong> is produced to illustrate the target customer\u2019s interactions with your app \u2014 conveying the need for your digital solution in their lives. The map will also identify potential problems that may hamper customer engagement to ensure the development stays customer-focused.<\/p>\n Lastly, we\u2019ll also produce some exploratory wireframes<\/strong> and a user navigation flow<\/strong>, so everyone can get a feel for what the product will become. Think of this as an early prototype, showcasing key features, UI design ideas and how customers could interact with the product when it\u2019s live (UX).<\/p>\n Below you can navigate the\u00a0full prototype<\/a>\u00a0that we created for FindHeli on InVisionApp.<\/p>\n Remember that on the Product Definition phase we will not deliver that complete prototype, but:<\/p>\n The definition phase should take 4-6 weeks and will set you up for successful design, development and \u2014 ultimately \u2014 launch date too. We\u2019ll keep the lines of communication open with you throughout; our job is only done when you\u2019ve got everything you need.<\/p>\n Cheesecake Labs<\/a> has been bringing unique digital products to life for almost a decade and every single product was created upon the same foundation of collaboration, integrity and care.<\/p>\n We are passionate about product definition<\/a> and understand how vital the process is for apps and other digital products like. Let us bring clarity to your vision. Get in touch with the team today<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nPhase 1: Product Definition \u2013 3 key benefits<\/h2>\n
Product Definition is the smart way to start a project<\/h3>\n
User-centric design demands Product Definition<\/h3>\n
Product Definition aligns the whole team<\/h3>\n
Does every Cheesecake Labs project have to include Product Definition?<\/h2>\n
What to expect from the Product Definition stage<\/h2>\n
Research the business<\/h3>\n
Research the market<\/h3>\n
Validate the tech<\/h3>\n
Deliver the Definition<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ckl-website-static.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/findheli-figma-prototype.png\" "\\"Prototype")
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Are you ready to define your opportunity?<\/h2>\n