What is a Minimum Viable Feature?
In digital product development, a Minimum Viable Feature (MVF) is a new feature’s smallest, simplest version that can be developed fast with minimal resources. It brings clear value to users and helps the team gather the maximum amount of validated learning about customers.
You should continue designing and developing the final set of features after considering feedback from the product’s MVF. This approach helps avoid building features that customers do not want and helps ensure that the feature meets customer needs with minimal initial development effort.
While an MVP comprises the bare essentials for product viability, an MVF takes a more granular approach. It represents the smallest unit of functionality that delivers tangible value to users, embodying the essence of your product.
Consider this analogy to distinguish between an MVP and an MVF: If an MVP is the book’s rough draft, an MVF is a single chapter that describes the main storyline.
Your MVF should encapsulate the essential features for user engagement, offering a sneak peek into the broader product.
Understanding MVFs allows you to identify critical features that make a product functional and distinguish it from competitors. Specifically, an MVF approach can enhance your product development in two significant ways:
First, it ensures efficient use of your resources by focusing on developing essential features, thus avoiding waste on unnecessary functionalities.
Second, by releasing the product early to a select group of users, you gain invaluable feedback that can guide further development.
This iterative process results in a product optimally tailored to customer needs, enhancing its market appeal and success rate.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the benefits that MVFs bring to the forefront.
Why Should You Plan Your MVF?
Planning your Minimum Viable Features (MVF) is an essential step in your product development journey, and here’s why. This strategy suggests building a product by progressively enhancing its features based on user feedback and market demands, rather than launching a full-featured product at once.
Market Validation
Planning your MVFs ensures that your product directly addresses the most pressing needs of your audience and helps validate your product idea.
Consider that you plan to launch a new task management app specifically tailored for product managers. Instead of overwhelming users with a multitude of features, you can strategize MVFs that provide the core needs of your target audience.
The essential functionalities include task creation, setting due dates, and reminders, which are crucial for project timeline management. You might also prioritize features such as collaborative tools for team interaction and feedback collection, which are vital for product managers.
Yet, you can postpone less critical features like advanced reporting or integration with other software for later iterations. So you can focus on delivering a robust, user-friendly tool that meets the immediate needs of product managers.
This focused approach validates the market need for a task management tool for product managers.
Efficient Resource Utilization
Concentrating on core features avoids unnecessary development costs and time investments.
For example, MVFs of an e-commerce platform could include a simplified product catalog, secure checkout process, and basic user profiles.
This approach optimizes resource utilization, ensuring that your platform is functional and user-friendly without unnecessary complexities.
Early User Feedback
Planning MVFs allows you to release a functional product quickly and gather valuable feedback from early users. Valuing feedback contributes to the process of refining your product based on real-world usage.
For example, a social networking app might prioritize MVFs such as user profiles, posting capabilities, and basic interaction features. Launching with these essentials allows the development team to collect user feedback on core functionalities, shaping subsequent iterations.
Iterative Development
MVF planning aligns with an iterative development approach. Focusing on essential features first creates a foundation for continuous improvement based on user input.
A project management tool might begin with MVFs such as task creation, collaboration, and file sharing. Iterative development can introduce advanced features like project timelines and reporting based on user feedback.
Reduced Time-to-Market
Planning MVFs lets you launch your product faster. This accelerated timeline will help you react to market changes and shifts in consumer demand faster than your competitors.
An event management app could prioritize MVFs such as event creation, ticketing, and attendee management. A swift release with these core features allows the app to enter the market quickly, capturing the attention of event organizers and attendees.
Enhanced User Experience
Focusing on MVFs ensures that your product delivers a seamless and user-friendly experience. This emphasis on usability contributes to positive user interactions and satisfaction.
For instance, a navigation app might prioritize MVFs such as real-time directions, map views, and search functionality. A straightforward and practical user experience in these critical areas enhances the app’s overall value.
No matter the size of your company or startup, planning your MVFs is a strategic move that positions your product for success. By planning multiple aspects of your MVFs, you pave the way for a product that meets and exceeds expectations.
What MVFs Should Your Product Have?
In creating a new product, consider Minimum Viable Features (MVF) as the absolute must-haves that make your product work. Let’s break down what defining MVFs means in simpler terms.
A strategic approach is crucial when selecting Minimum Viable Features (MVF) for your product. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose MVFs wisely:
Step 1: Define Your Product Vision
Clearly articulate the overarching vision and purpose of your product. The product vision sets the foundation for identifying MVFs. Understand the primary problem your product solves and the value it aims to deliver to users.
For instance, if you plan to create a fitness app, your product vision might be “to make fitness accessible for everyone and tailored for specific needs.” This vision will guide the identification of your MVFs, such as personalized workout plans, tracking progress, and nutritional advice.
Step 2: Understand User Needs
User needs should drive MVF selection. Conduct comprehensive user research to identify and understand your target audience’s needs and pain points.
Through research, gather insights into what features are most crucial for users and align with their expectations.
In the case of the fitness app, user research might reveal that users prioritize features like a wide variety of exercises, easy-to-follow instructions, and compatibility with wearable devices.
Step 3: Prioritize Features
Not all features are equal while developing your product. Some are more important based on their impact on solving the core problem and meeting user needs. Evaluate the significance of each feature in achieving your product’s primary objectives.
Among the features identified in the fitness app example, personalized workout plans and progress tracking may be critical to your users. So, you should prioritize these features as your MVFs.
Step 4: Consider Technical Feasibility
You need to analyze the technical feasibility of implementing each feature within the desired timeline and budget. Ensure that your chosen features are feasible to develop and will avoid significant delays or resource constraints.
Back to our example of a fitness app, you need to assess whether it’s technically feasible to incorporate personalization and tracking features within the desired timeline and budget. If not, you should revise your MVFs or use more resources.
Step 5: Align with Business Goals
Ensure that your MVFs align with your business goals and objectives. MVFs should contribute directly to the success of the business. Aligning them with overarching goals ensures a cohesive and purposeful development strategy.
If your business goal is to quickly attract a broad user base, offering a variety of exercises for different fitness levels could be an MVF that aligns with this goal regarding the fitness app.
Step 6: Evaluate Market Trends
Markets evolve, and user expectations change. So, you should keep up with the market trends and competitors to ensure your MVFs remain relevant. Regularly assess market trends to adjust your MVFs and stay competitive.
For instance, if there’s a growing mindfulness and mental health trend, you may add a meditation or wellness feature in your fitness app could be a relevant MVF.
Step 7: Seek Input from Stakeholders
Gather input from key stakeholders, including team members, investors, and potential users. A diverse range of perspectives can provide valuable insights. Engage stakeholders to refine and validate your MVF choices.
Regarding our example, you might gather feedback from fitness trainers (team members), investors with insights into the fitness industry, and potential users.
Step 8: Prepare for Iteration
Acknowledge that MVFs should be open to change and iterative development based on user feedback.
The iterative process allows for continuous improvement. Be open to refining and expanding MVFs based on real-world usage and feedback.
In our example, once a fitness app is live, user feedback might suggest users want features to connect and compete with friends. This new MVF can be included in the next iteration of your app.
To understand better, let’s explore real-world examples of companies strategically implementing MVFs in their products:
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WhatsApp: Its MVFs included basic text messaging and multimedia sharing. Focusing on seamless communication without unnecessary frills contributed to its rapid user adoption.
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Dropbox: Dropbox’s MVF centered around effortless file sharing and cloud storage. The simplicity of these features resonated with users, laying the groundwork for subsequent enhancements.
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Uber: Uber’s early features concentrated on connecting riders with drivers efficiently. The simplicity of the booking process and real-time tracking constituted their MVFs, establishing a solid foundation.
When crafting your MVFs, prioritize features that enhance user experience and safety The following are the four most essential features of MVFs that work for many businesses.
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Security Measures: Integrating robust security measures is a must. Users must feel confident about the safety of their data and transactions. Implement encryption protocols, secure authentication, and data protection mechanisms as essential MVFs.
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Customer Support Communication: Including features that facilitate smooth communication with customer support is crucial. A user-friendly interface for submitting queries, receiving timely responses, and getting assistance should be part of your MVFs to enhance user satisfaction.
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Scalability: Design your MVFs with scalability in mind. As your user count increases, your product should be able to manage increased traffic and data volume without compromising performance.
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Usability and Intuitiveness: Prioritize features that contribute to the usability and intuitiveness of your product. An easy onboarding process, straightforward navigation, and user-friendly design should be integral to your MVFs.
This implies that the MVFs you choose define the initial user experience and set the stage for future developments. By understanding the critical nature of these features and drawing inspiration from successful implementations, you can strategically plan and implement MVFs that resonate with your audience.
Start defining your product’s MVF
Minimum Viable Features (MVF) are the vital elements that establish your product’s success. They are essential ingredients, ensuring your users get immediate value. These features meet your core needs and set the stage for future product enhancements.
As you start your product development journey, collaborate with VeryCreatives to harness the power of MVFs to deliver a user-centric and purposeful experience.
Ready to explore how MVFs can elevate your project? Book a free call with us, and let’s discuss it further.
