You don’t have to be an expert in technology in order to build a technical MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Although initially it may appear to be a daunting task, with the right vision and approach it may not have to be so complicated. Building digital products is a complex process which requires many steps and tasks to be done from different departments. Before releasing the final application or product, businesses and startups can avoid risks by releasing MVP’s which is the prototype or initial version of the product. Although MVP’s include features which users prioritise, it doesn’t necessarily include all the features present in the final product.
Why non-technical founders need to build MVPs?
The main benefit of building, developing and releasing MVP is to test the viability of the final product in the market, before investing unnecessary time and resources on it. It gives an idea as to how the product will perform in the market and what features it could improve upon in order to improve its position and strength in the market. It also helps to measure user-satisfaction and check feedback from customers.
Even a non-technical founder who is a novice in information technology can work towards delivering a successful and viable MVP. However, a basic idea of the product and its functionality is useful in the process of developing a technical MVP.
How to build an MVP as a non-technical founder?
Outsourcing
Entrepreneurs and non-technical founders can outsource technical skills from external sources in order to help them build an MVP. MSP’s (Managed service providers) can act as the external IT department for their startup organisation by providing services and help in technical tasks. Even when small scale startups themselves do not have the technical resources to build an MVP from scratch, external help can go a long way in determining the success of the final product when it is launched in the market.
However, some startups may not have the resources to hire external MSP’s when they are starting out with limited capital and staff. The lack of resources should not be a hindrance in their success and productivity. Other measures can be taken in such circumstances which are listed below.
Getting a Fractional CTO
CTO’s (Chief Technical Officer) are Information technology officers who work on a fractional or part time basis for startup companies. They are hired because of their expertise and skill set in the information technology department. They not only oversee the technical aspects of the company but also guide and supervise the internal IT systems of the company. They can be hired to build MVP’s from the initial stage to their final version since they only work on a part time basis and need not be compensated for a full time role in the company. Since IT work can be done efficiently on a remote WFH basis, the demand for CTO’s has been constantly rising in the market. Their services can be utilised in various stages of MVP development.
No-Code Tools
It is an automated tool that allows you to implement and integrate automations into your work system without having to write a single piece of programming code. Since it can work without the presence of an external IT staff, no code tools are an emerging option for startups and small businesses to use in order to build the technical infrastructure required for their MVP’s. It helps employees who are more skilled in business skills rather than technical competencies to work efficiently since the tool takes care of the technical side for them. It can also help non-technical founders since it acts as a substitute for a full fledged digital/ IT system.
Leveraging AWS Services
Amazon Web Services is a leading cloud IT service provider and management platform in the market. It provides a variety of IT services to different developers, both small scale and large scale. It has established a worldwide presence in providing online IT services to companies which require them and do not possess workers with significant IT expertise within their internal staff. AWS offers a diverse number of services, online, at a cheap and cost-effective price. Hence, their services can be leveraged as well in the process of ideating and building MVP’s.
In closing,
Since the market has become competitive, new entrants, especially startups, must use different tools while ideating new products and planning their release in the market. MVP’s offer a sort of test-drive of the initial product before investing resources and releasing the final product. Startups and small scale companies need to start thinking innovatively in order to keep up with their other competitors, especially when they lack the digital skills to keep up with the increasingly technology dominated world. Non-technical founders, who in particular are more interested in the business side of their product, need to leverage these options to build a technical MVP and improve their standing in today’s increasingly digital market.
