As the name suggests, product discovery workshops are conducted to build a fair understanding between the client and the developer. Be it a business project or a digital product, they are used to build a foundation for development.
A product discovery workshop is a component of a digital project’s initial phase and planning stage. It aims to fully identify the scope and objectives that need to be met, and sets goals for all parties involved in the project.
Every project needs to be properly mapped and outlined before any development can commence, whether it is custom software for operational use in a large company, a mobile application that links target customers, or any other form of digital services and technologies.
Product discovery workshops are considered to be the best solutions when companies are in their initial phase and want to define their significant components.
These workshops help convert a client’s idea into a working product by streamlining the thought processes involved and formulating an outline based on which any process can be efficiently carried out.
They are an initial form of communication between the project team and the client, leading to an element of mutuality. They align the teams involved and help determine the scope of a product before its development by pinpointing details regarding the successful completion of a project such as its estimated price and time required.
Main goals of a product discovery workshop
The primary goal of a product discovery workshop is to identify the business goals of a project. This includes both; short-term and long-term goals. Not only does this help to build the foundation for the development of a project but it also finalizes all relevant product discovery cards and documents.
These documents have their significance as they contain all details discussed during the workshop right down to every minor detail, and provides an outline for the project team to execute.
These workshops also help in constructing prototypes and presenting them to the clients before development begins. This lists down all the necessary changes that need to be done before the launch.
Another key component of a product discovery workshop is to identify the target audience of the product, establishing its purpose before development commences.
It also identifies the core functionalities of the product and characterizes the value proposition. The strategy created acts as a structure for the project team and assists the development team throughout the process.
5 benefits of a product discovery workshop
Product discovery workshops increase collaboration between the clients and the project developers, whilst providing an environment that stimulates brainstorming which leads to new ideas and innovative products.
The broad benefit of a PDW is that months of work regarding the development of a product are condensed into 4-6 intensive workshops to cover the overall aims and elements of the project.
Mentioned below are five benefits of engaging in a product discovery workshop.
Overall costs are reduced
The final cost of developing a product is affected by various features and functions. These features are identified before the development phase after conducting a product discovery workshop.
Moreover, these workshops provide an in-depth plan of the process and allow for feedback. This reduces the chances of last-minute changes and redos as well as ensures fewer tweaks during development. Furthermore, product discovery workshops also improve the alignment of a development team.
One of the objectives is to identify a list of features that are required for the product to achieve optimal efficiency while eliminating unwanted fluff.
By doing so, it not only accelerates the development but also gives room to concentrate on certain main features and reduces all additional development costs.
Improved product delivery
Careful planning is required before development leading towards better delivery of the product. Pre-planned projects are always win-win!
With the help of product discovery workshops, the organization has everyone on board before the development begins. These include all external groups, internal correspondence, business leaders, and at times the end-users as well.
The development team is well aware of the target audience they are catering to. Keeping their needs in mind will help in maintaining a better product quality.
Helps in meeting consumer expectations
When a product does not meet the expectations of its target consumers it is bound to fail. This is the worst nightmare for any company.
Product engagement is an essential part of product discovery workshops as this minimizes the risk of failure of a product and ensures the end-users are fully satisfied.
Maximizing user engagement and catering to their needs is a vital objective that has to be met before the production starts. This is where product discovery workshops play their role by targeting the right niche.
This is achieved by including the final consumers of the product in the initial phase of the product development lifecycle.
This helps in creating an end-user persona and maps out the functionality of the end-users. The end-user will get what they want and the company witnesses an increased number of sales and revenue!
Increases the production speed
The product discovery workshop will reduce the total production time as a result of planning and mapping out the functionalities before the development phase begins.
During the workshop, identifying a thorough list of features and functionalities for the product allows creating a comprehensive development plan that includes all of the people who will be working on the product. This assists in creating a well-defined and comprehensive timeline.
It helps identify the loopholes in the initial phase, allowing the development team in figuring out ways to prevent them from happening in the first place.
This saves time as there are reduced chances for last-minute changes. Not to forget; last-minute changes create panic and hassle along with product delivery delays.
The overall idea of the product will be upgraded and improved
Through product discovery workshops, companies get to know the experts who will work on their projects. These experts provide business plans, designs, production plans, and product management experience.
PDW allows us to share information and improves communication between the two parties to deliver the product successfully and improve its quality. It has proven to be a vital aspect when it comes to delivering a product according to the needs of its consumers.
In short, a product discovery workshop might not be necessary, however, the impact it creates on the end product and its contribution towards the smoothness of the process is remarkable.
Corporations face many management issues during the development phase of a product. Conducting these workshops helps in solving these problems, providing flowcharts for the production cycle, eliminating any product failure and last-minute changes.
