Perhaps you have an incredible product idea, but you’re not sure how to make it a reality. Welcome to one of the most common problems people have when developing a product. An idea is one thing, but the process of making it a tangible product is another. Yet, it’s not always as complex as it may seem. 

You may have heard of roadmapping but ignored it, thinking it was not an important step of the product development process. However, you may want to take a closer look: with the right roadmap strategy, your products can become a reality more efficiently. When going from an idea to a product, it’s crucial to understand what roadmapping is and how it can bring your product to life. 

What is roadmapping?

You of course want your product to be a hit. To achieve that, we must establish a solid foundation to ensure the process is smooth from start to finish. Roadmapping is the strategy of determining the necessary actions, steps, and resources to bring an idea to life. 

For example, product roadmapping involves the product manager and their team breaking down the steps to go from a vision to a market-ready product. The team undergoes the necessary research, pooling together their ideas and then laying the foundation for achieving each step of the process and the challenges they may face along the way. Then, they prioritize each item and update the roadmap along the way, making sure they stay on the right path until completion.

The secret to success

Roadmaps are often underestimated and overlooked during the product design process. Yet, they’re a critical element of product development. Roadmaps are detailed documents going through each step of the way, ensuring each step is a necessary part of the overall strategy. 

There are three main parts of a roadmap that will guide you from start to finish. The three main elements are:

1. Research

• Investigate and research the marketplace, understand the competitive landscape.
• Explore the available resources and budget that the company is willing to invest.
• Understand the target audience, the problems they face, and their needs and how the proposed product will solve their problems.
  

       2.  Strategic Planning

• Discover the main elements of the product (theme, features, etc.) and determine how they will help solve the prospective customer’s problems.
• Establish the prioritization of all elements. Rank each component to create a market-ready product.
• Create a development plan and assign each component to appropriate team members.
  

       3.  Coordinating between teams

• Establish and secure buy-in support from stakeholders.
• Coordinate with various team members to prepare the product for a market launch. The teams include sales, support, marketing, and services.
  

As you can see, each step of the roadmap will help push your product closer to launch. If each step is executed correctly, the product will come to life and enter the market with impact. 

However, creating a roadmap is no easy process. If one step is overlooked or lacks understanding, it will prolong the process and create possible issues down the road - like a domino effect. A well-detailed roadmap requires an investment of time and research but well worth the investment. With the right roadmap, your product’s development will stay on track and keep you focused on your goals. 

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