The most common questions about a software proof of concept (PoC) include why you need one, how to go about writing a PoC, and how you can go about building a proof-of-concept (POC) for a new piece of software, and why you should write one.
What is a Proof of Concept?
Proof of concept (PoC) is creating evidence and documentation about the feasibility of an idea
- It outlines how the idealized product or service would become market-ready, how it would function, if it’s needed, and who is the target demographic
- In software development, it applies to a specific process
Prototype vs MVP
Minimal Viable Product (MVP)
- This is the simplest, most stripped-back version of your idea, yet it still retains enough features to be released to the general public for actual use
- Pros and cons of creating an MVP
Step 1: Prove the Need
Before you begin building the software, you need to know that your software will meet the needs of your target audience.
- As you interview potential users and stakeholders, be sure to learn both the business impact and the personal impact of each one to create a prioritized list.
Create a Minimum Viable Product
An MVP is a fully-functional solution that you can put out into the world for use.
- It should include only the most-important features that are essential for solving the primary pain points you identified, and should function on the user’s side just like the final product.
Why Do You Need a Proof of Concept?
Although nearly everyone who comes up with an idea is convinced it will work, creating a proof of concept to test your idea will ensure you arrive at the best version of it and will save you time and money in the process.
- Laying out every detail about your idea helps highlight gaps in your product plan that you might not realize exist.
Design a Roadmap
Create a roadmap that summarizes all the information you’ve learned and outlines a recommended step-by-step process for building the product.
- Think of this roadmap as a set of blueprints for constructing a building – everyone will be on the same page through product development and have a clear picture of what the end goal is.
Proof of Concept vs Prototype
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they represent two different phases of development
- Proof of concept always comes first
- After you have this document, confirming your suspicion that your idea is a good and needed product, you move on to the next step- prototyping
- A prototype is the first, very basic iteration of your idea
How to Write a Proof of Concept
A proof of concept is a living document that can be updated as you have new thoughts and get fresh feedback from people who read it.
Main Takeaways for Creating a Proof of Concept
Gather as much feedback from your intended audience as possible
- The more information you know about what your users actually want, the sooner you can focus on those features, cut unnecessary ones, and save yourself iteration time and expenses along the way
Why is a Proof of Concept Important?
Lay out on paper why your idea would be successful in the market
- Validity – before you skip to development, know if your idea is feasible
- Focus group testing – test it with a potential user base to get early feedback on what people actually want
- Money generation – show investors you thought your idea through to the end
Map Pain Points to Solutions and Get Feedback
Brainstorming ways to solve each of the pain points you identified in the first step
- After brainstorming, evaluate each possible solution and determine how it stacks up in terms of cost, competition, timeline, technology challenges, etc.
- Go back and get feedback from users and stakeholders
Step 3: Prototype Your Solution and Test
Create a prototype that wraps your solutions into a rudimentary product that you can use to test with those you interviewed previously.
