The technology field and software development, in particular, are a highly competitive market with significant risks involved when developing a technological solution to solve a particular business need. Proof of Concept (PoC) is one of the valuable tools that can enhance the software development process and validate the feasibility of an approach or technology before investing in full-scale development.
We have already published a detailed review of PoC and how it compares to PoT, MVP, and Software Prototype. In this article, we’ll be focused on seven major benefits of using PoCs in software development to further elaborate on how this step can become a game-changer for the product.
Risk Mitigation
The objective of PoC is to assess the viability of the approach or technology before committing significant resources. By doing so, the team can identify potential risks much earlier and pivot or choose a different approach entirely while the costs to make the change are still relatively low.
Cost-Efficiency
Proof of Concept is a basic skeleton of chosen technology, requiring much less time, effort, and money to develop and see the results. Naturally, the fully developed solution will cost a lot more. However, the major benefit of PoC is that it’s a great indicator of the need for changes.
If the chosen technology proves to have little feasibility, you will save a considerable amount of both time and money, contrary to what would happen if the team had to adjust in the middle of the development process.
Faster Decision-Making
PoCs offer rather quick results, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions and adapt to changing market demands or technology limitations promptly. Concrete evidence of whether the concept is viable is a vital part of building a sound strategy for the next software development stages, like software prototyping, coding, etc.
User Feedback
PoCs can be shared with potential users, enabling you to gather valuable feedback early in the development cycle. If applicable to the project in question, it can also be considered a part of the feasibility assessment, making sure that the chosen technology or approach will be received warmly by the target audience. It is worth remembering, however, that Minimum Viable Product can cover this stage more efficiently and with greater data input from the users.
Feasibility Assessment
A PoC helps you evaluate the technical feasibility of your project. You can test the integration of different technologies, identify potential bottlenecks, and ensure that the software concept aligns with your objectives. It is also highly important for determining the future budget bracket, the need to search for a cheaper alternative, or simply providing concrete data to stakeholders that make decisions on financing.
Improved Collaboration
Proof of Concept can facilitate communication among cross-functional teams and generate a significant amount of data from the internal feedback. The feasibility validation also relies on the ability of the team to implement the technology in the required time and budget. Collaborating together may bring uniformity in vision and prevent multiple issues of miscommunication and differences down the line.
Scalability Assessment
A successful PoC provides insights into how your software can be scaled up to meet future needs. This is crucial for long-term planning and resource allocation. A Proof of Concept that has proven its feasibility can later be transformed into an MVP and released to the market to generate initial traction and brand presence.
Conclusion
Proof of Concept (PoC) is an effective tool in the software development process, offering a multitude of benefits that range from cost efficiency and risk mitigation to market validation and competitive advantage.
The odds of success can be positively affected by investing time and money into developing a Proof of Concept. In case of a positive outcome, the team and stakeholders can make informed decisions on the next steps within the strategy. If the feasibility is questionable, there’s still enough time to pivot and search for an alternative, potentially averting a crisis where the risks are discovered mid-development, and the changes would impact the budget significantly.
If the technology or approach is new and has not been implemented by anyone else, it is wise to consider investing in a PoC to assess, plan, manage risks, and set yourself up for a much smoother experience in developing the final solution.