Why choosing the right technology is important when building an MVP
When building a MVP (Minimum Viable Product), it is important to have a technology stack which best fits your concept i.e. an online store or an app to educate kids, whilst also considering the main objectives of your MVP.
Is what you are building something you want to put in front of a set of people to test the market or are you looking to build a platform that will get you your first 100 customers?
The technology choices will be different.
As a start-up, it may be tempting to use new technology which is rapidly gaining popularity, but be sure to thoroughly consider whether you are choosing the technology because it fits your needs or whether you read an article about how amazing it is and want to try it out.
What is important to keep in mind is whether you, your team or any team you hire has experience with the technology you choose and that they know how to navigate it efficiently, for when problems arise or you need to quickly fix something, you may become frustrated if the trendier technology takes longer to use simply due to unfamiliarity.
Popular frameworks are often so due to their ease of use or efficiency so there is no issue in trying them out; just make sure you are comfortable with using it and know people who also have experience with it in case you run into a problem.
When planning costs, remember the purpose of your MVP and avoid putting more into it than it needs; you don’t want to spend a small fortune on trying to get feedback from your clients.
It is also important that you consider the future costs as well such as further development or updates, as well as licensing and hosting costs.
Even though the MVP may initially be a small product with a simple purpose, it is important to plan architecture which allows for scalability and growth into a larger product.
Having an eye on the bigger picture and the ideas in place for the product’s growth will make it easier to set the appropriate foundations and give you a clearer idea of the requirements for your technological stack.
At Atom CTO we often tell the startups that come to us not to spend much at all on technology until they understand what will drive customers to them and what processes they need to have in place in order to support those customers and the business as a whole
It may not sound trendy, but in many cases less is more. Building a lightweight MVP can help you free up resources for marketing, sales or customer service and you can start to spend money on technology once you have figured out where that technology will truly help your business i.e. drive sales, automate processes, reduce costs.
If you’d like any advice on building a MVP feel free to contact us through the ‘Schedule a call’ button on top of this page.