5 MVP Tools for Product Managers
If you are a product manager or someone who drives product vision, you often get requests from Business teams to implement solutions. These requests often are ideas that the business team has either heard about or seen online. What’s missing in these requests is planning ground level implementation and adoption of the solution.
Before you build a full fledged solution, as a product manager you need to ensure teams are ready to use the product and at the same time adhere to the processes. Ideally this should be tested with minimal investment and that’s where MVP comes into picture.
As per Eric Ries, an MVP is the version of a new product that allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning with the least amount of effort. Now, building an MVP for internal teams is slightly different when you compare it with Consumer products.
As a product manager, some tools that we can use to validate Business ideas or conduct MVP are as below:
1. Google Sheets
Of course the first option had to be a Google sheets. If you have some development background, Google Sheets can act as an SDK for you. With support for
- SQL (Structured Query Language): create a database of entries
- Google sheets API to create a json output for sheets data. This can then be used in any frontend like a simple Google site or wix mentioned below
- Google forms: Auto populate data from Google forms or other types of forms
- Scripts: you can perform complex operations like sending emails, modifying cell values basis conditions and possibilities are endless
- Third party plugins
2. Google sites/Wix:
No code applications that help you create simple websites with drag and drop components. These are perfect for a directory based system wherein you want to display a website with a tree based structure
3. Adalo/ Andromo:
These are similar to Google sites and Wix but help you create interactive mobile applications. Apps created with these services can also be pushed to Stores for a wider audience reach
4. Redash:
Business intelligence tools like Redash help create a basic application wherein data can be populated via Google sheets which can then be viewed in a graphical interface with provision to download reports. With Redash, you can also create automated mailers and triggers for escalations.
5. Gupshup/ Botsup/ Hubspot:
You can create chatbots for WhatsApp, messenger with an easy GUI. These applications can help you with an easy support tool or issue logging tool
It’s also worth mentioning tools like Zapier or Leadsbridge which will help you connect multiple applications to perform automations. Example: you can enter a lead in a google form or google sheet and lead can be pushed to your LMS/CMS via the Zapier connect API.
One thing to keep in mind is define your success metrics before you choose one of the above mentioned tools and choose your data analytics/ Business Intelligence tool accordingly. Basis your success metrics then you can define the priority and how much you want to invest in the solution.
Do post in comment some of the other tools you use to create MVPs in your organisation.
Good luck in conquering the journey from Minimum Viable product to the Most Valuable Product.
