In the world of product development and technology, it is important to have a clear understanding of the various stages a product goes through before it becomes a market-ready solution. Two commonly used terms in this process are POC vs MVP. While both concepts are used to validate the viability of a product, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics.
Proof Of Concept (POC)
A Proof of Concept is a prototype that demonstrates the feasibility of a concept or solution. The purpose of a POC is to prove that the concept or solution is technically and practically possible. It is an experimental setup that is designed to showcase the basic functionality of the solution and to test its viability. A POC is often created to test a new idea or a new technology that has not been tried before.
The primary objective of a POC is to validate the concept, to identify potential technical challenges, and to gain a deeper understanding of the requirements of the solution. A POC is not a market-ready product but rather a demonstration of what the solution could be. It is meant to provide a basic understanding of the solution, its potential benefits, and the potential drawbacks.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
A Minimum Viable Product, on the other hand, is a version of the product that has the minimum set of features required to solve the problem it is intended to solve. An MVP is a stripped-down version of the product that is designed to test the viability of the product in the market. Unlike a POC, which is focused on demonstrating the feasibility of the solution, an MVP is focused on demonstrating the market viability of the product.
The primary objective of an MVP is to test the market demand for the product, to get feedback from potential customers, and to validate the assumptions made during the product development process. An MVP is meant to be a minimum version of the product that can be put into the market to test its viability.
Conclusion
While both POC vs MVP have different objectives and serve different purposes, they are both important in the product development process. A POC is necessary to validate the feasibility of the solution, while an MVP is necessary to validate the market viability of the product.
