Digital product development involves creating digital solutions like apps, websites, and software which are critical for meeting specific user needs and business objectives in today's technology-driven world. The development process focuses on solving both a business and a user problem and encompasses the entire journey from initial concept to fully iterated digital product.

The relevance of digital products in our daily lives is undeniable. They simplify tasks, provide entertainment, facilitate communication, and help businesses operate more efficiently. As technology evolves, the importance of well-developed digital products only grows, and so does the need for skilled design and development.

What is a digital product?

A digital product is any software-driven solution designed to fulfil a specific need or purpose. Unlike physical goods, digital products are intangible and typically delivered online. Common examples include mobile applications, websites, e-books and software tools. These products range from everyday utilities like weather apps and e-commerce platforms to complex data platforms and system integrations.

The role of digital product management

Digital product management is the process of overseeing the development, launch, and continuous improvement of a digital product. A digital product owner is a key figure in this process and is responsible for defining the vision, setting the product strategy, and prioritising features. They ensure that the product meets both user needs and business objectives. 

Effective digital product management involves coordinating with various teams, including digital product designers and developers, to guide a product from an initial concept to a successful market launch. This role can be played by a third-party partner but will ideally be complemented by a client-side product owner.

Digital product development cycle

Throughout the digital product development cycle, from ideation through design, development, and growth, the focus remains on creating high-quality, user-centric digital products. This dynamic cycle drives digital product management and design and requires ongoing collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning.

Step 1: Ideation

Defining digital product ideas — The ideation phase is crucial in digital product development, where initial concepts and digital product ideas are generated. This stage involves brainstorming and conceptualising potential products to fill a market need or user requirement.

Creative techniques for digital product ideation — Various creative methods are employed to foster innovation. These include brainstorming sessions, user research, market analysis, and leveraging technology trends. The goal is to conceive unique and viable ideas that can be transformed into successful digital products.

Role of a digital product owner in ideation —  A digital product owner plays a pivotal role in creativity. They are responsible for ensuring that ideas align with business goals and user needs, setting the vision for the product, and guiding the team through the ideation process.

Step 2: Design and development

Digital product design principles — The next step is design and development once an idea is defined. This stage is governed by critical principles such as user-centred design, simplicity, and functionality. It's about creating intuitive, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing designs that enhance user experience.

Involvement of digital product designers — Digital product designers are deeply involved in this phase. They work to create the look and feel of the product, ensure usability, and often collaborate closely with developers to bring their designs to life most effectively.

The journey from design to development — This journey involves turning design concepts into functional digital products. It includes stages like wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and coding and development, all while meeting the original set objectives.

Step 3: Growth

Strategies for growing digital products — Growth is about expanding the reach and impact of the product. Strategies may include marketing, user engagement, feature updates, and exploring new markets. It's a continuous process that requires adaptability and responsiveness to user feedback and market trends.

Measuring success and scalability — Success is measured through metrics like user adoption, engagement rates, revenue, and market penetration. Scalability ensures the product can handle increased demand and evolve as user needs and technology change.

Delivery approaches to digital product development

In choosing a delivery approach, digital product agencies and owners must consider project requirements, team dynamics, and client needs. Each methodology offers distinct advantages and can be selected based on the specific demands of the developed digital product.

Waterfall or traditional method

The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential approach, where each development phase must be completed before the next begins. It's best suited for projects with well-defined requirements and where changes are unlikely during development. It allows for meticulous planning and clear milestones.

Agile development

Agile development is based on iterative and incremental progress. Principles include flexibility, customer collaboration, and adapting to change. Its advantages include:

The ability to respond to evolving requirements.

Faster time to market.

Improved product quality through regular feedback.

Scrum development

Scrum is a subset of Agile focusing on time-boxed iterations called sprints. Key features include the scrum master role, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. It's implemented through a collaborative team approach, regularly delivering minor, incremental improvements.

Lean development

Lean development emphasises efficiency by minimising waste and focusing on value-adding activities. In digital product development, this translates to understanding customer value, optimising the development process, and delivering quality products quickly.

Feature-driven development

This approach focuses on developing and delivering features. It's characterised by short iterations of feature development, making it suitable for larger teams and projects where regularly providing tangible, working software is critical.

Rapid Application Development

Rapid Application Development (RAD) prioritises rapid prototyping over lengthy planning processes. The approach is highly flexible and adaptive, allowing for quick adjustments based on user feedback. It's ideal for projects requiring fast development and where requirements are expected to change.

Hybrid approach

A hybrid approach blends elements of different methodologies, like Waterfall and Agile, to suit the specific needs of a project. It allows teams to leverage the strengths of various approaches for more efficient and effective digital product development.

Which approach is right for your digital product?

Deciding on the right approach for developing a digital product is a crucial step that can significantly influence the project's success. Various factors must be considered to align the development process with the project's unique requirements.

Factors to consider

Project size and complexity — Larger, more complex projects might benefit from a structured approach like waterfall or feature-driven development, while smaller projects can thrive with agile or scrum methodologies.

Team dynamics and experience — The expertise and working style of the development team are essential factors. Agile and scrum work well with adaptive and collaborative teams, while waterfall suits teams that prefer a more structured approach.

Timeline and flexibility — Rapid Application Development (RAD) might be the best choice if the project has a tight deadline. Projects with more flexible timelines can benefit from agile or lean methodologies, which allow for iterative improvements.

Client involvement and feedback —  Projects requiring continuous client involvement and feedback can benefit from agile or scrum, as these methodologies emphasise customer collaboration and frequent iterations.

Determining the right approach involves understanding the specific needs and constraints of the project. For instance, the waterfall method might be appropriate if the project involves developing a digital product with well-defined requirements and a fixed budget. On the other hand, if the project is exploratory, with evolving requirements and the need for frequent client feedback, an agile or scrum approach can be more effective.

Refining your digital product

Digital product refinement is essential for the success of any project. It's important for all stakeholders to have a good understanding of the purpose and objectives of what is being created from the beginning. This understanding transforms a mere assortment of features into an outstanding product that users will adore.

At Apadmi, we’ve identified four key stages to product refinement that will ensure your digital product runs smoothly and effectively. While these stages serve as an initial framework, our experts have the freedom to modify and refine them to better fit the specific project they are handling.

Develop your digital product with Apadmi

If you're looking for a digital product partner that combines creative techniques with technical proficiency, look no further. Whether you're looking to create a digital product from scratch or refine an existing platform, Apadmi is equipped to guide you through every step of the design and development process.

Our team of skilled digital product designers and developers is adept at translating complex ideas into user-friendly digital products. We work with leading brands across retail, financial services, healthcare and utilities to conceive and create mobile and web digital products which exceed the expectations of our clients and their customers.

Get in touch today to learn how we can support your business through a range of services, from mobile app development to website development and more.