Which one do you need? MVP or Prototype.

MVP and Prototype are often thought of as the same thing. Before proceeding with digital product development, you need to understand your suggestions about the product and look for its market fit. You need to study both the MVP and Prototype in order to justify your ideas. But the question arises of which tool should be implemented among the two available, which look very familiar to each other.

Choosing the correct option will help you improve the possibilities of bringing down the overall product development expenses and creating a better customer loyalty environment for your company right from the very initial phase of your application building.

In this piece, we will comprehend the design prototype and MVP functions and how they are different from one another. It will help us to choose the correct option according to our business requirements and demands. Let us move on to learning the primary difference and similarities they possess and then which one needs to be selected according to the business type.

Prototype and MVP (Minimum Viable Product) are they alike?

We know that both the MVPs and prototypes are designed to substantiate a product’s viability. When a product’s viability is considered, it mainly deals with asking questions such as Is the product profitable for the consumers? Should it be implemented? What is its scalability? These problems should be given prime importance if you want your software development to be a success in the business market.

Prototypes and MVPs allow us to check the viability of a product through various tests to make sure that the product proves to be a success when launched finally. The incredible advantage of checking the product earlier in the software development life cycle without actually building the complete product is that both MVPs and Prototype serve—both help in saving time and reducing the risk and chances of technical debts in the future.

These were some common similarities that both MVPs and Prototypes serve to their customers in digital transformation agencies.

Now let us move towards the differences to understand them more clearly.

Differences between Prototype and MVP

As we know, people get confused between the Prototype and MVPs because of the similar purpose they serve. However, there are some points that mark fundamental differences between them, making them have separate identities. Let us look at them:

Functionality

When an MVP is considered, it is usually a fully functioning product. It is a complete product with minor features, only those to make it viable. Whereas, when the Prototype is concerned, it is a simulation of the software design, which looks and feels like an actual product. A prototype does not have all the features.

Purpose

The intent of creating an MVP is to collect the initial feedback and reviews from the first audiences and users of the software and product, whereas the central objective of the Prototype is to understand and learn about the ideas’ feasibility. A prototype basically validates the issues that occurred and then creates a solution accordingly. It offers the software development team to develop product overviews to showcase them to the main stakeholders of the company, whereas an MVP provides the central features which have been installed in the product that is ready to be launched in the market.

Complexity

The complexity in MVP software development is relatively more significant than that present in Prototypes. As Minimum Viable Products are full-fledged software, they tend to be more complex. MVPs deliver the core value to the software.

Time

When we look at the time of both the digital transformation agency tools, we find that the creation of MVPs takes more time than the Prototypes. An MVPs’ main idea is to test the idea or concept for efficiency and get the proper consumer feedback on it, whereas in a prototype, the central concept is to test the product assumptions. Thus MVPs take more time than Prototype.

Target audience

The target audience for both tools differs a bit as MVPs are primarily public. It allows the consumers to experience the product and services as if they are the most valuable customers. In Prototypes, the audiences are a bit private.

These were some expected differences that can be witnessed between the Prototype and MVPs.

MVP Software Development or Prototyping Process – Which One to Choose?

As the risks are pretty high in the IT industries, companies try innovative methods for their businesses and start-ups to be successful. While making a choice between an MVP and a Prototype, you need to ask yourself questions based on your organization and its needs. For instance: Do you already own any feedback on the UI or UX design of your solution?

If you do have feedback on it, you should try creating an MVP for your business; if not, then a Prototype is your way. Prototyping is best if you want to learn about the design flows.

It is how you can actually select the tool for your business.