A Product Roadmap expresses a vision and guides the strategic direction for a greater work.
But how does it's created? In this article, we'll go through its definition and relevance for lifecycles.
We'll also look at actual cases of product roadmaps. Are you ready? Grab your map and let's go!
What is a Product Roadmap?
Product Roadmaps gather essential data such as user demands and a clear view of competitors. The landscape may change fast; hence you'd want to be ahead!
It's worth noting it works during a specific period of product development. Depending on your focus, there are two main types of Product Roadmaps: Internal and External.
Internal Product Roadmaps address internal teams, including developers, sales teams and Product Managers. These focus on goal alignment and attention to the product's details.
Contrariwise, External Product Roadmaps aim at users and customers. The attention goes into the product's benefits, usefulness and user needs.
Both are vital to keep it real without speculating or overselling!
The main responsible for developing Product Roadmaps is the Product Manager by handling the investigation process and idea planning.
PMs are also in charge of feedback integration and discussion with the goal of identifying the best roadmap to establish coherent teamwork.
Other departments also take part and rely on the development of a Product Roadmap:
- Sales: Sales teams leverage Product Roadmaps to build catchy messages that attract users and increase revenue.
- Marketing: Product Roadmaps help marketing teams to have a better idea of user behavior to know where to put their strategic focus.
- Customer Service: CS teams can also leverage Product Roadmaps to know product features and competitive advantages to manage user expectations.
- Leadership: Of course, leadership positions need Product Roadmaps to keep track of product lifecycles and ensure clear goals and milestones.
Inclusion is vital for planning and alignment— if all departments are immersed in the roadmap, it can lead to impressive products!
What are the Types of Product Roadmaps?
Most Product Roadmaps fall under the umbrella of one of three general templates:
- Goal-Based Roadmap: Handled by PMs, the focus here is on specific metrics for each product stage, from registration to retention.
- Feature-Based Roadmap: This roadmap type puts all the attention on the outcome of different features.
- Audience-Based Roadmap: In this roadmap type, products' final users and audiences take all the spot for user-based decision-making.
What are the Elements of a Product Roadmap?
While each product needs a specific roadmap, certain elements are part of most of them:
- Product: This edge includes the software, hardware or services —both tangible and intangible, that meet projects' needs.
- Goals: All roadmaps must relate to measurable goals and consider milestones while considering time and success metrics.
- Release: Here, the roadmap highlights the value all steps can add.
- Users: Considering users in Product Roadmaps is essential to bridge the gap between individual traits and strategic initiatives.
- Story: Following the last bullet points, user stories specify the value of the product from the user's perspective.
- Timeframes: Roadmaps consider milestones and deadlines to track the executions of all activities.
- Status: When measuring progress, roadmaps become helpful as they centralize all mentioned elements.
How to Build a Product Roadmap?
The first step for all product roadmaps is to keep it clear! Consider questions that dive into the value that your product really offers to users.
Think of "Is there evidence of that value?" "Is there support for its worth and functionality?"
Planning blends critical points such as scalability, cybersecurity and technical debt. If you don't pay attention to these edges, the roadmap will feel like a waste of time with poor planning!
The general steps to build a Product Roadmap enclose establishing team and product goals, planning the goal-reaching process and creating a first-draft roadmap.
To craft a roadmap, you should include details, whether it's an exterior or interior roadmap, and focus on short-term goals and their link to long-term goals. You should also review your documentation, especially when plans take other paths, and always align with your team!
It also includes research and asking for further feedback and gaining the approval of leaders and stakeholders. After setting your goals, your focus will be on further improvements.
Conclusion
A roadmap leads teams to be in the same page for end-to-end solutions, highlighting efficiency, growth and transformation.
Eager to have an efficient yet achievable Product Roadmap to deliver what users really love? Get in touch!
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