Digital transformation is bringing a whole host of new technologies into play, which are being translated into digital product ideas. More and more of these digital product ideas are being transferred to start-ups with the aim of capitalizing on them. At the same time, the demands on digital product development have never been higher: customers expect individual, powerful solutions, markets are changing rapidly, and economic conditions demand efficiency at all levels.
The most important thing is that, on the path from idea to implementation, you need the necessary skills and resources to develop the digital product and bring it to market – either internally or through an external partner. The use of AI in software development also plays a crucial role here: it automates and accelerates processes and reduces sources of error.
Above all, however, it drastically shortens the crucial feedback rounds in product definition and development. This allows digital products to be optimized, aligned with real market needs, and successfully launched in the shortest possible time – giving your company greater economic leeway. In this guide, we provide specific recommendations on how digital product development can lead to sustainable success.
What is digital product development?
Digital product development means turning ideas into successful digital products. The key factors are a clear business case that is consistently geared to the market situation and user needs, as well as the necessary expertise in software development and capitalization.
From idea to market launch: Advantages of digital product development with Riwers
To ensure this combination – a clear business case, market orientation, and technical implementation strength – working with an external partner is the most efficient solution for many companies. Our approach covers, for example, the entire development cycle in conjunction with strategic business engineering, modern software development with AI tools, and capitalization expertise.
- Technology expertise meets AI: With intelligent tools, we drastically shorten development and feedback cycles, ensuring faster time-to-market and rapid market validation. Prototypes are created in fast motion, feedback is systematically integrated, and quality is increased through automated testing.
- Legal certainty: Clear regulations on intellectual property rights, security, and compliance protect your innovations on a legal level as well.
- Holistic support: We think and act along the entire value creation process – from the business model to scaling in the market. For start-ups, we also offer support with venture capital (VC) capability; for companies, we ensure that your solutions are not only built, but also successfully introduced and implemented.
- Custom setup modeling of the organization: You receive a team setup tailored to your individual needs – from individual developers to a software department as a service.
- Minimizing technical risk from a VC perspective: A standardized approach and highly qualified teams drastically reduce technical project risk – from the typical 30 percent to 70 percent project success rate – a clear advantage for investors.
- Triple added value: We combine product development, corporate strategy (including VC stages), and the software development lifecycle (SDLC) in one integrated model.
The process with Riwers: Developing digital products in 3 steps
From the initial product idea to successful market launch, every project goes through different phases:
1. Pioneering
- Define & Design: Using brainstorming and mockups, we work together to develop a product concept that addresses real market needs.
- Build, Validate & Optimize: Using methods such as rapid prototyping of software and lean startup, we help with individual software development and drive your idea forward from proof of concept (PoC) to minimum viable product (MVP) and bring it to market quickly. We gather targeted user feedback and continuously optimize.
2. Engineering
- Extend: Initial market successes are used to add further features to the product and tap into new target groups until the optimal product-market fit (PMF) is achieved.
- Scale: Targeted scaling now begins with further development stages.
3. Management
- Cultivate & Maintain: Your product is established, but innovation continues. We support you with life cycle management and provide updates, maintenance, support, and continuous improvement.
- De-Commission: Even the end of a product cycle requires planning. Migration, data archiving, and a clean system shutdown secure your investment and free up resources for new ventures.
Implement more efficiently: Recommendations for digital product development from the Riwers experts
Even with perfect technical implementation during the three phases, strategic mistakes can jeopardize any project. These factors determine success or failure in digital product development:
1. Bring in an external partner right from the start
Many companies embark on digital product development without in-depth knowledge, setting up their organization incorrectly or streamlining it away, and developing a product that, in the worst case, does not meet market requirements. In addition, given the rapid development of tools, it is hardly possible to keep up with daily business or build up new internal expertise. External specialists such as the Riwers team not only bring technical expertise, but also many years of practical experience, which is particularly crucial at the beginning.
2. Holistic support instead of “just technical input”
For successful digital product development, you need more than just someone who can implement something technically. It is much more about providing holistic and comprehensive support throughout the process, including strategic recommendations and expertise at the right time and in the right dose—if you only hold a workshop at the beginning, half of it will probably be forgotten or already obsolete weeks later.
3. Clear definition of project and product requirements in advance
Just because an idea is technically brilliant does not mean that it can hold its own in the market. That is why you should clarify in advance what the market requirements are and what the product must fulfill. If these are not clear, the only thing to do is go back to the drawing board and undertake a costly redesign. So it’s better to formulate requirements as early as possible in order to create a valid business case that will also stand up to potential investors – we know the formula for this!
4. Consistently focus on the user experience
Digital applications must be simple, intuitive, and effective. No matter how complex the backend is, it must not compromise user-friendliness in the frontend. Think in terms of user stories: what should the user experience, how do they use the product, can they reach their desired goal with a maximum of five clicks?
5. Clean business engineering & iterative development methods
Feedback and development loops cannot be completely avoided, nor is that the goal. Rather, they should be targeted and are an integral step on the way to a product that can truly compete in the market. This also includes developing a clear business case as early as the seed phase. In our view, ideas that remain too vague are not viable.
6. Consistent quality assurance across all phases
QA is essential, and quality assurance should be consistently implemented at every step—from brainstorming to product design to technical implementation. Rapid iteration cycles, in which the product is challenged by an expert in terms of technical functionality, market-driven implementation, and user orientation, are essential.
Between vision and implementation: digitalization and product development with Riwers
The path from idea to successful product is more challenging than ever, and the market is flooded with digital product ideas. For digital product development to be successful, it is not only innovative concepts that are crucial, but above all technical skills and reliable implementation.
As a strategic partner, Riwers bridges the gap between your vision and its implementation. With our factory approach, we act as a bridge between ideas and capital, eliminate technical risks, and make your vision ready for investors. Our engineering contribution can even become “part of the seed,” which greatly simplifies negotiations. So if you need help with your digital vision, let’s talk!
