Product Development Trends 2017

Design company, Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash


New product development is not an easy task. To take your concept all the way through the process of development to a successful launch, you need to put in Herculean efforts. And as if that was not enough, product development team is under the constant pressure to develop the product faster without compromising on quality. They also have to keep profitability and total cost in mind.

There is a reasonable amount of time product development teams must spend on understanding the needs of consumers and the market. They must also keep competition in mind throughout the product development process. On top of all that is the fact that product development landscape is evolving constantly. Here are some of the new trends on the block that product development teams need to know in order to succeed.


Magic of Data

This is an age of extreme data exposure. To develop a successful product, development teams need access to data. Nowadays, important data is easily available. This data helps teams to create a unique experience for the customers. Product development teams are able to draw a detailed picture of how the product will be used. This is an important component in designing a new product. But if you need data to be helpful in new product designing, it needs to be collected and managed in an efficient manner. These days many products come with sensors in form of GPS, cameras, temperature sensors, microphone, etc. These sensors collect valuable data that is used enhance the features or to develop a better new product altogether.



Read: Evaluating Market Viability

Ecosystem of Products

It is 2017 and the last thing any product development team can do this year is to expect new products to well on its own. So, what can a product development team actually do? They can work within the ecosystem of similar products. This helps product development teams to solve complex problems that arise in the process of development or create innovative and dynamic solutions for the customers. If one business operating in the same ecosystem announces a new product with new technology, it creates a complex challenge for others. This means products constantly face the challenge and they must keep up with new trends along with creating a new one to survive.


Working with Distributed Teams

Gone are the days, when businesses had to depend on in-house teams for product development. Nowadays, teams are becoming more dispersed, even across multiple geographies. Companies are delegating the new product development work to different companies to take advantage of the talent pool they have. This also allows businesses to effectively design new products that are both successful and profitable. Collaborating with a new product development company allows SMEs to take their product development to next level.



Read: Assessing Product Opportunities - 10 Fundamental Questions

These are some of the trends in the new product development landscape. If you are planning to turn your concept into a successful product, these are some of the trends you need to keep in mind. When the product development process is in right direction, it lays a positive impact on the entire development team and the business.