What is a Proof of Concept (POC) in Software Development?

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What is a Proof of Concept (POC) in Software Development?

You may be familiar with instances where entrepreneurs and companies attempt to launch their solutions as soon as possible by diving headfirst into software product development, only to have their ventures ultimately fail. That is because, before they begin developing a system, application, or product, they fail to validate their software idea to prove that it will function in real life.

Proof of Concept (POC) is a verification methodology that prevails in software development to solve this problem. It is used to test the feasibility and functionality of the software idea before it is developed. It allows developers to identify any potential issues or risks before investing time and resources into a full development cycle.

A Proof of Concept can be presented as a document, a presentation, or a demo with detailed specifications and documentation of your software project requirements; neither coding nor design are required at this point. In the case of outsourcing, it is typically carried out internally or among a limited set of stakeholders. POC can happen at any stage of the life cycle of software development. 

It can be used to test a particular feature halfway through the project, or it can be used at the beginning to test the viability of the idea as a whole. Therefore, it assists companies in defining the future of a new software product and in making logical decisions about its development. The different kinds of POC and their numerous advantages for businesses will be discussed in this article.

Different Types of POC

In software development, there are numerous Proof of Concept metrics that are employed. Here in this section, you will learn about three of them that are frequently used in the industry. It includes the concepts of pilot project, steel thread, and proof of technology. Continue reading for further details.

  • Proof of Technology
  • Steel Thread
  • Pilot Project

1. Proof of Technology

The technical POC tests assess the product’s functionality and whether its features work well together or not. It will also take into account any technical risk, issue, and ambiguity, thereby helping you find and fix any technical problems that may come up during the development of a software product. With technical POC, development teams can be guided on where to begin the process. 

2. Steel Thread

It has a higher POC since it covers nearly all of the product’s attributes, not just the technology. It looks into the profitability of a concept or product, different software architecture patterns, and design elements. For instance, you would need to make the simplest possible prototype in order to implement a few UI screens from a website or app as a steel thread.

3. Pilot Project

A system that only partially implements the intended final solution is put into production during a pilot project. There may be restrictions on the scope based on the number of users who can access the system, the business processes involved, the partners involved, or other restrictions as appropriate to the domain. A pilot project’s goal is to test the software product frequently in a production setting.

You can think of this Proof of Concept process as the beta version of your product. Similar to the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), businesses can even carry out a pilot project to gather feedback from customers. You can use it to collect data from users, investors, and other sources. Therefore, if you adhere to the POC plan, you will not be hesitant to present your business idea to possible investors.

What Are Its Benefits?

The benefits of using Proof of Concept in software development include the following: 

  • Save Time and Money
  • Pick the Appropriate Tech Stack
  • Evaluate Technical-Feasibility
  • Verification of Market Demands
  • Boost the Confidence of Stakeholders
  • Accelerate Your Product Release

1. Save Time and Money

A project may end up costing more than planned in the beginning if a product is developed without first evaluating its technical or commercial viability. You could end up spending tens of thousands of dollars on hiring, onboarding, and initial development to find out that your idea is too innovative to use with the resources available to you. A Proof of Concept allows you to move on to the next phase without having to take significant time or financial chances.

2. Pick the Appropriate Tech Stack

A POC’s main objective is to show your idea’s technical viability, as you are already aware. Additionally, you can verify your technology stack by considering the scalability, performance, and security of the tools used. The development team will decide which set of tools best meets your current needs and long-term objectives. Additionally, the cost and licensing requirements of the tools chosen are also considered.

3. Evaluate Technical-Feasibility

POC, as mentioned earlier, has the goal of evaluating the technological risks early in the development process. A development team with a software architect and QA engineer can recognise common bottlenecks in a particular technology and recommend preventative actions with a Proof of Concept. They determine the best technical path for product development in addition to evaluating what is feasible and impractical for your software product.

4. Verification of Market Demands

You can pinpoint the precise issues and pain points you want to address with the tool by creating a POC, ensuring that the product isn’t detached from reality and brings actual value to end users. It means you can first-hand verify the market demands before starting the software development cycle. It can help reduce the chances of developing a product that is not viable in the market. Additionally, it helps to ensure that the product meets the expectations of customers.

5. Boost the Confidence of Stakeholders

No matter how good your plans are, there is always a chance that your startup will fail. Startup failure is largely caused by ignoring the discovery phase. By creating a Proof of Concept and gathering early feedback from focus groups prior to starting work on your application, you lessen the chance of developing the wrong product. 

Therefore, it will be much easier to convince potential investors that your concept is valid and worth their money. The POC can explain your idea’s viability. It is an effective piece of evidence that will persuade even the most doubtful investors and support you in negotiating favourable terms with other stakeholders involved.

6. Accelerate Your Product Release

By creating a Proof of Concept, what you do is establish a plan of action for developing your new software product. It will assist you in confirming that you have chosen the appropriate workflow and making any necessary adjustments. Making the correct decision from the beginning helps you learn about the risks involved, avoid surprises later on, and prepare yourself to reduce them. It will, therefore, help accelerate the release of your software product.

So, the article discussed the Proof of Concept, its types and its benefits. It all comes down to confirming a software product’s original concept before investing in its development. You could think of it as a preliminary assessment, which is essential to guaranteeing the development of a technologically sound product. This crucial process defines the risks and expectations your development team will have to deal with during the software development lifecycle. Hope you find this article helpful in developing an excellent software product. 

Interesting Links:

Your Guide to POC in Product Development

Why is Proof of Concept (PoC) Important?

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