Product managers oversee the development and launch of new offerings while managing the viability of existing ones. They count on teams throughout a company to bring products to life and reinvent those that need more traction. But without a good tool or centralized platform, product managers may find it tough to sync everyone’s efforts.
Still, choosing the correct product management applications can be a bit tricky for businesses. Your head might be spinning from all the options and features, making it challenging to determine what you need. And you don’t want to get stuck with a tool that has a bunch of stuff you won’t use. Let’s review how to make the best choice and explore the main capabilities you should look for.
Start With the Team’s Goals and Needs in Mind
What your business wants from a will depend on your team’s goals and needs. How employees do their jobs and what obstacles software can help them overcome will be important points to consider. So will factors such as your budget and how various tools might impact different product life cycle stages. For instance, how will a tool’s capabilities enhance or improve the testing phase?
You can start assembling a list of requirements by brainstorming or visiting individually with team members. Perhaps the group has a history of struggling to stay on the same page or understand overall project goals. That might indicate the need for a tool with enhanced collaboration and document-sharing features. But it could also point toward the desire for better road-mapping capabilities and project views.
Your team will likely need to see which tasks are in different stages, such as planning, development, and review. Outlining current shortcomings, roadblocks, and wants helps narrow down what a tool must have. That way, when you evaluate different options, you can compare capabilities against your list and stay on budget. The selection process won’t be as confusing or overwhelming since you’ll know what the right fit should look like.
Consider Integration Capabilities
Businesses are using more applications and software-as-a-service solutions than ever. Current statistics show that global organizations use SaaS apps. That doesn’t mean all teams or departments have that many platforms at their disposal. However, it does reveal that employees must often access and switch between several software applications.
Product management tools will add another interface to your company’s tech stack. When you choose a solution, you may want it to integrate with other core applications your team relies on. Those platforms could include instant messaging applications, coding platforms, and design tools.
Some product management solutions offer APIs or seamless integration capabilities with other tools in your stack. However, not all applications sync with others or provide integration support for the same platforms. Include on your list of requirements which apps would need to integrate with your product management tool of choice. Consider what data your existing stack handles and which information you’ll want to feed into a product management application.
You might also want to think about which integrations will help support your team’s productivity. For instance, syncing your IM software with your chosen product management tool will reduce the need for the group to switch screens. Conversations and questions won’t stay siloed, and the group can easily go back to those discussions for reference.
Look to the Future
Tech solutions don’t usually last forever. Hardware and software choices evolve, and vendors continually bring new options to the table. However, your company doesn’t want to invest in a product management solution that’s not scalable for the foreseeable future. In most cases, it’s best to have a tool that’s adaptable enough to support your organization’s changing needs.
Your product team may be small today. Yet you’re probably planning on ramping up as your product line grows. You’ll want a solution that can support a smaller group now and a larger one later. Product management apps that offer flexible licensing and user options are a better fit for businesses that plan to scale.
Scalable tools allow you to add more users as your team or operations expand. Flexible options also let you remove users as your groups evolve or change. When evaluating your choices, look three to five years ahead, and consider whether tools will support future team dynamics.
Think About Analytics
Business leaders rely on data to make better decisions and tweak processes to improve efficiency. Successful product development can’t happen without market research and data analysis. And that analysis doesn’t stop once a company develops a concept that is likely to meet an existing consumer need.
A design that fills a market gap is one thing. If the company can’t launch that design efficiently, competitors might make it to the finish line first. Product management solutions with reporting tools and data analytics support a business’s launch goals. Reports and analytics reveal what’s happening with workflows, processes, and individual projects. You can spot which procedures or practices are slowing down or impeding progress toward your product launch.
The streamlining of workflows and operations is organizations rely on data analysis. If a product management tool lacks reporting features, you’ll have a harder time determining how to optimize team efficiency. This could jeopardize delivery dates and customer satisfaction levels. Inefficient workflows might also slow down growth and stop the business from reaching its objectives. Tools with ample reporting features can keep your team and company on track.
Choosing the Best Product Management Tool
The capabilities of product management solutions vary. Some support the needs of small businesses, and others have enterprise features that are best for large organizations. The right app for your company should align with your product team’s workflow needs and goals. The tool you choose should also reinforce your business’s ability to grow and deliver products that satisfy market demands.