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Great ideas are not in short demand. Every business has its sights on being the next Uber or Airbnb. However, the reality is that this is no simple task. If you want to create a product that sells, you need to build something that addresses the apparent and not so apparent needs of your audience.
A product requirements document (PRD) can help you achieve this.
So, what is a product requirements document? A product requirements document (PRD), fully defines the value and purpose of a mobile app to your product and development teams. This document is the foundation of a successful product, outlining business logic, listing technical specifications, and ultimately helping your development team transform your early concept into a fully functional app.
Product teams use a PRD to communicate what to build, who the product is for, and how it benefits the end-user. This document guides the development of a product by providing a common understanding of the intent behind a product. If your product and development teams don’t understand your audience and their pain-points, how can they deliver products that solve the right user problems? A product requirements document clarifies all of your ideas before any development work begins.
While there are different ways to organize the document, we find it beneficial to include business requirements and technical requirements, as well as a few other considerations that will prepare your engineering team to get your product to market.
This article will walk you through the process of writing a PRD, and serve as an example of what makes an impressive requirements document.
To get started, download our customizable PRD template to follow along with this article.
Business requirements are criteria that are necessary to meet organizational objectives. Typically, they outline how the product or solution will address the needs of the company and its users.
First, your product requirements document requires you to describe what you want the product to do, as well as the core objectives of the product. For the first version of any mobile app, it’s recommended to focus on a single problem your target users are experiencing. By concentrating on a core problem, it’s easier to create a concise product vision for the mobile app and establish precise success metrics.
In your product requirements document, you need to include the user flow of your app for each type of user (admin, regular user, and guest users, for example). From start to finish, how will each user group interact with the product?
Creating detailed user journeys is a collaborative process and should include a business analyst, a user experience designer, a developer, and a product manager. Mapping user journeys help communicate all of the possibilities within the app from the user’s perspective. Establishing proper narrative touchpoints is essential to refining the functionality of the product.
Need help mapping out your product’s user flow? Participating in a Design & Discovery workshop supplies you with a visual solution that details the user experience and user interface of your product. Talk to a mobile expert about creating user journeys, today. Start a conversation.
A vision statement defines a clear direction towards the end goal of the mobile app. On top of that, a vision statement describes the solution to the problem your intended users are facing. In your vision statement, you need to include who the product is for, what the user is trying to accomplish, how the product will solve the user’s pain points, and how the product is different from competing apps in the market.
The first version of your mobile app needs to offer a simple and intuitive user experience. Choosing features for your mobile app is a planning process that requires you to define the product vision, objectives, and themes fully. Some standard features can include:
The list above is only a small list of potential features you might require. Understanding how a user will navigate through your app is critical for identifying the necessary features that will allow for a seamless user experience.
There are several monetization strategies worth exploring. The strategy you choose will depend on the type of app you’re developing, your target user, and even the mobile operating system you want to utilize. There are five conventional monetization models:
To get a more thorough understanding of each of these models, and how they would fit with your business goals, we suggest reading this resource:
Product and technical specifications outline the systemic and functional needs to meet for the product to achieve the desired features and functionalities.
Determine the following within the product/technical specifications for your mobile app requirements document:
The ideal approach to development is to launch on both platforms; however, that’s not always feasible. Sometimes, you will have to develop for one platform first and introduce a second platform later for reasons like time constraints, budget, and resource limitations.
Both iOS and Android offer distinct advantages, but also attract contrasting users. When deciding what platform is best for your mobile app, a key question to ask is: what is the goal and purpose of your application? Is the sheer volume of users the main identifier of success for your app, or is your focus on driving engagement? Choosing the appropriate platform will depend on the goal you’re trying to achieve and how you plan to monetize your mobile app.
If you are unsure which platform works best for you, your goals and your audience, we suggest reading the following resources:
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your project finishes after launch. At the very least, you need to plan for the cost of maintaining your app to fix bugs and meet system upgrade requirements. In your PRD, include a long-term product vision that accounts for user demands, product improvements, and new features for future iterations of the product.
Dependencies are any aspect that the product or product team relies on to meet objectives. These may include:
Assumptions typically relate to how product teams suspect users will behave or interact with their product. However, it’s important to include assumptions surrounding the business and technical aspects of the product in this section. In the early stages of a project, knowledge, experience, or current information form assumptions. Examples of these assumptions can include:
Constraints are the limitations that teams must work within, typically related to scope, budget, and time. However, they may also include aspects like risk tolerance, resources/staff, and quality requirements.
Your mobile app requirements document should include all technical assets and information required for Apple’s App Store submission and Google Play submission. Defining these requirements in the early stages of a project will significantly expedite the submission process when the product is ready for release. While these will vary depending on the app stores being submitted to, below are the assets and information to include for the Apple App Store and Google Play.
While writing your product requirements document, some considerations should be kept in mind. Firstly, it is crucial to leverage a variety of experience and insight that comes from multiple team members. Gathering this input will help you develop comprehensive definitions for different sections of the PRD template.
Secondly, as you fill in the PRD template, be sure to keep your responses and definitions for each outlined section high-level. While detail is helpful, keep in mind that while specific requirements might seem obvious to you, others viewing the document may have an entirely different perspective. Eliminating industry-specific terms will ensure that everyone can easily understand the document. As the product evolves and requirements change, ensuring everyone understands what you are trying to communicate is key to developing a successful mobile product.
Keep in mind that the best product requirements documents are adaptive. While this may seem counterintuitive, perfecting a PRD is not easy. This is why following a structure is so important. Begin the process with the general criteria, your end-user, the problem you’re solving. Then get increasingly more specific, detailing functionalities and desired features for an MVP. The general criteria are what is set in stone, but as you go through the process, be prepared to adapt your more specific requirements.
The ultimate goal of creating a mobile app requirements document is to provide a foundation for a successful product. To give your team the ammunition it needs to get your project off the ground, make sure you map out every business and technical requirement and clarify all dependencies, constraints, and assumptions. During development, questions are bound to come up, even with the most thorough product requirements document.
During the process of defining the product, it is essential to always focus on delivering superior value to the marketplace. It is easy to get distracted by competitors, vocal customers, and architectural issues, and while you do need to understand those needs, when it comes to defining a great product, always remember to focus on the value.
Keep Reading:
4 Overlooked Aspects Required for a Successful Product Requirements Document
An Introductory Guide to Customer Journey Mapping
The Benefits of Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Clearbridge Mobile is an award-winning, full-stack mobile app development company dedicated to helping companies strategize, develop, and scale dynamic mobile app solutions that enhance business performance and enable innovative growth opportunities.
