In 2007, when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, he emphasized how it “fits beautifully in the palm of your hand”. The original concept was an “iPod phone” designed to combine the functionalities of a BlackBerry, a phone, and an iPod. Over the years, Apple has incrementally increased the iPhone’s screen size, reflecting the changing consumer preferences and the growing importance of mobile devices for various applications.
Companies often invest thousands of dollars in building refined and polished products, only to discover that they solve a problem nobody cares about. MVP development allows businesses to create a low-cost, simplified version of their product, test it with real users, and gather valuable feedback.
For instance, in 1999, Nick Swinmurn had a radical idea: selling shoes online without customers trying them on. To test this idea, he photographed local shoe store stocks and advertised them online. If a shoe sold, he would buy it from the store and ship it to the customer. This MVP approach eventually led to the creation of the well-known eCommerce brand Zappos
MVP and agility work hand-in-hand to ensure a business’s success. While MVP tests a product’s potential, engagement, and lifetime value, agility helps businesses match dynamic consumer behavior and balance sustained and disruptive innovation threats.
In 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were struggling to pay their rent and saw an opportunity to offer visitors a place to sleep and breakfast in the morning. They quickly set up a website called “Air Bed and Breakfast,” which eventually evolved into Airbnb. By being agile and adapting their focus from shared spaces to all types of accommodations, Airbnb now has over 4 million hosts worldwide and 6 million active listings on the platform.
In conclusion, MVP and agility are essential for a business’s success. Together, these strategies enable businesses to innovate, adapt, and thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.