Many manufacturers embrace the platform model, particularly those in the automotive and cyber-physical sectors. Simply put, the platform model involves a “base” product configuration that can be customized differently, providing customers diverse options. Consider how many automotive companies offer a base trim that can be upgraded with different add-ons and features.
While the platform model can benefit the consumer in many respects, it presents manufacturers with some challenges. It can be difficult to maintain a clear and consistent strategy that spans a complicated product line, especially when managing multi-disciplinary teams.
Platform organizations have tackled these challenges by using sophisticated software solutions. These tools allow employees, throughout the organization, to be aligned around a shared strategy, up-to-date information, and a single course of truth.
The Unique Needs of Platform Organizations
To understand what makes product roadmapping tools so valuable, it’s first important to learn more about the unique needs of platform organizations.
Platform organizations are defined first and foremost by offering products in multiple configurations, allowing them to accommodate different consumer preferences, needs, pain points, and budgets.
Again, think about car companies. For each individual model, automotive companies provide endless configurations of color, tires, interior finishes, exterior finishes, and even engine type. Customers have a broad set of options to choose from; even two different customers who buy a Chevrolet Equinox may wind up with vehicles that are distinct from one another.
To make this rich assortment of options possible, platform organizations need product management tools to handle varied configurations and dependencies across product lines. This requires them to ensure teams fully align around a transparent information source.
How Do Product Roadmapping Tools Help Manufacturers?
The Gocious product roadmap software and platform helps manufacturing organizations achieve the alignment they need. In fact, there are several benefits to adopting a product roadmap tool.
- Eliminating information silos. In many manufacturing organizations, information silos impede communication and encumber decision-making. When different teams or departments rely on dissimilar tools, it can result in fragmented or contradictory data, to say nothing of mismatched goals. Product roadmap tools can address these concerns by consolidating information into one easy-to-access platform. Essentially, product roadmaps can keep everyone on the same page and in active dialogue with one another.
- Improving information transparency. Transparency is a prerequisite for accountability and trust. Product roadmap software delivers transparency, facilitating real-time updates and providing stakeholders with a clear sense of their project’s progress. This allows everyone to clearly see the status of various initiatives, to monitor timelines, and to be more aware of kinks and bottlenecks.
- Promoting collaboration. Platform organizations thrive on collaborative work. Cross-disciplinary teamwork is vital for innovation and successful project execution. Product roadmapping tools ensure cross-collaboration by confirming teams have a shared space to communicate, share ideas, and exchange feedback. Simply put, product roadmap tools help break down barriers between different departments.
- Keeping priorities in check. Another major benefit of product roadmap solutions is the ability for teams to prioritize. Different departments can assess and rank ideas based on product impact, urgency, and resource access. Taking a more structured approach to prioritization helps teams focus on what matters most.
Product Roadmap Tools Empower Platform Organizations
The bottom line: Companies that embrace the platform model face several tough questions. Some of those questions include:
- How will product leaders manage all of the optional features and add-ons associated with their product line?
- How will the marketing team communicate this range of options to the end consumer?
- Do all of these optional features and configurations have a strong business case? Are they profitable?
- How will product design and development teams track new features and iterations against the ones that are already available?
Implementing product roadmapping software makes it much easier for platform organizations to answer these and related questions and ensures all personnel know what those answers are. Ultimately, choosing the right product roadmapping tools is vital for platform organizations that hope to work as efficiently as possible.
This is a sponsored post by Blog Management. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are not based on the views and opinions of Tomorrow’s World Today.
