Factoring in your Company Profiles
ToeDipper Software: This company type tends to focus on a niche market and might under-invest in a complete product strategy with the assumption that this is more of an experiment. While it may not seem normal for these companies, there is still great value to be extracted from having a solid product strategy. Answering some of the hard question about tenant profiles, compliance, data isolation, and tiering will help you be hyper-focused on where this new niche is, and which dynamics you will need to think about as you are defining the capabilities, experience, and value proposition of your new SaaS offering.
SurvivorTech: This company type needs to have a clear picture of the product strategy to effectively compete against current and emerging offerings. The key is to have a strategy that goes beyond just having a SaaS offering. The companies need to find the tiering and value boundaries for their offering that will enable them to retain and grab market. A carefully considered product strategy will enable these companies to map out a more complete survival path that is less reactive and more strategic.
UnicornExpress.com: This company type tends to share some traits with the SurvivorTech profile in that these companies are often so driven to acquire customers and generate revenue that they too will short-circuit the product strategy process. While the pressures to get something out is real, the danger is that executing without a clear product strategy may undermine the company when the growth curve kicks in. If you have left tiering, compliance, and many of the other factors outlined here out of your vision, you may find yourself struggling to address the needs of the market and fully maximize this growth.
New Horizons Software: This company type must look at the product strategy as if creating a new line of business. The real difference is that these companies are not necessarily facing the financial and time pressures that you see in a startup. These companies may also have to form new teams that can operate separately from the rest of the company as they build their new SaaS offering.
