Unlocking Success: The Impact of Pain Point Resolution in Technology Development

At Apexive, we champion a philosophy that values problem-solving over technology. Rather than putting technology on a pedestal, we place greater emphasis on the role of pain point resolution as the key driver of value in our customer projects. This article will shed light on the importance of identifying and solving specific problems in customer projects, debunking the misconception that technology should be the prime focus.

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The Importance of Pain Point Resolution

Addressing specific user problems is essential for success. Too often, ideas that do not address real problems struggle to find a market fit and fail to provide value. Consequently, initiating a project without a clear problem to solve often leads to an inefficient use of resources and time. A successful project requires understanding the problem at hand and tailoring solutions to address this problem directly.

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When evaluating competitors, it's a mistake to solely measure success based on financial achievements. Founders need to have a clear vision, identify pain points, devise a monetization strategy, and consider various factors beyond funding. By understanding the broader landscape and strategically planning, founders can establish a solid foundation for success.

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The Misconception of Technology Over Problem-Solving

A common misconception is that technology is the most crucial aspect of a project, but this often isn't the case.

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Quibi, a mobile-oriented streaming platform launched in 2020, is an example of a startup that introduced a novel technology concept but failed spectacularly. Quibi offered "quick bites" of video content, designed for on-the-go consumption on mobile devices, capitalizing on the trend of increasing mobile video consumption. Despite this innovative approach and raising a staggering $1.75 billion pre-launch, Quibi failed to resonate with its target audience. The proposition of short-form content didn't meet a distinct customer need, especially during a global pandemic when commuting reduced drastically. Furthermore, stiff competition from platforms offering free short content (like YouTube) or longer professional content (like Netflix), coupled with the lack of a social media component for sharing and discussion, led to its downfall. Just six months post-launch, Quibi announced it would be shutting down, underscoring the critical importance of aligning technology with clear, significant customer problems.

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Juicero, a startup that launched in 2016, offered a Wi-Fi-enabled juicer that could press juice out of proprietary, pre-packed fruit and vegetable pouches sold by the company. Juicero's product was touted as a breakthrough in technology and nutrition, and the company raised about $120 million in funding from reputable investors. However, customers quickly realized they could get the same result by simply squeezing the packets by hand, making the expensive juicer superfluous. The company faced backlash for over-engineering a solution to a problem that did not exist, and not offering meaningful value to customers despite the high cost of its product. Juicero ended up suspending its services just 16 months after launch.

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The Apexive Approach: Delivering Results Through Problem-Solving

At Apexive, we focus on delivering results by resolving specific problems. Despite charging per hour (time and material), our commitment lies in delivering solutions that directly address our customers' problems. It's crucial for us, and our customers, to understand from the project's inception how these results will be measured. This not only ensures transparency but also guarantees alignment of goals.

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GetEase collaborated with us to develop a cross-platform mobile application that complements their white-label MVP. Their platform seamlessly connects customers with vetted professionals for services such as massage, manicure, home cleaning, and more. Throughout our engagement, GetEase proposed several forward-thinking concepts. However, after rigorous validation involving comprehensive interviews with both platform users and service providers, we discerned that many of these features weren't addressing genuine needs. As a result, we refined our focus, which empowered us to roll out the cross-platform applications for both Android and iOS in just 2 months. This milestone was instrumental in GetEase securing Seed Round funding, effectively doubling their preceding valuation. By emphasizing crucial features over an exhaustive list, they adeptly navigated potential pitfalls, ensuring optimal resource utilization.

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Recommended reading: CTO as a Service

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The Role of Problem-Solving in Project Scope, Timelines, and Deliverables

During discovery workshops, we ask challenging questions to uncover weaknesses in the future product. This proactive approach helps founders address these issues early on, leading to a stronger product. We home in on our customer’s vision, target audience, and value proposition. From there we define the key features, success metrics, and any potential obstacles, such as regulatory or compliance considerations.

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First we get our clients aligned on what a pain point is before we begin listing and prioritizing them. A pain point refers to a specific frustration or inconvenience that users or stakeholders experience in their existing process or system. It could be either practical, like a software being too slow, or emotional, such as users feeling insecure about their data. Addressing pain points mainly focuses on enhancing user experience and increasing satisfaction, even if the core functionality remains the same.

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Once identified, we explore how users are currently addressing each pain point. Simply improving the UI of an app doesn’t really solve a user’s pain, but saving them time or money often does. With that in mind, we can orient a redesign toward a tangible user goal and then test it out and prove whether we’ve accomplished the goal. We like to brainstorm and organize ideas using tools such as Miro or Xmind. Then it’s useful to map out a sequence using a tool such as ProductPlan or Aha!.

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The product of the engagement’s Discovery phase includes an outline of a product roadmap and planned integrations. In some cases, we develop the first prototype within two weeks. Identifying the biggest pain point that founders aim to solve early on is crucial for this expedited timeline. By launching a minimum viable product (MVP) to address the core pain point first and adding additional features later, founders can achieve a significant win. However, it's essential to consider the problem holistically rather than solely focusing on superficial improvements, such as a better user interface, as they may not effectively solve the underlying issue.

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With our modern architecture leveraging our proprietary blend of Django, Flutter and Terraform, we’re able to deliver apps for iOS, Android and the web simultaneously, with no additional effort. That means we can solve real end-user problems no matter how they connect, rather than building around technology constraints.

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Conclusion

The approach of problem-solving over technology is a crucial factor in driving success in customer projects. As we have discussed, successful projects such as GetEase’s foray into Mobile weren't solely about technology but rather about solving a particular problem.

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At Apexive, we are ardent believers in this approach, ensuring we deliver tailored solutions that directly tackle our customers' problems. We encourage you to consider this problem-solving perspective in your projects, paving the way for innovative solutions that create genuine value. Let problem-solving be your compass, guiding you towards success in your projects.

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Let us know how we can help define and deliver the right solutions for your new or existing business by reaching out to us.