B2B SaaS MVP Triology - Prototyping

This is the second part of the three-part series, in we are exploring the B2B SaaS business which has had a bullish trend since 2021 (as per Google Trends Search Interest). The three Parts have been broken down chronologically:

1. Identifying Opportunity[i]
2. Prototyping
3. Business Modelling

Once we have identified the opportunity and prioritised features, the next step is rapid prototyping and functionality testing. At this stage, its not about testing what we can build given the resources, but testing if the market accepts what we are trying to build in as light weight and lean manner possible.

Remember this not Version 1, But Version 0.

Process Flow Designs

In my experience with building 12+ businesses, 2 full-scale enterprise applications, and countless MVPs, this is the most crucial step that most entrepreneurs and even SMEs do not spend enough time on.

Start with a pen, pencil, and a blank sheet of paper. And ask your selves these 3 questions:

• How is the functional flow will be of your B2B SaaS app?
• What are the different features and modules that your app will need to have to complete that functional flow?
• Is the journey flowing seamlessly forward, or are there regressive steps?

Illustration: Linkedin Engagement AI Tool

In the following diagrams, we will be looking at the flow of an advanced LinkedIn AI Engagement Bot. I am taking this example since most of us are exposed to some generic AI Generated comments on our posts, do it would be easier to relate to.

I have used the Mermaid Chart [viii] for creating these charts. It’s a simple markdown to chart convertor that has a completely free online tool as well.

I will attach the codes here as well,

Let’s start with overall process flow

graph TD;
    A[Start Bot] --> B[Schedule Random Actions]
    B --> C{Check For New Posts}
    C -->|Yes| D[Analyze Post Content]
    C -->|No| B
    D --> E{Is Call To Action?}
    E -->|Yes| F[Generate Comment]
    E -->|No| G{Contains Keywords?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Use Knowledgebase to Generate Engaging Comment]
    G -->|No| I[Select Appropriate Reaction]
    F --> J[Post Comment]
    H --> J
    I --> K[React to Post]
    J --> L[Wait For Next Schedule]
    K --> L
    L --> B        

We now have Identified at least 2 modules that will be needed in this –

Reactions Module and Comments Module.

Let’s map them both.

Reactions Module

We have to go beyond the basic likes.

graph TD;
    A[Analyze Post Sentiment] --> B{Sentiment Score}
    B -->|Positive| C[React: Like or Love]
    B -->|Neutral| D[React: Insightful or Support]
    B -->|Negative| E[No Reaction]
    B -->|Humorous| F[React: Funny]
    C --> G[End]
    D --> G
    E --> G
    F --> G        

Commenter Module

This module will be used to generate human mimicing comments that would be highly relevant with an expertly engineered prompt.

graph TD;
    A[Receive Post] --> B{Is Call To Action?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Generate Simple Comment]
    B -->|No| D{Contains Keywords?}
    D -->|Yes| E[Analyze With Knowledgebase]
    D -->|No| F[Do Not Comment]
    E --> G{Is Engaging?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Post Comment]
    G -->|No| I[Refrain from Commenting]
    C --> H
    H --> J[End]
    I --> J
    F --> J        

Simple process mapping tools

For designing effective process flows, several tools stand out for their robust features and user-friendly interfaces:

draw.io [ii], Lucidchart [iii], Excalidraw [iv] and Miro [v] offer comprehensive features for process design, allowing teams to visualize complex ideas with ease.

Lucidchart , for example, provides real-time collaboration features and integrates seamlessly with platforms like Google Workspace , making it ideal for teams looking to document processes and create business models collaboratively.

微软 Visio[vi] is another excellent option, especially for teams already invested in the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem[vii]. It offers deep integration with Microsoft 365 , enhancing functionality and collaboration.

More advanced frameworks and platforms are recommended at production level like Creatio Studio [ix], Pegasystems [x], and Camunda [xi] that use BPMN and DPN standards and give further functionalities to your process charts.

Setting up your Projects

Project management tools are essential for keeping your MVP development on track.

Tools like monday.com , Atlassian Jira , Trello , and Asana offer a range of features tailored to different project needs.

I have covered more about these on my article B2B Project Management Systems in 2024: Beyond Gantt

Designing UI/UX

Designing an intuitive and engaging user interface is critical for the success of your MVP.

Tools like Figma [xii], Sketch [xiii] and Adobe XD[xiv] offer powerful platforms for UI/UX design, allowing for real-time collaboration and extensive prototyping capabilities.

Figma 's strength lies in its comprehensive design features and collaborative environment, making it ideal for teams.

Adobe XD provides seamless design-to-prototype capabilities, with a range of plugins and integrations to enhance the design process

Leveraging No-Code and Low-Code Builders

No-Code and Low-Code platforms have revolutionized how MVPs are built, allowing for rapid development and deployment with minimal coding knowledge.

These tools are invaluable for startups and businesses looking to test their ideas quickly and efficiently.

No-Code Builders

One of the popular option, Bubble [xv] offers a powerful drag-and-drop editor for web applications, allowing creators to design, develop, and launch robust applications without writing code.

An alternative, Adalo [xvi] specializes in mobile app development with a focus on user-friendly design and seamless deployment capabilities.

If you are building a website, and not an app, then Webflow [xvii] is your friend. It combines website design and development in one tool, enabling the creation of professional-grade websites without coding.

Builder.ai [xviii] and Google Cloud AppSheet [xix] are also relevant to check out.

Low-Code Builders

Low-code platforms provide greater flexibility than no-code platforms and are generally suited for technical users looking to reduce their turn-around-time.

OutSystems is known for its enterprise-grade capabilities, enabling rapid development of complex applications with minimal coding.[xx] It has recently released AI Agent Builder Feature.[xxi]

Mendix Studio Pro offers a comprehensive low-code IDE[xxii] for businesses to build, integrate, and deploy applications quickly.

微软 Power Apps[xxiii] is a part of the Microsoft Power Platform , which allows users to build custom apps with pre-built templates and simple logic flows.

These platforms empower teams to focus on the product's design, user experience, and core functionality without getting bogged down by technical complexities. They also offer scalability and integration options, making them suitable for MVP development and beyond.

FullStack Route

While the all the above steps will essentially fulfil the requirements necessary for prototyping. We will QUICKLY cover some additional steps that could be useful for startups and SMEs not opting for No-code and Low-code platforms, but going for full stack development.

Building, Testing, and Iterating with Tools

The iterative process of developing an MVP involves continuous building, testing, and refining based on user feedback and performance metrics.

Building Tools

GitHub : For version control and collaboration, ensuring code is managed efficiently across the development team.

Docker, Inc : Provides a consistent environment for application development, facilitating easy deployment and scaling.

Testing Tools

Selenium : Automates browsers for web application testing, ensuring your MVP works as intended across different devices and platforms.

JestJs: A JavaScript Testing Framework with a focus on simplicity, supporting complex front-end and back-end testing.

Iterating Tools

LaunchDarkly : This tool allows you to deploy features behind feature flags, making it easier to test new features with select user groups and gather feedback for iterative improvement.

Preparing for Scalability

Scalability is a critical aspect of any SaaS MVP, ensuring that your application can handle growth in users, data, and traffic without performance degradation.

Cloud Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elastic Beanstalk: Automatically handles the deployment, from capacity provisioning and load balancing to auto-scaling.

Google Cloud App Engine: Offers fully managed serverless application development and hosting, scaling your app automatically in response to the traffic.

Database Management

MongoDB Atlas: Provides a fully managed cloud database designed for modern application development with scalability and flexibility.

Firebase Realtime Database: Offers a cloud-hosted NoSQL database that lets you easily sync and store data between users in real-time.

Performance Monitoring Tools

New Relic : Offers real-time insights into your application's performance and the user experience, helping identify bottlenecks as you scale.

Datadog : A monitoring and analytics platform that provides visibility into the performance of your servers, databases, and applications.

Conclusion

By leveraging these no-code/low-code platforms, development and testing tools, and scalability solutions, start-ups can efficiently navigate the process of bringing a SaaS MVP to market.

This strategic approach not only accelerates time-to-market but also ensures that the MVP is scalable, secure, and positioned for success in a competitive landscape.

I have personally leveraged a bunch of the tools of articles covered for both my start-ups and Adiflow Consulting client’s. Creatio Studio, Miro , and ClickUp have particularly been my good friends as a bootstrapped startup founder.

I recommend every technical founder to first identift the market opportunities before building something.

Remember,

App can be mode of delivery but the not the service in itself

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?

[i] (“B2B SaaS MVP Triology - Identifying Opportunity | LinkedIn,” n.d.)

[ii] (“draw.io,” n.d.)

[iii] (“Creating Process Maps and Flowcharts | Lucid,” n.d.)

[iv] (“Excalidraw — Collaborative whiteboarding made easy,” n.d.)

[v] (“An Easy-to-Use Process Mapping Tool | Miro,” n.d.)

[vi] (“Process Mapping - Microsoft Visio,” n.d.)

[vii] (“Microsoft 365 - Subscription for Office Apps | Microsoft 365,” n.d., p. 365)

[viii] (“Mermaid | Diagramming and charting tool,” n.d.)

[ix] (“No-code platform to build applications and workflows | Studio Creatio,” n.d.)

[x] (“Center-out business architecture | Pega,” 2020)

[xi] (“Modeler,” n.d.)

[xii] (“Free Prototyping Tool,” n.d.)

[xiii] (“Sketch · Prototyping Tools for Everyone,” n.d.)

[xiv] (“Learn XD Prototyping | Adobe XD,” n.d.)

[xv] (“Bubble Design,” n.d.)

[xvi] (“Adalo - No-Code Mobile and Web App Builder,” n.d.)

[xvii] (“Website Design Tools & Software | Webflow,” n.d.)

[xviii] (“App Builder - Build a Native Mobile App Without Coding,” n.d.)

[xix] (“Google AppSheet | Build apps with no code,” n.d.)

[xx] (“High-Performance Low-Code for App Development | OutSystems,” n.d.)

[xxi] (“Go GenAI with OutSystems AI Agent Builder,” n.d.)

[xxii] (“Mendix Studio Pro Low-Code IDE,” n.d.)

[xxiii] (“Microsoft Power Apps – Build Apps with AI | Microsoft,” n.d.)