Balancing Big Features and Quick Wins

In the early days of aviation, pilots faced a perplexing challenge. Despite advancements in aircraft technology, planes were still crashing due to pilot error. It wasn't until the introduction of something as simple as the pre-flight checklist that accident rates began to plummet. This small, straightforward tool had a massive impact on flight safety.

The Dynamic of Innovation

This juxtaposition of grand innovations and simple solutions is not just a relic of the past; it’s a dynamic we navigate every day in our work. We find ourselves at the crossroads of building expansive features that promise transformative change and implementing quick fixes that immediately enhance our users' daily experiences.

Big Features: The Power of Forecasting

Take, for instance, our current endeavour with Prophet, the open-source forecasting tool developed by Meta ( Facebook ). Forecasting is a complex beast—a blend of art and science—requiring nuanced understanding and sophisticated algorithms. Integrating Prophet into our workforce management platform is no small feat. It demands substantial time, resources, and a deep dive into the intricacies of predictive analytics. But we embarked on this journey because we believe in the profound impact it will have. By empowering our users with advanced forecasting capabilities, we're not just adding a feature; we're providing a compass for future decision-making, enabling businesses to navigate the uncertain terrains of market trends with confidence.

Quick Wins: Addressing Immediate Needs

Contrast this with a recent request from one of our long-time users. Who shared a challenge: coordinating shift schedules when employees self-select their hours was becoming chaotic, especially as deadlines approached. There was a simple solution—implementing a feature that allows managers to set deadlines for self-scheduling on shifts. This wasn't a groundbreaking technological advancement, but it directly alleviated a pain point for them and, as it turns out, many others facing the same issue.

Balancing the Long Game and Immediate Wins

This duality in our development process mirrors the delicate balance between the long game and the immediate win. The big projects, like integrating Prophet, are our moon shots. They require time, patience, and often a leap of faith. They're about building for the future, anticipating needs, and staying ahead of the curve. These projects have the potential to redefine how our users interact with data and make strategic decisions.

On the other hand, the quick wins are our everyday victories. They're about listening—truly listening—to our users' experiences and being agile enough to respond swiftly. When we implemented the scheduling deadline feature, the feedback was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. It was a reminder that sometimes, the smallest tweaks can make the most significant difference in someone's day-to-day operations.

The Importance of Both Approaches

Why not focus solely on the quick wins if they yield immediate satisfaction? Or dedicate all our resources to the big projects that could revolutionize our platform? The answer lies in understanding that innovation isn't a zero-sum game. It's about harmony and recognizing that both approaches feed into each other.

The quick wins keep us grounded. They ensure we're attuned to the practical needs of our users, fostering trust and demonstrating that we're responsive and attentive. They often uncover insights that inform our larger projects, providing real-world contexts that shape our long-term strategies.

Meanwhile, the big features are what push us forward. They challenge us to step out of our comfort zones, to invest in solutions that our users might not even know they need yet. They're riskier, yes, but they're also where breakthroughs happen.

A Real-World Example: The Evolution of Smartphones

Consider the evolution of smartphones. Early models were cumbersome, with limited functionality. Incremental improvements—better cameras, faster processors—kept users engaged. But it was the introduction of the app ecosystem, a massive undertaking, that truly transformed how we use our phones. It wasn't just a new feature; it was a paradigm shift.

Similarly, our work with Prophet isn't just about adding a forecasting tool. It's about reimagining how businesses approach planning and strategy. It's a big feature with the potential for massive impact, but it doesn't overshadow the importance of the smaller, user-driven enhancements that make our platform indispensable on a daily basis.

Conclusion: Synergy Between Big Features and Quick Wins

In the end, it's not a question of big features versus quick wins—it's about synergy. By valuing and investing in both, we're able to deliver a platform that's robust and forward-thinking, yet adaptable and user-friendly.

We're committed to this balanced approach because we believe it's the best way to serve you. Your feedback is the compass that guides our quick wins, ensuring that we're always aligned with your immediate needs. Simultaneously, our investment in large-scale projects reflects our dedication to providing you with tools that will propel your business into the future.

Invitation to Collaborate

As we continue this journey, we invite you to share your thoughts, challenges, and aspirations with us. After all, it's through this collaborative spirit that we'll achieve not just success, but significance.

???? We're also inviting companies to join our super exciting forecasting pilot. We're looking for more participants to help us build a robust setup that strikes the right balance between being powerful, easy to use and understand, and adaptable to a wide variety of industries and use cases—just like Soon itself.

>> If you're interested in joining our Forecasting Pilot
send me a direct message here on Linkedin and we'll make it happen !        

My LinkedIn Olaf Jacobson <<<

Thank you for being a part of our story. We're excited about the road ahead and look forward to navigating it together.