Before building a digital product, agree who it is for, what problem it solves, and what the first release must do. Compare proposals after each team explains its assumptions, costs, and technical dependencies.
Set the first release scope
Discuss which features are required now and which can wait. Consider measures such as activation, retention, revenue, or internal efficiency. Identify integrations, workflows, approvals, and data dependencies that may affect delivery.
Ask how the team makes product decisions
Ask for examples where research changed scope or priorities. Confirm who owns the product brief, user flows, design, engineering, quality assurance, and support after launch.
Review communication and ownership
- Do written follow-ups record decisions and assumptions?
- Are milestones and risks explained?
- Does the agreement state who owns code, designs, documentation, and data access?
Watch for commitments made too early
- Guaranteed delivery dates before discovery.
- One person claiming to cover strategy, UX, design, engineering, QA, and project management.
- No plan for QA, release management, or support after launch.
Choose a partner whose proposal states the first release, responsibilities, assumptions, risks, and support in writing. This gives you a basis for deciding whether the plan fits before agreeing to build.