The first thing to remember is that MVP and Beta-version of the product are not similar. Although each option relates to the preliminary stages of the release of the application, skipping one in favor of the other is a gross mistake. For example, shifting the task of testing the program to the first MVP users, as in the case of the Beta-version, will turn into a failure and serious reputational losses.
The matter is that MVP and Beta-version of the program differ in aims and time frames for release, which, therefore, excludes their interchangeability. Below you will see how a minimum viable product differs from Beta-version.
A minimum viable product is a version of the program application that is adapted for selling. MVP is equipped with minimal functionality, which is necessary for solving tasks by initial users. However, the set of capabilities is quite restricted. MVP is released to obtain confirmation or refutation of the hypothesis about whether the product is useful for the audience, if there is a demand for it, etc. The minimum viable product is called the Alpha version.
Beta-version is one of the preliminary stages in the process of development, at which the program is tested. In fact, the Beta-version of the program is almost its final version with an extended set of functions. It is presented to a sufficiently large group of selected users to evaluate possibilities, identify errors or drawbacks, and eliminate weaknesses.
What is the difference between MVP and Beta-version?
The target audience for these two preliminary stages is also different. The MVP’s target audience consists of internal users, as for the ones of the Beta-version, they are a selected segment of the mass market.
To sum up, we can say that MVP and Beta-version have little in common. A minimum viable product needs only several basic functions to prove the practicality and uniqueness of the conception. A Beta-version is created when there is much more extensive knowledge and subtleties of the software performance and users’ needs. It is possible to design a smoothly functioning application by going through all the preliminary stages of development, including MVP and Beta-version.
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