Avoid failure: Hidden costs of skipping solution discovery
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Digital product failure is more common than it seems. More than 70% of developed features are not used or do not generate the expected value.
This means lost time, money, missed opportunities, equipment wear and tear, and loss of end-user trust.
Why does this happen? One of the main reasons is the omission of a key stage: the solution discovery process.
Understanding Solution Discovery
Solution discovery is a strategic phase that allows you to define the direction of a product before development begins. It goes beyond requirements gathering: it is a structured process of research, hypothesis validation, and deep understanding of the problem.
During this phase, teams work to answer critical questions:
- What is the user's real problem?
- Is it worth solving?
- What is the best possible solution?
- Which features generate value from day one?
This process reduces uncertainty, validates assumptions, and lays the groundwork for a more efficient and effective development strategy.
The price of skipping Solution Discovery
Many companies skip this phase to move quickly. The problem is that without solution discovery, teams face hidden costs:
1. Building products with no market
Developing solutions that no one wants is common without prior context analysis. This leads to investing months or years in features that don't solve real problems.
2. Loss of internal alignment
Stakeholders may have different visions. Solution discovery aligns all stakeholders on a common vision, avoiding misunderstandings.
3. Rework costs
When a product doesn't work, features must be redone or the entire project redesigned. This can double or triple the initial cost.
4. Loss of user trust
Launching poorly designed products damages reputation. A bad experience drives users away forever. Discovery allows you to validate with real users from the start.
5. Poor business decision-making
Without real data, decisions are based on assumptions, intuition, or internal pressures. This can deviate from strategic objectives and lead to failure.
How to structure a good Solution Discovery process
It's not a rigid process, but it should include:
User research: Interviews, surveys, analysis, and direct observation.
Problem and opportunity mapping: Identification and prioritization of pain points based on impact and feasibility.
Co-creation and prototyping: Low-fidelity prototypes to quickly validate with real users.
Technical and business validation: Verify that the solutions are technically and financially viable.
Common cases of failure due to lack of Solution Discovery
Many startups fall in love with an idea without validating it. They create robust products with many features, waiting for demand that never comes.
Large companies also make this mistake. They allocate million-dollar budgets to products that don't meet expectations because they don't dedicate weeks to discovery.
When should you do Solution Discovery?
Whenever you're developing a new product, launching a critical feature, or redesigning a digital experience.
It's also useful for warning signs such as low adoption, constant negative feedback, or a gap between what's built and what users need.
Even for existing products, discovery can help decide what to keep, improve, or eliminate.
Smart investment: What Solution Discovery costs vs. What it saves
Some leaders see it as an expense, but it's an investment that protects the return. Investing 3 to 6 weeks can prevent years of flawed development.
Improve team focus, accelerate decisions, strengthen collaboration, and reduce risks. Financially and strategically, prevention is cheaper than correction.
Success isn't improvised, it's discovered
The market doesn't tolerate value-free products. To stand out, you need relevant, useful, and well-designed solutions.
Solution discovery is the key tool to achieve this. Ignoring it is walking in the dark, with a high risk of costly mistakes.
Adopting it as part of your strategy increases the likelihood of success and optimizes your technological investment.
At our software development company, we support our clients with robust discovery processes to build products with real impact.