Implementing a feature requested by a prospect?
It is all in the title:
How do you decide whether you should take the time to implement the requested feature (potentially quite time-consuming) ?
Have you been in this situation? What did you do? Why? And how did it turn out ?
Prospect or actual client? If it's a Client, I book it in the backlog, if it's a Prospect I say "Sign up and we'll implement it"
Thank your for you answer!
Prospect with no tangible commitment. They just implied that they would sign up if the feature were implemented.
Ask to talk to them more about it, find out how big of a problem it solves/what its worth, try to get a commitment
Hi Cef,
Yes, I have been in this situation many times and have implemented the feature often but not always. Not always a good idea to implement it.
The one thing you don't want to do is to a lot of work "on spec" and then have the prospect decide they don't want the feature.
Ask yourself
Then if you decide to go ahead, don't do the work unless there is a purchase order in place.
Payment can be conditional on on delivery of the feature but you need a commitment from the customer.
If it is a lot of work do stage payments. Maybe a payment on delivery of the standard product and then payment on delivery of the custom software.
Since it is a lot of work you should probably charge for it. And cover your all your costs, ie estimate the full hourly rate - but quote a fixed price, unless you think this custom feature will be useful to other customers.
Amazing answer. Thank you @steve9!
Charging the prospect for the feature is a great idea but only a possibility in the case of an Enterprise product I think. In the case of my product, the most expensive plan is 199$/month which doesn't even cover half a day's work cost.
The feature is an excellent fit for the product and will surely help bring more sales, but it would take up a big chunk of time, time that can be used to bring more sales. The developer in me is screaming to start implementing the feature, especially that it is a bit technically challenging. But it just doesn't feel right.
I think it will end up being a gut decision. (like all decisions I guess)
Hi Cef,
Sounds like your time would be better spent not doing it, as your gut says.
Good luck!