Prototype Vs Product

What is the difference between a prototype and a product?

I will try to summarise this based on our experiences and understanding.

When we started building out this product, we did not have access to real data or to real customers. So we did the next next thing.

We stubbed out the data.

We presented the application on NRF, Big Show and received feedback from prospective users.

Prototype#1: No real data and no real customers. Just functionality

We received a real data set form a prospect and started out to develop based on the data set. What we missed out were the real-time scenarios based on the data. We showcased the prototype and received the next set of feedback.

Prototype#2: Real data but not real-time scenarios. Functionality with limited scenarios.

Once we understood the business of the customers and what they do, what they want, we continued building the prototype and now have a product with 2 customers.

Product: A base-lined prototype that handles a basic finite set of scenarios based on the data available and is generic enough to be used by the cross section of users defined for the product.

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