Proof of Concept (PoC): what is it and why do you need it?

You have a strong idea for a new product. It feels logical, it sounds promising and you can envision clearly what it could mean to your customers. But an idea only becomes valuable when it truly works in practice and when you can convince others that it’s a good idea.

You want to know whether it’s technically feasible, whether it fits the needs of your target group and whether there is actual interest in the product to develop it further.

A Proof of Concept (PoC) helps you get answers to these questions. It’s an initial step to confidently take the next steps in product development, without unnecessary risk.

In this blog:

• What is a Proof of Concept (PoC)?
• Why do you need a Proof of Concept?
• What are the components of a PoC?
• Creating a Proof of Concept in 8 steps
• Your Proof of Concept quickly in your hands with Beeliners

What is a Proof of Concept (PoC)?

A Proof of Concept is a process in which you gather evidence to demonstrate the technical feasibility of your new product idea. This can be done, for example, by creating a video showing how software works to gauge interest, or by testing prototypes in the market to collect feedback. You document the results and describe in advance, among other things, what you want to achieve and which benchmarks you will use.

A PoC mainly focuses on feasibility and whether the concept actually functions as intended. At this stage, it is not yet about how the product should be developed.

What a PoC is used for

A PoC is used to demonstrate that your idea works in order to gain internal approval, convince stakeholders and secure funding for the next steps. This also makes a PoC very important, not only to identify opportunities, but also to discover and resolve risks or unrealistic expectations at an early stage.

What is the difference between a Proof of Concept, a prototype and an MVP?

When you get involved in the development of a new product, the terms ‘Proof of Concept’, ‘prototype‘, and ‘MVP’ are often mentioned. Although these terms are frequently used interchangeably, they serve different roles in the development process:

• The Proof of Concept (PoC): demonstrates that an idea is feasible. It answers the question of whether a product technically works. This is done through research and by conducting tests.
• A prototype: is a developed version of an idea. It shows, at a high level, how the product functions. This can be physical or digital.
• A Minimum Viable Product (MVP): is an early version of the final product with only the necessary features. With this, you test how users respond to your new product.

We see that these phases partially overlap in practice. For example, a prototype can be used as part of the Proof of Concept and we often create prototypes ourselves that already come close to an MVP. In practice, these are not strict steps that always take place in the same order. Together, they form a continuous process of testing, learning, and adjusting. This is also known as an iterative process.

Why do you need a Proof of Concept?

Developing a new product is an investment. With every investment, you want certainty. A PoC helps you gain that certainty by:

• Preventing waste of resources: With a Proof of Concept you discover early on whether an idea is realistic. Does the technology not work, or does something turn out to be impossible? Then you would rather see that in this phase than halfway through the development process.
• Building trusts with stakeholders and investors: An idea only becomes truly convincing when others can see that it works. A PoC gives you a physical or digital example and shows that the product can actually function. This helps in securing funding, partnerships and internal decision-making.
• Providing direction for next steps: A Proof of Concept shows where the risks lie and which choices need to be made for the next phase.

We strongly believe in “having something in hand”: a physical or digital example makes discussions concrete and speeds up decision-making.

What are the components of a PoC?

The exact content of a Proof of Concept differs per project, but there are several elements you will almost always want to include in a document and investigate:

• The problem statement: what problem do you want to solve?
• Project definition: what exactly are you going to test?
• Project goals: what should the PoC demonstrate?
• Required resources: which materials, technology, expertise and time do you need?

With these elements, you create a clear framework within which you test the feasibility of an idea.

Creating a Proof of Concept in 8 steps

Creating a PoC does not have to be complicated. It is mainly about clarity and focus. In general, you go through the following steps:

1. Formulate the problem statement: What problem do you want to solve with your product? Which need in the market do you want to address? It is important to first identify the pain points of potential customers and describe how you want to solve their problems. This prevents you from developing a product that no one will use. We recommend organizing a brainstorming session or a focus group discussion to define the problems of your target group.
2. Determine the success criteria: How do you know when you have succeeded (or failed)? Once the project is defined, you determine the benchmarks to measure the chances of success or failure. You can establish these criteria through research.
3. Determine the required resources: What do you need in terms of materials, technology, expertise, time and people? Compile a complete list of the resources needed to carry out the project. Think of participants from your target group for a test with an initial prototype or a video explaining how your application works (and who will create it).
4. Create a timeline: The PoC is a project in itself, and its success or failure determines whether and how you proceed with developing your idea. As with any project, it is important to set timelines and milestones and to estimate the effort required to complete the PoC. Define, among other things, how much time is needed to complete the research, create the PoC, documentation, presentations and demonstrations.
5. Develop a demo and test it: A small, focused implementation of the most important features and functions to prove that your concept can work. This initial version does not yet need to look refined. A simple wireframe, for example, is already sufficient.
6. Collect feedback: Ask potential customers and stakeholders for feedback on your product. This gives you a direct answer to whether the product meets their needs. By gathering feedback, you also uncover limitations, potential problems, and areas that need improvement. The insights, issues, and/or improvements that emerge from the feedback can be incorporated during further development.
7. Present the PoC to stakeholders: You then present your idea and the PoC to stakeholders for approval to proceed with development. With the PoC, you demonstrate that your product works and that the pain points of the target group are being addressed. If the Proof of Concept meets the previously defined success criteria, there is a strong chance you will receive approval.
8. Evaluate and refine the results: Based on the feedback collected earlier, you develop a prototype. This is usually a functional version of your product. This gives your target group a better understanding of how your product works and how it solves their problems.

Your Proof of Concept quickly in your hands with Beeliners

With our approach, in which we focus on accelerating innovation, you will have a Proof of Concept in hand in no time. We immediately create an initial version of the PoC in which we identify the showstoppers: the obstacles that stand in the way of further progress. We resolve these and then assess whether the concept is realistic. We do this by conducting functional tests and substantiating key decisions.

After the A-sample, we move on to the B-sample: the engineering and design phase. The PoC therefore forms the foundation on which the further product realization process is built. A strong Proof of Concept makes the difference between a promising product and a project that stalls before it even starts. It provides clarity, direction, and the confidence to take the next steps. Curious about what those next steps are? We’ll happily look at your specific situation and discuss which steps you can take next.