If you’re looking to work with a software development supplier, one of the most crucial things to understand is whether you need help with a project or a product. Now, this might sound like splitting hairs, but the distinction between these two approaches can have a huge impact on how your relationship with a company plays out.
Spoiler alert:Axon Active specializes in products, and that’s key to knowing whether we’re the right fit for you.
So let’s break it down.
What’s a Project?
Picture this: You’re planning a family holiday. You’ve got a clear idea of what you want—a destination, a budget, and a timeline. You research, book everything, pack your bags, and head out. Once the holiday is over, that’s it—you’re done. You might plan another holiday later, but it won’t be the same trip.
That’s essentially what a project is in the development world. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You have a specific goal in mind, such as building an app, creating a website, or implementing a new feature. Once it’s done, the job is finished. You pay for the work, the company delivers it, and everyone moves on.
Many companies are geared toward this type of work. They come in, complete the job, and then hand it over to you. You can think of them as contractors—great for short-term fixes or one-off developments.
Examples of a Project
Building a mobile app for a local business.
Creating a small company website.
Setting up a small e-commerce platform.
Developing a small specific feature for existing software.
Integrating a new API or service into a system.
Projects will have maintenance, updates or bug fixes (big software always needs this also for security)
The Project Lifecycle
The lifecycle of a project is straightforward and defined from the start. Projects typically follow a linear progression, with clear stages and an end goal in mind.
Initiation
The project is defined, goals are set, and planning begins. A timeline and budget are established.
Planning
Detailed steps and tasks are mapped out. Resources are allocated, and the project scope is finalized.
Execution
Work begins. Teams follow the plan, hitting milestones along the way. As the plan is executed, the team must adapt to unexpected issues.
Monitoring and Control
Progress is tracked to ensure the project stays on time and within budget. Adjustments are made if needed.
Closure
Once the deliverables are complete and approved, the project is formally closed. The team disbands, and the focus shifts to handing over the final product or service to the client or stakeholders.
What’s a Product?
Now, think of a product like starting a business. Sure, you have that initial phase where you launch and open the doors, but that’s just the beginning. A product needs constant care and attention. You’re always tweaking it based on feedback, market changes, and new trends. Maybe you need to add new features, optimize performance, or keep the user experience fresh as things evolve.
At Axon Active, we’re in it for the long haul, helping to maintain, adjust, and continuously improve your product. We take the time to get to know your goals, your market, and your users so we can help your product adapt and thrive as things change.
Examples of a Product
A social media platform that requires constant updates, new features, and security improvements.
An e-commerce site that needs ongoing optimization, adding new payment options, and product management.
A SaaS (Software as a Service) product that evolves with customer needs, adding features, improving user interfaces, and integrating new tools.
A complex enterprise software system that requires regular updates, security patches, and feature expansion over time.
An online learning platform where new content and features are constantly introduced based on user feedback.
The Product Development Lifecycle
Unlike projects, products don’t have an end date. They evolve continuously based on user feedback, market changes, technical trends, security updates, and new business needs. Here’s what the product lifecycle looks like:
Development
The initial product is conceptualized, designed, and built based on market research and user needs.
Launch
The product is introduced to the market, but this is just the beginning.
Growth
The product gains traction, with more users and customers providing feedback. New features are added, and improvements are made to enhance performance. Complexity also increases, which requires ongoing maintenance, updates to APIs and security connections.
Maturity
As the product reaches peak market penetration, the focus shifts to maintenance, ensuring its relevance through updates and minor improvements. This approach helps prevent losing business to competitors with superior products or shifts in the market.
Decline (or Evolution)
At this stage, some products may decline, but others evolve. Through continuous updates and iterations, the product can adapt to new trends, technologies, and user requirements to avoid obsolescence. One recent example would be BlackBerry’s decline. This situation shows the risks of missing technological shifts and evolving user demands. While continuous updates can help a product stay relevant, BlackBerry’s resistance to adopting touchscreen interfaces and its initial focus on business users left it vulnerable for competitors to innovate and capture the market.
The Key Differences Between a Product and Project
Aspect | Product | Project |
Duration | Long-term, ongoing with no defined end date | Short-term with a clear start and end |
Goals and Objectives | Focused on continuous growth and providing value over time | Specific, measurable goals that conclude when met |
Scope | Evolving scope based on feedback and market trends | Fixed scope with limited room for change |
Flexibility | Highly flexible, adapts to new requirements and changes | Less flexible due to predefined deliverables and deadlines |
End Users | Designed for long-term user satisfaction and needs | Focus on delivering the final result to meet initial requirements |
Ownership and Lifecycle | Ongoing management and iteration over multiple lifecycle phases | Temporary ownership, ends upon completion |
Collaboration | Continuous collaboration, building long-term relationships | Temporary collaboration, team disbands after completion |
Building something simple and known is a project. If we build something unknown and more complex it usually ends up in a product, as also Scrum is a framework for a product especially in Software development. As it needs integration and continues for other development to figure the right needs and adjust to the right market and customer needs. Besides the continues updates that are needed to get software running securely.
In Scrum, a sprint could be considered as a project, as it has a clearly defined start and end it is possible to plan it in a simple way
Can a Project Turn into a Product?
Absolutely, a project can evolve into a product, but this requires a shift in mindset and approach. Many businesses start with a one-off project—perhaps they need a quick app or a website—but soon realize that their needs are more complex and long-term. What begins as a project can often turn into something that requires continuous updates, user feedback, and growth.
For instance, you might launch an e-commerce platform as a project. Once it’s live, you realize that in order to stay competitive, you’ll need to add new features, update security, and improve the user experience over time. This is when your project transitions into a product.
If this happens, you’ll need a software product development partner who is equipped to support the product’s growth long-term, ensuring it evolves alongside your business. A project-based company might not have the capacity for that ongoing involvement, whereas a product-focused company can step in to manage the transitionand continue to develop the product over time.
Benefits of Working with a Custom Software Development Partner
Ongoing Support
When you work with a custom software development partner, you're not left to fend for yourself once the initial version is delivered. The relationship continues, with the development team actively involved in maintaining and improving the product. You have a dedicated team ready to support the product throughout its entire lifecycle, whether it's adding new features, making updates based on real-world feedback, or addressing any technical issues.
Adaptability
Products change, businesses change, and so do customer expectations. A custom software development partner isn’t locked into a rigid, one-time build. They’re set up to evolve your product as needed. This adaptability means you don’t have to worry about your product becoming outdated or falling behind. You can adjust it to keep pace with new needs or opportunities.
Long-Term Value
A project might tick the box for short-term needs, but a product pays off over time. With a product-focused approach, you’re investing in something that grows with your business. As your needs change, your product evolves. The ongoing improvements keep it relevant and ensure that the initial investment continues to generate value, well beyond the launch.
Building Real Partnerships
Instead of a quick hand-off, you’re building a long-term partnership.A custom software development company gets to know your business inside and out, which means they can help you make more informed decisions about where to take the product next. It’s not about a one-and-done service—it’s about working together to keep the product successful over time.
Why Axon Active Only Works on Products (Not Projects)
Now, this is the part we really need to emphasize. Axon Active only works on products, and here’s why.
Building a product is like building a relationship—it’s not a one-time interaction. It requires trust, ongoing communication, and a shared goal of creating something that stands the test of time. The whole development team needs to understand your business and not just the technical development. Our company isn’t interested in quick wins or one-off projects that wrap up in a few months. We’re focused on creating long-term value and quality.
We want to help you build something that grows and adapts as your business needs change. Products don’t have a definite end goal because the market, user expectations, and technology are constantly evolving.
And that’s what we’re here for—to help you navigate that journey, not just to get you over the finish line.
How the Axon Model and Agile Methodology Tie In
So, how do we manage this ongoing work? We follow our Axon Model, which is designed for long-term, adaptive development. It’s all about continuous improvement and teamwork between customer PO and us rather than a one-and-done approach. We use the Agilemethodology, which means we’re flexible and ready to iterate as needed.
It’s about moving fast and responding to changes, so your product is always in line with what the market (or your users) need at that moment.
Why It’s Crucial to Know the Difference Before You Start
Before you dive into choosing a software development partner, you need to be clear on whether you’re looking for someone to handle a project or build a product. If it’s a project, you’ll want someone who can deliver within a fixed scope and timeline. If it’s a product, you’ll want a partnerwho’s with you for the long haul, iterating and improving, understanding your business as your business grows.
This distinction is important because it affects the way we work together. We’re all about continuous delivery and improvement, and we want to make sure we’re on the same page from the start. If you’re looking for something short-term and one-off, that’s cool, but it’s not us.
