MVP Plan for Scouta: AI-Driven Personalized Shopping Assistant

1. Core Features and Functionality

Essential Features for MVP

1. Personalized Recommendations: Utilizing user behavior and social media data to offer tailored product suggestions.
2. Social Media Integration: Allow users to connect their social media accounts (e.g., Instagram, TikTok) to curate recommendations based on trends they interact with.
3. Budget Tracking: Feature for users to set their budget and get alerts for personalized deals within that range.
4. User Profiles: Creation of user accounts with basic onboarding to capture preferences and shopping habits.
5. Search Function: Basic search functionality to allow users to find specific products or categories.
6. Affiliate Link Redirects: Implement affiliate links for product purchases to enable commissions and track sales.

Deferred Features for Later Versions

• Advanced AI Analytics: Sophisticated algorithms that predict user preferences based on broader social trends and complex interactions.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Shopping Experience: Integration for virtual try-ons or visualizations of products in the user’s environment.
• Gamified Features: Reward systems for referrals and engagement to increase user retention.
• Product Reviews and Community Features: User-generated reviews and community engagement functionalities.

User Journey and Key Use Cases

• User Journey:
  • Emily opens the app and connects her Instagram account.
  • The app provides curated fashion suggestions based on her recent likes and follows.
  • Tyler sets a monthly budget of $50 and receives alerts when brands he likes have sales.
• Key Use Cases:
  • Finding trendy clothing based on social influence.
  • Saving money with deals that fit a personalized budget.
  • Discovering products that are popular among a user’s network.

Technical Requirements at a High Level

• Frontend: React.js for web, React Native for mobile.
• Backend: Node.js with Express for API development; PostgreSQL for data storage.
• Hosting: AWS services for cloud infrastructure.
• Analytics: Integration of Google Analytics and user feedback forms for ongoing evaluation.

2. Feature Prioritization

MoSCoW Analysis

• Must-Have:
  • Personalized recommendations
  • User profiles
  • Basic budget tracking
• Should-Have:
  • Social media integration
  • Search functionality
• Could-Have:
  • Community features and user reviews
  • Product comparisons
• Won’t-Have:
  • Advanced AI analytics
  • AR features in the MVP phase

Reasoning behind Prioritization Decisions

Focusing on core activities that validate the user experience and ensure functionality will help establish a customer base before extending features that require additional complexity and resources.

Dependencies Between Features

• User profiles depend on both the recommendations and the budget tracking feature, as user preferences inform recommendations and budgets guide selections.

3. Development Timeline and Milestones

Realistic Timeline for MVP Development: 6 Months

• Months 1-2:
  • Feature brainstorming sessions
  • Design UI/UX wireframes
  • Set up backend architectures (databases, APIs)
• Months 3-4:
  • Begin frontend development for web and mobile
  • Integrate initial social media APIs for testing recommendations
• Month 5:
  • Full development of the core features (testing and QA)
  • Start marketing strategies and user acquisition campaigns
• Month 6:
  • Launch beta version
  • Collect user feedback and make necessary adjustments

Key Milestones

• Completion of wireframes (End of Month 2)
• Functioning MVP ready for internal testing (End of Month 4)
• Launch of public beta (End of Month 6)

Suggested Development Phases

1. Planning & Design
2. Development (Agile sprints)
3. Testing (user beta testing)
4. Launch

4. Success Metrics and Validation Criteria

KPIs to Measure MVP Success

• Monthly Active Users (MAU): Track user engagement.
• Conversion Rate: Percentage of free users converting to paid subscriptions.
• User Feedback Scores: Satisfaction scores collected through in-app surveys.
• Affiliate Sales: Volume of sales made through affiliate links.

User Feedback Collection Methods

• In-app surveys post-purchase.
• Regular feedback prompts after using core features.
• A/B testing on recommendation algorithms to gauge changes in user interaction.

Criteria for Iteration or Pivot

• If DAUs remain below 10% of MAU for two consecutive months, re-evaluate user acquisition strategies.
• If churn rate exceeds 25% within 3 months post-launch, assess customer feedback for feature improvements or disengagement reasons.

5. Resource Requirements

Team Composition Needed for Development

• 1 Product Manager: Oversee development and stakeholder communication.
• 2 Frontend Developers: Build the user interface for web and mobile.
• 2 Backend Developers: Handle API development and database management.
• 1 UI/UX Designer: Create user-friendly designs.
• 1 Marketing Specialist: Manage user acquisition and branding.

Estimated Budget Range

• Development Costs: Approximately $200,000 for initial development and salaries.
• Marketing Costs: Around $50,000 for beta launch and influencer partnerships.
• Operational Costs: $30,000 for legal compliance, server costs, and miscellaneous.

Third-party Tools or Services to Consider

• Payment Systems: Stripe for payment processing.
• Data Analytics: Google Analytics for user metrics tracking.
• Engagement Tools: Mailchimp or similar for email campaigns.

Technical Infrastructure Needs

• Hosting services (AWS for scalability).
• Security protocols to maintain user data privacy and comply with GDPR regulations.

This detailed MVP plan for Scouta focuses on aligning product development with user needs while ensuring scalability, market entry, and effective resource utilization, capturing valuable consumer insights in a growing market.