Proof of concept
Prove the feasibility of your product or service with a POC
For more than 30 years, our specialized team has been supporting companies in the implementation of their proof of concept, whether to demonstrate and validate the feasibility of their ideas, convince partners or investors, guide strategic decisions or develop a prototype.
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The key success factors of a proof of concept
To validate the feasibility of a product or service, it is essential to be able to quickly test and iterate different versions of a concept.
By learning to focus on the essential functionalities of a project, developing the ability to adjust quickly to feedback from iterations and defining clear success criteria, it is possible to get the best out of a proof of concept.
When building a proof of concept, it is important to focus on the core of the project and select only those elements that demonstrate that the project is viable. A proof of concept without a clearly defined scope can lead to longer iteration cycles and the project running out of steam. If the project is technically complex at the outset, it is important to focus on its storytelling and on the value it could ultimately bring.
How do you select which aspects of a project to include in a proof of concept? How can a prototype be produced at low cost and risk in a complex environment?
The main aim of a proof of concept is to reduce the risks involved in setting up a project. If the MVP (minimum viable products) developed during this phase do not pass the tests, this does not automatically mean that the project has failed. In fact, an avenue of research has just been ruled out, so it is necessary to continue and iterate other cycles by testing new versions to find the version that will turn into a successful project.
How long should a test cycle last? Can several MVPs be tested simultaneously? How do you define the success criteria for a release? How can I instill a POC culture in my company?
Without success criteria, a proof of concept is just a bottle thrown into the sea.
It’s important to define what you’re trying to demonstrate and to define starting hypotheses that cover the entire project. The clearer these assumptions are, the easier it will be to analyze the success of a version and therefore to iterate through a new cycle.
How do you communicate with stakeholders about the success criteria for a POC? How can we ensure that the success criteria cover the entire project?
How we support you in your proof of concept
In order to best support our clients in the implementation of a proof of concept, and to ensure that the project will meet the expectations and needs of its users, the essential steps to be taken are:
- The framing of the pilot, especially in terms of scales: Geographic (local, regional, interregional, national — although the larger the scale, the more difficult it is to implement), Temporal (a few months to a few years);
- The definition of the type of data and the associated indicators (quantitative or qualitative) that will determine the interest of the project idea. This data can also be used to confirm or invalidate a business case;
- The realization of the pilot, measuring the indicators throughout the experimentation;
- Summary of the results and adaptation of the model if necessary;
- The development of the roll-out of the model on a larger scale.
Alcimed accompanies its clients at all stages of the construction of a POC:
- Pilot framing assistance,
- Support for the execution of the POC and its follow-up,
- Summary of lessons learned from the POC,
- Elaboration of recommendations to continue the project based on the results.
Examples of recent proof of concept carried out for our clients
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Founded in 1993, Alcimed is an innovation and new business consulting firm, specializing in innovation driven sectors: life sciences (healthcare, biotech, agrifood), energy, environment, mobility, chemicals, materials, cosmetics, aeronautics, space and defence.
Our purpose? Helping both private and public decision-makers explore and develop their uncharted territories: new technologies, new offers, new geographies, possible futures, and new ways to innovate.
Located across eight offices around the world (France, Europe, Singapore and the United States), our team is made up of 220 highly-qualified, multicultural and passionate explorers, with a blended science/technology and business culture.
Our dream? To build a team of 1,000 explorers, to design tomorrow’s world hand in hand with our clients.
A proof of concept is a concrete demonstration used to prove the applicability, feasibility or viability of a project. POC can thus take many forms, such as:
- A laboratory test to validate scientific questions;
- The design of a first physical version (minimum viable product) and its presentation to future users to test the receptivity of the market or the envisaged marketing strategy;
- The experimental implementation of a new organization within a small team before the roll-out to a company.
Proof of concept comes into play relatively early in the development process of an idea, a product or a service, since it validates the feasibility of the project, in addition to a market study, for example.
Moreover, a POC is characterized by the fact that its cost is relatively low since it is a simple test at this stage.
A POC is a springboard to value creation and innovation, and can be a key step in the development of a project:
- A lack of time or a limited budget? The small scale of the POC allows for responses that are consistent with available resources;
- The concept has already proven itself and the question of its replicability arises? The POC can validate interest in a new target audience, a new use or a territorial extension;
- Doubts over the potential or the opportunity of an innovation? The POC provides an opportunity to test an idea and to evaluate the opportunity of its deployment to guide the development of new offerings.
The difference between a PoV and a PoC lies in their objective and approach.
PoC (proof of concept) aims to assess the technical feasibility of an idea or concept by testing its main functionalities. The aim is to demonstrate whether an idea can be realised in real-life conditions, in which case a rudimentary version of the project is tested.
On the other hand, PoV, or Proof of Value, goes beyond the simple feasibility of the project by assessing the economic impact of the solution on the company and the value created for end users.
In short, the POC focuses on technical feasibility, while the PoV emphasises the concrete benefits for the company and its customers.