Product Roadmap: Now/Next/Later

Important Context: This roadmap is organized by strategic themes rather than specific dates. Timeframes are approximate and subject to change based on user feedback, technical discoveries, and market needs.

NOW (Next ~3 months)

In progress or starting soon

Theme: Establish User Identity & Access

Why it matters: User authentication is foundational for personalization, security, and feature development. Without it, we cannot build user-specific features or secure user data.

Features:

• User authentication system
• Account creation and login flows
• Password management
• Session handling

Success metrics:

• 90%+ successful registration completion rate
• Zero critical security vulnerabilities
• <2s authentication response time

NEXT (Following ~3-6 months, subject to validation)

Direction is clear, timing depends on Now initiatives

Theme: Enable Revenue Generation

Why it matters: Payment infrastructure unlocks our business model and allows us to serve paying customers at scale.

Features:

• Payment processing integration
• Subscription management
• Billing workflows
• Payment method storage

Validation dependencies: User authentication must be complete and stable before implementing payment features. User identity verification and account security patterns from Now will inform payment security requirements.

LATER (6+ months out, priorities may shift)

Exploratory direction, subject to change

Theme: Mobile Platform Expansion

Why it matters: Mobile access expands our addressable market and meets user demand for on-the-go usage.

Potential features:

• Mobile application (platform TBD)
• Mobile-optimized user experience
• Native mobile features (notifications, offline mode, etc.)

What could change: User research and analytics from web platform will determine which mobile use cases matter most. Platform priority (iOS vs Android first), feature scope, and launch strategy will be refined based on user behavior patterns, payment conversion data, and resource availability.

Roadmap Philosophy

Why Now/Next/Later?
Quarterly roadmaps create false precision. Features consistently slip between quarters, eroding stakeholder trust. This format maintains strategic clarity while acknowledging the inherent uncertainty in product development.

What the timeframes mean:

• Now = Next ~3 months. High confidence in scope and timing. Resources committed.
• Next = Following ~3-6 months, subject to validation. Clear strategic direction, but timing depends on completing Now initiatives and validating assumptions.
• Later = 6+ months out. Exploratory direction. Priorities may shift based on learning from Now and Next.

How we make decisions:

• User behavior and feedback from shipped features
• Technical feasibility discoveries during implementation
• Market opportunities and competitive landscape
• Business performance and strategic goals

Stakeholder Talking Points

“When exactly is Next?”
“Next means 3-6 months following our Now initiatives. The exact timing depends on what we learn from user authentication implementation and how quickly we can validate our payment approach. We’ll communicate updates as Now features ship and provide visibility into Next timelines.”

“Why can’t you commit to dates?”
“Date commitments often force us to cut scope or compromise quality when we discover technical complexity or user needs that differ from assumptions. This approach lets us maintain high quality and respond to what we learn, while still providing strategic visibility into our direction.”

“How will I know when things move from Later to Next?”
“We review and update this roadmap monthly. As we complete Now features and validate Next assumptions, we’ll promote Later items and communicate what’s changing. You’ll get clear visibility into what’s been validated and what new information is shaping our priorities.”

“What if we need the mobile app sooner?”
“If business conditions change significantly, we can re-evaluate priorities. However, rushing mobile before we have stable authentication and payments would create technical debt and poor user experience. The current sequence ensures each capability builds on a solid foundation.”

“How does this affect our revenue targets?”
“Now (user auth) enables Next (payments), which directly supports revenue generation within ~6 months. This sequencing actually de-risks our revenue timeline compared to trying to launch all three simultaneously, which historically leads to delays across all features.”