Imagine you're in a product meeting, and someone says, 'Internal products are tough, but commercial ones are even tougher.' That’s exactly what Marty Cagan from Silicon Valley Product Group highlights. You see, internal products — like tools your team uses — are tricky because they serve your employees. But here's the thing — commercial products, which are sold directly to customers, face an even steeper climb. According to Cagan, the challenge isn't just building something people want; it's doing so at scale, with real market pressure and revenue goals. What he points out is that internal products often get a pass on polish, but commercial ones? They need to wow users right out of the gate. And get this — many product teams underestimate how much effort it takes to turn a commercial product into a real success. So, for anyone thinking about their next big project, the takeaway is clear: commercial products demand even more focus, discipline, and a customer-first mindset. That shift is subtle now, but it’s exactly the kind of signal that usually defines the next cycle.
Internal Products Are Hard; Commercial Products Are Harder We have spent a lot of time trying to convince product people and especially product leaders of the importance of internal products. We’re talking about services or solutions that are used by our own employees to take care of our customers (e.g. customer-enabling tools and services), or...
The post Commercial vs Internal Products appeared first on Silicon Valley Product Group.
Internal Products Are Hard; Commercial Products Are Harder We have spent a lot of time trying to convince product people and especially product leaders of the importance of internal products. We’re talking about services or solutions that are used by our own employees to take care of our customers (e.g. customer-enabling tools and services), or...
The post Commercial vs Internal Products appeared first on Silicon Valley Product Group.