S
RU
olar
Heating
Managing Product Lifecycle from Roadmap to Launch
Project Overview
As Product Manager for Solar-R-Us (SRU), I led the development and launch of a next-generation solar water heating system targeting commercial, residential, and government segments. The project involved full lifecycle ownership—from market research and agile product development to beta testing and go-to-market execution. Key innovations included a smart monitoring app, wireless console, and cost-effective hybrid storage solutions.
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“This project was a full-circle experience— from identifying user needs and managing beta tests to launching a smart, scalable product with measurable ROI”
Problem Statement
Rising energy costs, growing environmental regulations, and inefficient legacy heating systems created a market need for affordable, eco-friendly, and user-friendly water heating solutions. Customers faced challenges like long installation wait times, high upfront costs, and lack of real-time system visibility—gaps SRU aimed to solve with an innovative solar-powered product line and integrated digital experience.
Research Findings
To guide product strategy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using Porter’s Five Forces, strategic option frameworks, and the Ansoff Matrix. Findings revealed a highly competitive landscape with significant substitution threats from traditional heating systems and strong supplier power due to scarce solar components. However, SRU’s established market presence, superior technology, and cost advantage (10% lower than competitors) offer a strategic edge. The most viable approach is differentiation, emphasizing user-friendly design, smart features, and sustainability. Growth opportunities lie in market penetration, product development, and market expansion—targeting environmentally conscious homeowners, commercial businesses, and government agencies. SRU is well-positioned to scale its footprint while maintaining focus within its core renewable energy space.
Product Development Lifecycle
Product Assessment Document, Product Concept Document and Product Vision
Launch Readiness Assessment
Product Requirement Document (PRD), User Stories, Product Backlog, Product Roadmap and Business Case
Demand Generation Plan
Beta Plan and Usability Testing Requirements Considerations
Product Lifecycle and End-of-Life Plan
Product Mangement Lifecycle
Introduction
Growth
Maturity
Decline
Key Learnings
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Product Lifecycle Management: Led end-to-end development, testing, launch planning, and EOL strategy for a hardware-software integrated product.
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Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinated with UX, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, and Customer Support teams to resolve technical and operational bottlenecks.
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Customer-Centric Design: Integrated beta testing feedback to enhance usability and customer satisfaction (target 4.5/5 rating).
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Go-to-Market Strategy: Developed a demand generation plan with phased rollout and training roadmap, driving efficient commercial adoption.
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Risk Mitigation & Planning: Proactively managed supply chain, adoption, and training risks; devised an upgrade program for legacy users.
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Data-Driven Decision Making: Used feedback loops, user behavior insights, and market trends to guide product positioning and feature prioritization.
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Key Tools & Frameworks: Jira, Figma, Agile and Market Research
This capstone demonstrated my ability to apply core product management skills such as strategic thinking, stakeholder management, user empathy, and data analysis—positioning me as ready to contribute effectively in a real-world product management role.