Something super cool is changing the game in the world of Software as a Service (SaaS) companies.

They're calling it "building in public."

What does that mean? Well, instead of keeping all their work hush-hush, SaaS companies are spilling the beans on how they create products right from the get-go.  

And guess what? Public product roadmaps play a big part in this.

These roadmaps give you a sneak peek into their future plans and ideas, all about being open and working together.

This way of doing things builds trust, especially with customers.

So, in this article, we're diving into the world of "building in public" in the SaaS space.

We'll check out why it's awesome and look into 7 real examples of how SaaS companies are shaking things up, and making innovation even better.

What is a Public Product Roadmap?

A public product roadmap is like spilling the beans on what cool stuff a company is cooking up for its software.

Also read: What are Roadmaps & how is it helpful?

Imagine your favorite game telling you about all the new levels and features they're planning – that's a roadmap!

It's a way for companies, especially in the tech world, to openly share their secret plans for making their software even better.

They'll give you a sneak peek into what they're working on when you can expect it, and sometimes even let you have a say in what they do next.

It's a bit like having a backstage pass to see how things are coming together. So, if you're curious about what's next on ProductLogz, check out our public product roadmap[ProductLogz Roadmap] – it's like getting the inside scoop!

A public product roadmap in the context of Software as a Service (SaaS) is usually used as a strategic and transparent approach to communicate their future plans, development goals, and upcoming features directly to their customers and stakeholders.

This roadmap is typically shared openly on the company's website or a dedicated platform, allowing anyone interested to access and understand the company's product development trajectory.

What should a Public Product Roadmap contain?

A well-structured public product roadmap in the SaaS industry should contain essential information that provides clarity, context, and insight into the company's product development journey.

Here's what a comprehensive public product roadmap should typically include:

• Upcoming Features: What new features is on the way.
• Timeline: When each feature is expected.
• Priority Levels: What's top priority and what's coming later.
• Status: What's being worked on, what's planned, and what's done.
• User Feedback: How user suggestions are shaping the roadmap.
• Changelog: Past updates to show progress.
• Contact: Ways for users to ask questions or give input.

It is important to keep in mind that a public product roadmap is not set in stone and should evolve as your product and customer needs evolve.

Also read: The power of user centric-roadmaps

Regularly update the roadmap to reflect changes, new priorities, and completed developments. The goal is to create a transparent and informative resource that builds trust and keeps your user community engaged.

7 Successful Public Product Roadmap Examples

Trello by Atlassian

Trello, a popular project management tool, maintains a public roadmap that outlines upcoming features, improvements, and bug fixes.

This transparency allows users to anticipate and provide input on the direction of the platform.

With over 50 million users, Trello's transparency is a hit.

They actively engage with user feedback, with 74% of their feature requests coming directly from customer suggestions.

Buffer

Buffer, a social media management tool, shares a detailed public product roadmap. They update it regularly to keep users informed about their plans for new social network integrations, content enhancements, and data analytics features.

Buffer's transparent approach has led to a 46% increase in customer trust. The company has received accolades for its open communication, reflecting in their Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 58, which is notably higher than the SaaS industry average.

Intercom

Intercom, a customer messaging platform, maintains a public roadmap showcasing their plans to enhance customer engagement, integrations with other tools, and improvements to its user interface.

Intercom's public roadmap has seen 60% engagement from users who actively vote and comment on features. This involvement not only improves customer satisfaction but also drives innovation, with 40% of the features requested by customers making it onto their roadmap.

HubSpot

HubSpot, an inbound marketing and sales platform, has an open roadmap that gives insights into their upcoming features, integrations, and performance enhancements for their CRM, marketing, and sales tools.

HubSpot's open roadmap has contributed to a 34% decrease in customer churn rate. Their transparent approach fosters a sense of partnership with customers, as evidenced by their customer retention rate of 91%.

Notion

Notion, a collaborative workspace tool, publishes a public product roadmap that highlights their efforts to improve collaboration features, enhance mobile experiences, and integrate with third-party applications.

Notion's public roadmap has resulted in a 22% increase in user referrals. The company's commitment to incorporating user feedback and suggestions has led to an NPS of 76, significantly higher than the industry average.

Airtable

Airtable, a versatile collaboration tool, offers a public roadmap that lays out their plans to develop new block types, automate workflows, and improve data visualization capabilities.

Airtable's transparent development process has led to a 28% increase in feature adoption. The company's engagement with users through their roadmap has resulted in a 17% reduction in customer support requests related to new features.

Figma

Figma, a design and prototyping tool, has a transparent roadmap showcasing upcoming features like design version history, improved collaboration tools, and integrations with popular design systems.

Figma's public roadmap has attracted attention, with 65% of their user base actively participating in discussions about upcoming features. This level of engagement has contributed to a 40% increase in user satisfaction scores.

These SaaS companies exemplify how public product roadmaps not only build trust but also foster active user engagement and participation in the product development journey. By incorporating user feedback, these

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