How do you distinguish between a product, a feature, and a solution?

Great question–tough to answer without getting too specific about Intercom and what works for us based on our own situation and approach in general. But, here goes. :)   For us, a product is a container for a set of mutually exclusive features that enable specific workflows to be completed. For example, our Engage product has a set of core features (available on Engage Lite) that make it possible to send targeted messages to leads and customers. Some of these features are audience targeting, aut ...Read More

Of the three, product and solution have the most overlap. In a technology context most often the difference is that a solution involves more than just a piece of software. The whole solution may also include the software plus bundled content, professional services and an ecosystem of integrations, for example.   Personally, I don't find this dinstinction particularly useful, and mostly use product and solution interchangeably. A product is useless if it's not solving a problem (hello, Kickstarte ...Read More

I'm going to focus on just one part of that equation: Solution. This is an often misrepresented piece of the product marketers toolkit. I have found that so many companies put together a list of products an call it a solution, I would consider this a 'bundle' 'package' or 'toolkit.' A solution, as the name implies, should SOLVE a very specific set of problems for a specific audience type. It will generally include both product, services, and even best practices or expertise from the offering com ...Read More

The distinctions between what is a product, feature, and solution can be somewhat subjective and can vary depending on the specific context and perspective. My POV: A product can be thought of as a standalone offering that provides value to the customer and can be sold and delivered independently.  A feature is a specific component or aspect of a product that provides a specific benefit or capability, and is typically part of a larger product offering.  A solution is a combination of products, f ...Read More

To me, a solution is a prescriptive collection of products and features that solve a well-defined problem for your customer. A product is anything you could conceivably sell on its own, but a product can also be a collection of other products. A feature is a component piece of a product that adds to its value but cannot be sold on its own.    Products, features, and solutions tend to get different levels of attention from PMMs. Products will naturally get the most, solutions are really just coll ...Read More

Interesting question for sure. I feel that most of these answers do a great job of highlighting the distinction, but something I would add is that the product is essentially the vehicle for the solution. You can't have a solution without a product, but you can have a product that doesn't offer a solution.  A feature is merely an additional part of the product that may create a quicker solution, a new type of solution, or just be a meaningless add-on.  Of course, there is a lot of contextual elem ...Read More