What is a Value Added Product?

In new product design, a value added product is a product that offers additional benefits, unique features or a superior experience to the customer beyond fulfilling its basic function, thus differentiating itself from its competitors and generally justifying a higher price or customer loyalty.

Erdem Güven

5/5/20251 min read

Features Required for a Value Added Product:

Effective Problem Solving and Superior Performance:

The product must solve an existing problem of the customer better, faster, easier or more efficiently than the competitors. Or it must provide a solution to a need that was not previously realized.

Innovative Features (Innovation):

It should include unique functions, technologies or features that are not available in competitors and provide new benefits or conveniences to the user.

Ease of Use and Superior Customer Experience:

The product should be user-friendly; it should provide easy installation, use and maintenance. A product that is difficult to use negatively affects the customer's experience.

Aesthetics and Design Appeal

The product should have a visually appealing design. An aesthetic product attracts the attention of the customer and helps them establish an emotional bond.

Personalization Opportunity:

Offering features that allow the user to adjust the product according to their own needs or preferences (color, size, software settings, etc.) can create added value.

Sustainability:

Using environmentally friendly materials, ensuring energy efficiency, and being recyclable are important added value elements, especially for conscious consumers.

Cost Effectiveness:

Even if the initial cost is high, the product saves the user time, energy, or money in the long run (e.g. requiring less maintenance, saving energy).

A product may not have to have all of these features to be added value. However, considering these elements during the design process and integrating the value propositions that will be most meaningful to the target audience into the product is critical to the success and profitability of the product.