What is Incremental delivery? How it's different from iterative development?

Incremental delivery 

Incremental delivery is the practice of delivering work in small, manageable pieces rather than as a single final product. Each increment builds upon previous ones and is thoroughly tested, ensuring that the product meets client needs at every stage.

In a previous article, we learned about iterative development. Incremental delivery and iterative development are closely related concepts within Agile, often used in tandem to manage projects more effectively. Here's how they're related and how they differ.

Both incremental delivery and iterative development are used to manage projects in a way that improves flexibility, efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction. They share a common goal of breaking down large, complex projects into manageable units. This division allows teams to focus on delivering value continuously throughout the project life cycle, which is a fundamental principle of Agile methodologies.

How It’s Different from Iterative Development:

Incremental delivery does differ from iterative development in a number of ways. We'll start by describing incremental delivery. It focuses on delivering working valuable parts of the product to stakeholders or users at the end of each development cycle.

These increments are fully functional, and they add tangible value, but they may not represent the final complete product. Over time the increments build up to form a complete product that meets all the user requirements. Each increment delivers a usable segment of the product that provides real value to the user, enabling them to start using parts of the system before the entire product is complete. The product is built and delivered in parts that accumulate over time. This means that earlier delivered increments might be refined in later stages based on feedback.


The developers often start with a clear vision of the final product and each increment is a step towards this end goal. If the increment represents 'what' we are developing, iterative development is 'how'.

Iterative development refers to the cyclical process of developing a product, where each Iteration may involve revisiting and refining the product based on feedback and testing. Iterations may not always result in a deliverable that’s immediately usable or provides value outside of the development team. Iterative development emphasizes refining the product through repeated cycles or Iterations, where the product is planned, designed, developed, and reviewed.


Although each Iteration may not produce a deliverable meant for end-user interaction, it does serve as a stepping stone to refine future Iterations. Iterations enable continuous assessment and adaptation of the project plan and features, and it allows the team to integrate new insights and feedback.

Incremental delivery with example:

Let’s apply the concept of incremental delivery and iterative development using a hypothetical company called Custom Things. With Custom Things, customers can create innovative, modular, work-from-home furniture designed to be adaptable for various living spaces and working styles. This product will appeal to a broader audience as remote work has become more common.

Custom Things is a new startup. It aims to revolutionize the home office by introducing modular furniture that can be customized to fit different room sizes and personal working preferences. The team at Custom Things plans to use both incremental delivery and iterative development to launch their product effectively. The team breaks down the project into increments, each designed to deliver a complete functional product component.


Increment 1 is the basic module. It includes an adjustable desk that can be used in standing or sitting positions. This first product is versatile and caters to immediate needs of remote workers. Here is the Iteration for increment 1.

The adjustable desk goes through several design phases. Initial prototypes are tested for durability and ergonomics. Based on user feedback, the team adjusts the height range and stability features. This iterative loop of prototype, test, and refine continues until the desk meets ergonomic standards and user expectations.

The second increment introduces modular storage units that can be attached to the desk or used separately. This edition aims to address the varying storage needs of users. Let’s explore the Iteration for increment 2.

For the storage units, the first Iteration involves basic stackable designs. After early adopter feedback highlights a demand for customizable configurations, subsequent Iterations focus on developing interlocking mechanisms and a variety of finishes to match different decors.

The final increment adds ergonomic accessories, such as a convertible desk organizer and a modular lighting system, enhancing the overall functionality and appeal of the workspace. Each increment is released as a standalone product that delivers real value, allowing customers to gradually build or enhance their ideal home office setup.

Let’s explore the Iteration for increment 3. The ergonomic accessories like the desk organizer and lighting system are initially conceptualized based on market research. Prototypes are created and subjected to user testing where feedback on usability and design preferences leads to several refinement cycles before finalizing the products.

In our example, by leveraging incremental delivery, Custom Things ensures that each component of the home office setup can be launched and utilized as soon as it’s ready, providing immediate benefits to their customers.

Iterative development allows the team to continually improve the product based on real-world usage and feedback, ensuring that each piece of furniture not only meets but exceeds customer expectations. This strategy helps Custom Things build a strong market presence and adapt quickly to the evolving needs of home office workers.

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