Building Products with Purpose

Introducing Octoco’s Product Team

At Octoco, we’ve always believed that great products are built when technical excellence meets clear purpose. Over the past few years, our teams have delivered projects that span software, hardware, and embedded systems - often tackling ideas that are ambitious, complex, and at times a little unconventional.

To strengthen how we bring these ideas to life, we’ve recently formalised Octoco’s Product Team: a group made up of cross-functional team members from software, project management, and quality assurance.

Why a Product Team, and Why Now

As Octoco has grown, so has the scale and scope of our projects. With multiple disciplines working closely together, our structure has always been collaborative rather than siloed. Yet, even with this integration, we identified an opportunity to sharpen the link between what we build, what our clients need, and what is technically feasible.

The Product Team exists to bridge that gap - connecting business, product, and engineering. Their purpose is not to overhaul how we work, but to supplement it. By creating clearer processes, standardising existing practices, and solidifying communication across departments, they’re ensuring that every product decision is grounded in shared understanding.

As Christiaan explains:

“If only technical thought drives product, you risk solving the wrong problems really well. If product thought (supported by strong technical capabilities) drives product, you solve the right problems well enough, at the right time.”

Fostering a Product Mindset

The Product Team’s approach is centred on developing a product mindset across all teams. It’s about encouraging everyone (from engineers to QA specialists) to see beyond the task at hand.

Instead of viewing work as isolated features or fixes, the goal is to help each person understand the broader purpose: what are we building, why are we building it, and how does it serve the end user?

As Alida puts it:

“We take what the client wants, analyse the product, and figure out how to get to something that we and the client are truly happy with - something that delivers what they need, not just what they think they want.”

One example of what the Product Team is currently working on is refining the ‘Definition of Done’ across projects. By clarifying what completion really means - in terms of outcomes, testing, and delivery - the Product Team is helping ensure that “done” consistently reflects a product that meets expectations from every angle.

Space for Learning, Growth, and Complexity

At Octoco, we love taking on projects that challenge us - the kind that don’t always fit neatly into existing frameworks. Whether it’s building a platform that helps companies manage intellectual property or developing IoT systems that require deep technical learning, these projects often demand that our teams acquire entirely new skills.

The Product Team plays a crucial role in supporting that growth. By creating space for upskilling and knowledge-sharing, they make sure our engineers can adapt and innovate while maintaining a consistent approach to building high-quality, purposeful products.

Looking Ahead

The introduction of the Product Team marks an evolution, not a reset. It’s a way to strengthen what already makes Octoco unique: our ability to combine deep technical expertise with strategic product understanding.

Henry captures the essence of this mindset:

“From a Project Manager’s perspective, it makes perfect sense to learn as much as possible about product management and what it means to truly own a product. When a client can see that you understand and believe in their product, that’s where real trust is built.”

By fostering alignment, encouraging product thinking, and continually refining our processes, this team helps us stay focused on what matters most: building products that make sense, work well, and deliver real value.