Before we talk about scope, here's our read on where Roastar is and where it's headed, based on our last conversation.
The goal isn't another feature bolted onto the storefront. It's a digital operating system for small coffee roasters and cafes, layered on top of the printing business Roastar already runs well.
Nobody else is building this today. Print competitors like ePac are solving their own capacity planning, not their customers' brand experience. That gap is real and it's open right now.
Roastar knows its customers well. What's missing is a formal way to validate what to build next, research and prioritization, not another round of internal opinions.
Strategy first, build second. Roastar already has internal developers and an existing build partner. What's needed now is product thinking before another line of code gets written.
A small, focused team, sized to move fast without disrupting how Roastar already builds. Adjust the duration on each role below, weeks and rates are placeholders until we align on scope.
Leads research, prioritization, and roadmap work day to day. The primary driver of the engagement.
Engaged as needed alongside the Strategist for technical feasibility and system design input.
A validated, prioritized roadmap for the digital layer, not a list of ideas, a sequence.
Research synthesis from interviews across roaster and cafe segments.
A clear feasibility read on the Design Lab as the platform's long-term foundation.
A straight answer on build, extend, or partner for what comes after this phase.
No pressure to finalize scope today. This draft is meant to be picked apart together so the real version reflects what Roastar actually needs.