What is the Roadmap Module?
The roadmap module in Userorbit lets you plan, organize, and share your product direction with your team and your users. A roadmap is a visual representation of what you are building, what you plan to build next, and what you have already shipped. It turns internal planning into a communication tool that keeps everyone aligned — from engineers to customers.
Why Public Roadmaps Matter
Sharing your roadmap publicly is one of the most effective ways to build trust with your users. It shows them that you have a plan, that their feedback is being heard, and that progress is being made. A public roadmap reduces the number of "when will you build X?" support tickets because users can see the answer for themselves.
Public roadmaps also create a feedback loop. When users can see what you are planning, they can vote on the topics that matter most to them, suggest adjustments, and feel invested in your product's direction. This turns passive users into engaged advocates.
How the Roadmap Connects to Feedback
The roadmap module is tightly integrated with the feedback module. You can link feedback items to roadmap topics, which creates a direct connection between what users are asking for and what you are building. This linkage provides several benefits:
- Demand visibility — See how many feedback items and votes are associated with each roadmap topic. This helps you prioritize based on real user demand rather than guesswork.
- Automatic notifications — When a roadmap topic moves to a new stage, users who submitted or voted on linked feedback items can be notified. This closes the loop without manual effort.
- Traceability — Your team can trace any roadmap topic back to the original feedback that inspired it. This is valuable during planning reviews and retrospectives.
How the Roadmap Connects to Announcements
When a roadmap topic is completed and shipped, you can create an announcement from it. Announcements let you notify users about what's new, turning shipped roadmap items into release notes or changelog entries. The flow from feedback to roadmap to announcement creates an end-to-end lifecycle for every product decision.
Key Concepts
- Roadmaps — You can create multiple roadmaps for different purposes. For example, one for your public product roadmap and another for internal engineering priorities.
- Stages — Stages are the columns on your roadmap board. Common stages include Exploring, Planned, In Progress, and Shipped. Each roadmap can have its own set of stages.
- Topics — Topics are the individual items on your roadmap. Each topic represents a feature, improvement, or initiative. Topics live within a stage and can be moved between stages as work progresses.
- Linked feedback — Feedback items can be linked to topics, connecting user requests to planned work.
When to Use the Roadmap Module
Use the roadmap module when you want to:
- Communicate your product direction to users, stakeholders, or investors.
- Prioritize work based on user feedback and demand signals.
- Track the progress of initiatives from idea through delivery.
- Reduce repetitive questions about upcoming features by making your plans visible.
- Create a structured workflow from feedback collection to feature delivery to announcement.