![\"ProdPad's](\"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Product-Roadmap-Template-Blog-Banner-2-1024x240.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Product Roadmap template? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A product roadmap template is more than just a fill-in-the-blanks document – it\u2019s a structured framework that helps you plan, communicate, and evolve your product strategy<\/a>. It outlines key aspects of your chosen roadmap format to help you use it effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Essentially, a great product roadmap template functions as a how-to guide on using a roadmap properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now most roadmap templates come in a downloadable format, ready to be filled in like you would a workbook at school. We\u2019re not throwing shade at these types of templates. We\u2019re all for a good downloadable resources and have plenty ourselves that help with every aspect of Product Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Explore our downloadable templates and ebooks<\/p>\n <\/div>\n But when it comes to product roadmaps, a static document doesn\u2019t go far enough. Product roadmaps are living, breathing tools, unlike other forms of product documentation. They\u2019re dynamic and evolve constantly alongside your product. If your roadmap is dynamic, your product roadmap template should be too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s exactly what our product roadmap template is. It\u2019s an interactive tool designed to help you fully grasp – and actually use – your roadmap in the way it\u2019s intended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Product roadmaps are a huge part of a Product Manager\u2019s day in the life<\/a>, but that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re easy to use. Roadmaps can be complicated, especially if you\u2019re working with an unfamiliar format. Given how much attention they demand, it makes sense to use a template as a structured way to navigate and master them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now there are a lot of different product roadmap formats around, so many that we\u2019ve covered them in their own neat article:<\/p>\n\n\n The Complete List of Product Roadmap Formats: Find Your Perfect Match<\/p>\n <\/div>\n With how different they are, it can be jarring to switch from one type to another. Each roadmap type has a learning curve. A roadmap template acts as a blueprint, helping you quickly adapt to and fully engage with a new format. Plus, if you get the whole Product Function in your organization to follow the same product roadmap template, you can foster alignment and standardization across your team. With everyone using the roadmap in the same way, this consistency prevents any collaboration issues, making you more effective and synced up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking to explore a new type of product roadmap – say, moving from a timeline roadmap to Now-Next-Later<\/a> – a template makes that transition seamless. But why would you want to do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m glad you asked\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve said it from the start, our product roadmap template is the best. But why? Well, for starters, our template is focused on the most popular, and most effective, roadmap format there is: Now-Next-Later.<\/strong><\/a> Here\u2019s why Now-Next-Later is categorically the best: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we know that we\u2019re not the only Belle in this ball. There are a lot of roadmap templates out there, with many others also focusing on Now-Next-Later. But let us tell you why we turn heads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you didn\u2019t know, ProdPad Co-Founders Janna Bastow and Simon Cast invented the Now-Next-Later roadmap. That means that we know this format inside out, like the back of our hand. We’re the originators, the OG. Why would you get a Now-Next-Later roadmap for anybody else? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need more convincing that Now-Next-Later is the most effective product roadmap template, you can learn why ProdPad Co-Founder, Janna Bastow, invented it: <\/p>\n\n\n Why I Invented the Now-Next-Later Roadmap<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Another reason why our product roadmap template is the best is because it\u2019s dynamic. It\u2019s not a print-out, it\u2019s a functioning version of ProdPad that you can use and learn from. It\u2019s not one of those templates that you\u2019re going to make a copy of, fill out, and then forget about by this time next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frankly, we\u2019re surprised by how many static product roadmap templates there are out there. Because they\u2019re simply bad. Here\u2019s why using a static document as a product roadmap template is a bad idea: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another thing. Not all product roadmap templates are created equal. In fact, some straight-up suck. With Now-Next-Later being a popular format, you\u2019re going to find lots of templates masquerading as this style. When choosing a product roadmap template, you need to beware of fakers. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a couple of key components of Now-Next-Later that without them, result in a different style of roadmap. Now-Next-Later is outcome-driven, not output-focused. That\u2019s why you can easily tie OKRs<\/a> and business goals to each Initiative in the roadmap, alongside framing your roadmap around problems to solve and prioritizing based on the outcomes you want to achieve. Without this outcome-driven focus, you haven\u2019t got a Now-Next-Later roadmap, you have trash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And crucially, a proper Now-Next-Later product roadmap template uses a two-step hierarchy. This means that you have your overarching problems to solve, and then within them the possible ideas and experiments you\u2019re going to explore to best solve those problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, as an example, the first level of your roadmap item would be a problem that needs solving like \u201cHow can we improve user onboarding?\u201d <\/em>while the second level solution ideas might be \u201cCreate a new onboarding flow\u201d <\/em>or \u201cTest new user onboarding emails\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re missing any of these elements, you ain\u2019t got a Now-Next-Later product roadmap template. Beware of imitations. Product roadmap templates that call themselves Now-Next-Later, but that lack the inherent outcome-focused structure, are nothing more than feature boards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for a Now-Next-Later product roadmap template, it\u2019s best to go with the O.G. Founded by the creator of Now-Next-Later, ProdPad lives and breathes this format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our product roadmap template is easy to use. That\u2019s because it\u2019s baked right into our online sandbox, a free-to-access version of ProdPad that you can use today to see how it all works. Your access is unlimited and forever and includes a bunch of different roadmap examples for different industries and product types to help you understand Now-Next-Later in action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now with it being an open sandbox environment, any changes you make won\u2019t be saved. So when you\u2019ve learnt everything from the product roadmap template and it’s time to save and share your own version, you’ll want to start a free trial of ProdPad which will allow you to save your roadmap, create unlimited customized views and share and publish it to all your stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Start a free trial to save and share your own roadmap<\/p>\n <\/div>\n To help you fully understand how to use our template, let\u2019s break down all the key elements:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n In the Now-Next-Later roadmap, time horizons replace traditional fixed timelines. Instead of committing to specific dates, Initiatives are categorized based on their priority and readiness. Now by default, our time horizons are Now, Next, <\/strong>and Later, <\/strong>but you need to define what that means for your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is important because everyone can have different interpretations of what now, next, and later mean. You need to be explicit about how you\u2019re defining these horizons so you\u2019re setting the right expectations with your stakeholders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, your time horizons could be something like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, they can be spit up into fiscal quarters – a good tactic if you\u2019re weaning a team off timeline roadmaps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t even have to stick to now, next, and later as your time horizon headings.You can adopt the process and principles of the Now-Next-Later without being tied to those exact terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, even in ProdPad, we allow our customers to customize the column headings and call them whatever they want. You might want to be more explicit about the time brackets for each and call them \u2018This quarter\u2019, \u2018Next quarter\u2019, and \u2018The future\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using time horizons allows teams to manage uncertainty effectively, providing a structured yet flexible approach to planning. It acknowledges that priorities can shift, enabling teams to adapt without the constraints of rigid timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Objectives are the core aims of your product. They\u2019re the overarching goals and you need to be aware of them to then dictate the Initiatives you set to try and achieve them. Your Objectives don\u2019t have to be specific, measurable goals just yet, but they do need to be something that you can focus your roadmap around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With your Objectives, you can set them in the Objectives & Key Results tab. Once you have them there, you\u2019re then able to assign them to the relevant Initiatives, so that you\u2019re always clear on what each Initiative card is working towards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By focusing on objectives rather than just a list of tasks, teams can maintain a strong sense of purpose and adaptability, making sure every effort contributes to meaningful progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initiatives are high-level problems that the Product Team aims to address. These are the particular efforts you want to focus on to deliver value that aligns with the product’s strategic goals. Initiatives should be expressed as problems to solve – that\u2019s very important for Now-Next-Later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the Initiatives on your product roadmap are focused on the problems you want to solve for your customers or your business, then you have the flexibility within each Initiative to explore different solutions and adapt your plans as you learn through discovery and experimentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you tick off Initiatives, the steps involved are then broken down into smaller tasks or Ideas that can be linked to the cards. More on them in a sec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our product roadmap template, you create Initiative cards, which you can then move based on priority and readiness, based on the time horizons you\u2019ve set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focusing on Initiatives helps maintain a clear connection between daily activities and overarching strategic objectives, promoting coherence and purpose in the team’s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideas are potential solutions or actions that can be done to achieve the defined Initiatives they\u2019re linked to. They represent the team’s creative responses to the problems identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideas can emerge from various sources, including team brainstorming sessions, customer feedback, or market research, and should be linked to the Initiative(s) they most relate to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When adding Ideas to your roadmap, they need to be assessed for feasibility, impact, and alignment with strategic goals before implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Now-Next-Later roadmap emphasizes flexibility over rigid timelines, assigning target dates can be beneficial for planning and accountability. Target dates provide a temporal reference, helping teams manage expectations and coordinate efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These dates are set with an understanding of their tentative nature, allowing for adjustments as priorities evolve. Usually, as Initiatives move across the roadmap right to left from the Later column to Now, this target date will likely get more concrete and not as broad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of fiscal quarters and rough monthly estimates, you\u2019ll be using more specific dates as you gain more knowledge on Intitivate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Target dates ensure that the roadmap remains dynamic while providing sufficient structure to guide the team’s activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With target dates, that’s all the basics of Now-Next-Later covered. Of course, there’s still so much to learn and see. Access our product roadmap template to fully get to grip with this outcome-focused format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All the above is just what you can change and edit from the roadmap overview display. When you dig into each individual initiative card, you have options to add more details to help you better plan and optimize each item included in your roadmap. For example, when you click on each initiative, you can add extra juicy details like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re stuck with any of these, our in-built AI Assistant CoPiliot can help you generate descriptions and Ideas. In fact, CoPilot can help automate a lot of the roadmap process. Check out what else CoPilot can do.<\/p>\n\n\nWhy use a Product Roadmap template? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re using a quality product roadmap template complete with guidance notes and example content, they can demonstrate the gold standard of what that roadmap should look like. They ensure you adopt Product Management best practices<\/a>, avoid common mistakes, and don\u2019t make any omissions, all to help you create a roadmap that\u2019s clear, effective, and actionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is the best product roadmap template to use? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now-Next-Later is an agile product roadmap format, meaning that it\u2019s focused on outcomes, not outputs, and allows for adaptability. It does away with strict timelines and deadlines, instead giving you the flexibility to plan your work within broader time horizons, focused on the outcomes you want to drive, not the features you want to deliver. You break your Initiatives into stuff that needs to be done now, <\/em>things you\u2019re working on next, <\/em>and priorities for later. <\/em>Check it out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"ProdPad's](\"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hero-RM-backlight-copilot-1024x576.webp\")
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When is a Now-Next-Later product roadmap template not a Now-Next-Later product roadmap template? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to use our Product Roadmap template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Annotated](\"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/The-Now-Next-Later-Product-Roadmap-Image-1-1024x735.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTime Horizons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Objectives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Initiatives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ideas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Target date<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nInside the initiative card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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