This product development timeline can assist you in streamlining each step through organized tasks and team collaboration. The six stages above will guide your team through the entire process, from idea screening to development. Because of the variety of products available, estimating a standard product development timeline can be difficult. It's comparable to asking, "How long is a piece of string?" The answer is "for as long as it is required." Even though each product is unique, there are some stages that all items will go through. Understanding those stages will assist creators in estimating how long it will take to bring their product to market.