Last updated: Jul 25, 2025, 10:08 AM UTC

Feature Gap Analysis for Commercial Launch

Overview

This document analyzes the current state of Convert To Markdown and identifies critical feature gaps that must be addressed before commercial launch.

Current State Assessment

What We Have

Core Conversion Features

  • Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm) to JSON

    • Formula resolution
    • Empty row filtering
    • Multi-sheet support
    • Token estimation

  • Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm) to Markdown

    • Table formatting
    • YAML metadata
    • Sheet organization
    • Clean output

  • PDF to Markdown

    • Text extraction
    • Basic table detection
    • Heading recognition
    • Metadata generation

  • Word (.docx, .dotx, .dotm) to HTML

    • Style preservation
    • Clean semantic HTML
    • Table support
    • List formatting

  • Word (.docx, .dotx, .dotm) to Markdown

    • Full formatting support
    • Image handling
    • Table conversion
    • Blockquote support

Infrastructure

  • Google Cloud Functions

    • Serverless deployment
    • Auto-scaling
    • 5MB file limit
    • CORS enabled

  • Zero-Storage Architecture

    • No data persistence
    • Stream processing
    • Privacy by design
    • GDPR friendly

What We're Missing

Critical Gaps for Commercial Launch

1. User Management & Authentication

Current State: Anonymous access only
Required: Full user system

Implementation Needs:

  • User registration and login
  • API key generation and management
  • OAuth providers (Google, GitHub, Microsoft)
  • Password reset functionality
  • Email verification
  • Session management
  • Role-based access control

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks

2. Usage Tracking & Limits

Current State: No tracking or limits
Required: Per-user usage monitoring

Implementation Needs:

  • Conversion counting per user
  • Rate limiting by plan
  • Usage analytics via API
  • Quota enforcement
  • Overage handling
  • Usage history and logs

Estimated Effort: 1-2 weeks

3. Payment & Billing System

Current State: No monetization
Required: Subscription management

Implementation Needs:

  • Stripe integration
  • Subscription plan management
  • Payment method handling
  • Invoice generation
  • Dunning management
  • Refund processing
  • Trial period handling
  • Usage-based billing for overages

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks

4. Customer Self-Service

Current State: API-first approach with no web UI
Strategy: Leverage Stripe Customer Portal and Usage API

Available Features:

  • Usage statistics via API
  • Billing management via Stripe Customer Portal
  • API key delivered via email

Potential Future Additions:

  • Web-based API key regeneration
  • Conversion history API endpoint
  • Webhook configuration UI
  • Settings API for preferences

Estimated Effort: 3-4 weeks

5. Advanced File Format Support

Current State: Limited to XLSX, PDF, DOCX
Required: Broader format support

Missing Formats:

  • PowerPoint (.pptx, .ppsx, .potx) → Markdown
  • Legacy formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt)
  • OpenDocument formats (.odt, .ods, .odp)
  • Rich Text Format (.rtf)
  • CSV with advanced options
  • Google Docs native integration

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks per format

6. Batch Processing & Async Jobs

Current State: Single file, synchronous only
Required: Enterprise-scale processing

Implementation Needs:

  • Multiple file upload interface
  • ZIP file processing
  • Job queue system (Cloud Tasks)
  • Progress tracking
  • Webhook notifications
  • Batch status API
  • Result persistence (temporary)

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks

7. Enhanced Security Features

Current State: Basic HTTPS and validation
Required: Enterprise-grade security

Implementation Needs:

  • API request signing
  • IP allowlisting
  • Audit logging
  • Encryption at rest for temporary files
  • Virus scanning integration
  • DLP (Data Loss Prevention) options
  • Security headers enhancement
  • Rate limiting by IP

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks

8. Enterprise Features

Current State: Basic API only
Required: Enterprise integration

Missing Features:

  • SSO/SAML integration
  • Team management
  • Shared API keys
  • Volume licensing
  • Custom endpoints
  • SLA monitoring
  • Dedicated support channel
  • On-premise deployment option

Estimated Effort: 4-6 weeks

9. Developer Experience

Current State: Basic REST API
Required: Full SDK ecosystem

Implementation Needs:

  • Official Node.js SDK
  • Python SDK
  • Java SDK
  • Go SDK
  • PHP SDK
  • CLI tool
  • Postman collection
  • OpenAPI specification
  • Interactive API explorer

Estimated Effort: 1-2 weeks per SDK

10. Operational Tools

Current State: Basic console logging
Required: Production operations

Implementation Needs:

  • Centralized logging (Cloud Logging)
  • Error tracking (Sentry)
  • Performance monitoring (APM)
  • Uptime monitoring
  • Alerting system
  • Admin monitoring tools
  • Customer support tools
  • A/B testing framework

Estimated Effort: 2-3 weeks

Priority Matrix

Must-Have for Launch (P0)

  1. Authentication System - Can't charge without user accounts
  2. Payment Integration - Core to business model
  3. Usage Tracking - Required for billing
  4. API-Based Self-Service - Users need programmatic access
  5. Security Hardening - Trust is critical

Should-Have for Launch (P1)

  1. Batch Processing - Key differentiator
  2. PowerPoint (.pptx, .ppsx, .potx) Support - Frequently requested
  3. Node.js & Python SDKs - Developer adoption
  4. Enhanced Monitoring - Operational excellence
  5. Webhook Support - Integration capability

Nice-to-Have for Launch (P2)

  1. Legacy Format Support - Broader market
  2. Additional SDKs - Extended reach
  3. SSO Integration - Enterprise sales
  4. Advanced Analytics - Product insights
  5. Mobile SDKs - Future growth

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-4)

  • Set up user database and authentication
  • Implement Usage API for user self-service
  • Add usage tracking system
  • Deploy monitoring infrastructure

Phase 2: Monetization (Weeks 5-8)

  • Integrate Stripe payments
  • Build subscription management
  • Implement usage limits
  • Configure Stripe Customer Portal

Phase 3: Enhancement (Weeks 9-12)

  • Add batch processing
  • Implement webhooks
  • Build PowerPoint (.pptx, .ppsx, .potx) converter
  • Create SDK libraries

Phase 4: Polish (Weeks 13-16)

  • Security audit and fixes
  • Performance optimization
  • Documentation completion
  • Beta testing program

Risk Assessment

High Risk Items

  • Payment Integration Delays - Could block launch
  • Security Vulnerabilities - Could damage reputation
  • Performance at Scale - Unknown load characteristics

Mitigation Strategies

  • Start payment integration early
  • Conduct security audit in Phase 3
  • Load test with 10x expected volume
  • Have rollback plan for all changes

Success Criteria

Technical Success

  • 99.9% uptime achieved
  • <3 second conversion time (95th percentile)
  • Support for 10,000 conversions/day
  • Zero security incidents

Business Success

  • 100 paying customers in Month 1
  • $5,000 MRR by Month 3
  • <2% monthly churn rate

  • 50 NPS score

Recommendations

Immediate Actions

  1. Focus on API-first approach for user self-service features
  2. Start Stripe integration as it has longest lead time
  3. Design database schema for users and usage tracking
  4. Create security checklist for pre-launch audit

MVP Approach

Launch with core features only:

  • Basic authentication (email/password)
  • Usage API for programmatic access
  • Stripe subscription billing
  • Current conversion features
  • Basic monitoring

Add advanced features post-launch based on customer feedback.