Customer needs assessment

Customer needs assessment uses research methods to discover what problems users face and how they currently solve them. Start with user interviews to understand context and motivations. Follow up with surveys to quantify how many people share similar needs. Combine both to build a complete picture.

Good research goes beyond asking "What features do you want?" Instead, explore current workflows, frustrations, and workarounds. Shadow users in their environment to see problems they don't mention. Review support tickets and forum posts for recurring complaints. Analytics data reveals where users struggle or abandon tasks.

The best insights come from identifying gaps between what users say and do. They might request faster horses, but observing their commute reveals they need reliable transportation. Document findings in user personas and journey maps to share insights across teams.