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Fast-developing technology sets the pace and directions of business online as well as offline. Companies must respond quickly to product development, changing customer habits. Also, special care for customer experience allows satisfied users to return to your product. Good and planned UX can make or break a project. But how to achieve the ideal UX? Should you outsource the UX research team?
UX is increasingly important, and that does not come out of anywhere.
In 2020, the overall retail of seven leading economies declined by 1% while online retail grew by 22%, according to a report from Unctad (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).
When you have to stay at home, buying online becomes the only option. Traditional business owners had to quickly adapt to this new reality: they now had to be online too. The transition can be challenging, especially in terms of UX.
Therefore, let’s remember that having a comprehensive approach to UX, and taking care of all visual elements provide your product with a consistent message and an unforgettable customer experience. And thus, an increase in the number of customers for your business.
Article co-written by the senior graphic designer, Ola.
Recap: What is UX Research Again?
What does the user think about your product? Are they spending too much time on the shopping cart and, if so, why? Do they know how to perform basic cations or are they confused?
UX research gives factual answers to questions such as these by using long-established research techniques such as interviews, surveys, personas, empathy maps, and field studies.
This data is analyzed and used to brief the client with an informed plan.
Why Perform UX Research?
“UX Research allows us to achieve product success based on actual data, not just assumptions.”
Mateusz, UI/UX Designer
Great UX ensures your project (be it a website, app, platform) looks and feels pleasant. Such a welcoming presentation appeals not only to users but also to prospects and new partners.
In sum, UX research has many ways of providing positive ROI to your business.
“UX helps our customers look professional. That enables them to attract new partners.”
Ola, Senior Graphic Designer
Read more: How to Conduct UX Research in 8 Steps.
Benefits of Outsourcing UX Research Team
So we have established that UX research can drastically improve your project’s quality. But why not perform UX research in-house?
We list the top reasons:
- Specialists – It’s not common to have in-house dedicated UX researchers, and the task usually ends up being done by generalists. It usually makes more sense to hire them for specific projects.
- Reliable – When you outsource, you hire the results. You don’t have to micromanage the UX team. The provider takes care of all bureaucracy so you can focus on receiving the best outcome possible.
- No overhead – You use only the hours you need to have the project delivered. There’s no need to worry about hiring and training the team, for instance.
- Scalable team – Agile companies allow you to allocate and reallocate hours and people to adapt to your needs. When your app or platform scales up or down, the team can instantly change to fit the new reality.
Why Outsource UX Research To a Software House
Freelancers can perform UX research. Big agencies too. But in many instances outsourcing UX research to a software house can be beneficial. Here’s why:
- Practicality – If you are already working with the software house on one or more projects, contracting UX research makes perfect sense. You know the professionals,
- Efficient Environment – Software house designers are very close to developers and know in practice what is feasible. They deliver actionable plans and drafts.
- Full Cycle (if needed) – If the UX research is good, why stop there? Software houses will have diverse teams of developers to implement the project and help it go live.
How Big Should a UX Research Team Be?
A UX Research team consists of one or more professionals. The size depends mainly on the project’s requirements and scope.
A single experienced professional can deliver comprehensive UX research for a budget-conscious project.
Bigger projects will demand a team with a designer and, possibly, other professionals to fill technical gaps
UX research happens at the early stages of the project. As such, the researchers often also crunch the numbers and implement the UX itself.
The UX research team works closely with the project manager and may contact the client directly throughout the whole project.
“It’s a very good time for UX research. The users of small and big companies increasingly demand a better experience, and the UX research helps ensure the end product will be very attractive and user-friendly.”
Ola, Senior Graphic Designer
What Makes a Good UX Research Team?
User Experience research is a specialized activity, involving specific knowledge and tools. Therefore, it’s very important to have good professionals carrying it out.
A strong UX research team should have specialists with:
- Specific backgrounds in UX research – UX research demands specific knowledge beyond UX. Be sure to look for professionals with a backdrop of research-specific certifications and successful projects.
- Knowledge in using the latest tools – Researchers have many tools at their disposal, not all of them digital. From classical card sorting to modern eye-tracking software, each tool has its pros and cons for each scenario. A good researcher will know which tool to use to solve the specific needs.
- Experience with research and surveying – Running a good survey is not simple. To find out what the user really thinks, the researcher must be very organized and prepared to deal with biases. Those are skills acquired with time and experience.
- Good communication, including soft and language skills – Professionals must be able to skillfully move back and forth between the client’s needs and the user’s feedback. Each interaction has its own challenges.
- It’s a bonus if they know your industry – Specialized and highly technical industries offer a challenging onboarding to anyone. When the researcher is familiar with the intricacies of the industry’s users and products, that reflects into the final research.
“It’s very important to have UX professionals engaged in the project. They will find the best use cases of what to do and what not to do and help suggest the best UX practices to the client.”
Ola, Senior Graphic Designer
Should you Always Outsource a UX Research Team?
In one word: no. Good UX research always improves the quality of the project drastically.
While we at Kambu provide UX Research outsourcing, it always depends on the needs of the client.
If you want your project to look professional and don’t have the manpower to take care of UX research and development, outsourcing is the ideal solution.
If you are a small business just starting out. You might benefit more from a more broad consulting, which might include UX.
If you are an enterprise, chances are you already have a strong UX team. Even then, you can benefit from having the perspective of UX specialists.
“The design process should be adjusted to the needs of each project. UX Research is not always vital, but it invariably increases the quality of a final product.“
Mateusz, UI/UX Designer
Conclusion
In this increasingly competitive e-commerce environment, customers demand more and more. UX research is a solid tool to understand users’ needs and apply the findings organically.
It helps ensure users navigate your app or platform the intended way.
Should you outsource your UX research? It depends on your needs, but it is definitely a solid option. Especially if you find a partner that can deliver not only research but also implementation.
