There have been incredibly advanced in user research over the last decade. Where researchers were once limited to face-to-face interviews and surveys to gather user data, there is now a new wave of user research tools helping organizations collect more detailed, comprehensive, and valuable data than ever.
Some of these new research tools include:
Remote researching tools. This includes everything from video conferencing to online surveys and remote usability testing platforms. Remote research cuts down on the cost of gathering user data because one researcher can interact with large and remote groups of users without being there in person. These remote tools allow organizations to collect more data and target users anywhere in the world without the expense of hiring and onboarding additional researchers in the area.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. AI is helping with user research in two very significant ways. First, it automates a lot of the tasks associated with user research. AI can interact with users, gather information, and even help with data entry and organization. Even more importantly, AI can help analyze the collected data. This can help researchers quickly identify user patterns and trends in their raw data.
Collaborative platforms. There is a new focus on collaboration in user research. Instead of siloing the research, there is an emphasis on sharing it throughout the organization. By sharing and collaborating on research, organizations allow it to inform everything from sales to marketing to R&D and customer service. New user research platforms make this easy to accomplish, giving teams access to user research to collaborate on products, create buyer personas, and share insights. One such platform is Dovetail, a web-based user research tool. Dovetail allows organizations to tag, search, and share research, streamlining the analysis process and gaining deeper insights into the user.