Summary
Explore the evolving role of user research as a strategic driver for innovation and business success. This session highlights emerging trends from interviews with research leaders and a global survey of more than 1,000 research and UX professionals, and delves into the democratization of research, AI integration, and prioritization of high-risk problem spaces, while addressing challenges like resource constraints and measuring impact. Featuring real-world examples from leading businesses, in this session you’ll discover how diverse organizations are scaling research, fostering collaboration, and delivering actionable insights to drive user-centric decision-making.
Key Insights
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Research has seen a steady increase in impact at the business level.
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The concept of democratization allows non-research professionals to conduct research, enabling dedicated researchers to focus on strategic questions.
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AI is increasingly integrated into research processes, facilitating pattern recognition and data analysis.
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Time and resource constraints remain the top challenges for researchers across organizations.
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Organizations that embed research into business strategy drive greater innovation and customer satisfaction.
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Qualitative and quantitative insights are crucial for making informed strategic decisions.
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Effective communication of research findings is essential for wider adoption of insights in larger organizations.
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Researchers need to prioritize socialization to ensure their insights lead to actionable outcomes.
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AI serves as an enabler in research, improving efficiency but not replacing human insight.
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Companies that adapt to the evolving landscape of research will innovate faster and deliver better products.
Notable Quotes
"Research is no longer just a box to check; it is becoming a strategic pillar."
"Research teams are focusing more on socialization, working with stakeholders to ensure insights are used."
"Where you see research having the highest leverage is when it operates at the level of strategic business decision making."
"We’re seeing this steady increase in the impact of research at strategic levels."
"Democratization is removing bottlenecks and enabling faster decision-making."
"The future of research isn't AI versus humans; it's humans plus AI."
"AI is an enabler, not a replacement; it enhances efficiency and accelerates research cycles."
"Tracking the impact of research is difficult but essential for stakeholder buy-in."
"Research isn’t done just for the sake of research; it should matter more to organizations."
"Organizations that embed research into their decision-making will stay ahead in a rapidly changing market."
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