SayPro Research and Define User Needs

SayPro Research and Define User Needs: Gather insights from users regarding what they need from a customizable dashboard, focusing on both buyers and sellers from SayPro Monthly January SCMR-17 SayPro Monthly Dashboard: Customizable dashboard for users to manage their activities by SayPro Online Marketplace Office under SayPro Marketing Royalty SCMR

As part of the SayPro Monthly Dashboard initiative under the SayPro Online Marketplace, it is critical to gather user insights and define specific needs regarding the functionality of the new customizable dashboard. The dashboard aims to serve both buyers and sellers, providing an efficient, personalized experience that enhances activity management, engagement, and performance. Understanding the needs of these two distinct user groups—buyers and sellers—will ensure the dashboard is not only user-friendly but also effectively addresses their unique goals and pain points.

This process will involve conducting targeted user research to identify the features and tools that will most benefit each user group. Insights gathered will help inform the design, functionality, and features of the dashboard, aligning it with the expectations and needs of both buyers and sellers.

Objectives of Research

The primary objective of the research phase is to understand what users (both buyers and sellers) require from the new customizable dashboard to improve their marketplace activities, decision-making, and overall satisfaction. By understanding their needs, we can tailor the dashboard’s features to provide maximum value.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify key pain points and challenges faced by buyers and sellers when interacting with the marketplace.
2. Understand the preferred features and functionalities buyers and sellers would want from the customizable dashboard.
3. Gather insights on how the dashboard can be customized to suit the specific needs of each user group.
4. Prioritize the most critical dashboard elements that will enhance user engagement and activity tracking for both buyers and sellers.

Research Methodology

To gather actionable insights from users, a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods will be used, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and user testing. These methods will be designed to capture both broad trends and specific needs for the SayPro Monthly Dashboard.

1. User Surveys

Purpose: To collect quantitative data on what buyers and sellers prioritize in a customizable dashboard.

• Action Plan:
  • Create a survey that asks users about their current challenges in using the marketplace and their desired features in a dashboard (e.g., activity tracking, sales performance, notifications, etc.).
  • Include questions that explore specific needs such as sales tracking, customer management, inventory monitoring, promotion management, and insight generation.
  • Use Likert scales (e.g., 1-5) to measure the importance of various features such as data visualization, customizable widgets, real-time alerts, and the ability to set activity goals.
  • Segment the survey respondents by buyer and seller categories to better understand their unique preferences.

Example Survey Questions:

• “Which of the following features would help you manage your marketplace activities more effectively? (Rank in order of priority)”
• “How often do you track your sales and activity metrics? (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)”
• “What features would help you make better decisions as a buyer/seller?”

2. User Interviews

Purpose: To collect qualitative insights on the specific needs and expectations of buyers and sellers in the marketplace.

• Action Plan:
  • Conduct one-on-one interviews with a representative sample of active buyers and sellers.
  • Focus on gathering deep insights into their day-to-day challenges and what features would improve their experience on the marketplace.
  • Use open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses about their current experience with activity management and their expectations for a dashboard interface.

Example Interview Questions:

• “What specific marketplace activities do you struggle to track or manage on a daily basis?”
• “What features do you wish you had access to when managing your sales or inventory?”
• “If you had a customizable dashboard, what would be the most important tools or widgets you’d like to see?”

3. Focus Groups

Purpose: To facilitate discussions among buyers and sellers to generate group insights and ideas on how a customizable dashboard could better serve their needs.

• Action Plan:
  • Organize focus groups for both buyer and seller segments, inviting small groups (5-7 people) to discuss their experiences with the marketplace and what they want from a customizable dashboard.
  • Present them with prototype wireframes or mockups of the dashboard and gather feedback on features, usability, and layout preferences.
  • Use group dynamics to explore common themes, contradictions, and pain points that may not be evident in individual interviews.

Example Focus Group Discussion Topics:

• “What is the most important information you need to see on your dashboard?”
• “How do you currently manage your activities, and where do you feel you lack support?”
• “What customization options would make the dashboard more useful for your business?”

4. Usability Testing

Purpose: To observe how buyers and sellers interact with early prototypes or wireframes of the dashboard, identifying usability issues and gathering direct feedback on user interface design.

• Action Plan:
  • Provide users with access to a prototype version of the dashboard that includes basic customizable features (widgets, layouts, activity tracking tools).
  • Observe how users navigate the dashboard and customize widgets.
  • Use screen recording and heatmaps to track where users click most often, where they hesitate, or where they encounter difficulty.
  • Collect feedback on any issues users face when customizing the dashboard and use this data to iterate on the design.

Key User Needs to Investigate

1. Needs of Buyers

For buyers, the dashboard must provide a user-friendly interface that helps them easily track their purchases, monitor order status, view sales trends, and receive notifications related to promotions, discounts, or product availability. Specific needs include:

• Order Management:
  • Track order status, shipping details, and delivery times in one place.
  • View past purchases and receive personalized product recommendations based on purchase history.
• Promotion Alerts:
  • Alerts for upcoming sales, promotions, or special offers on items of interest.
  • Ability to track and manage discounts or exclusive offers.
• Wishlist and Cart Management:
  • An easy way to manage the wishlist and saved items with quick access to cart updates.
• Personalized Recommendations:
  • Receive insights into products that match their search history or preferences.
• Activity Tracking:
  • Monitor interactions with sellers and products.
  • Keep track of loyalty points or reward programs if applicable.

2. Needs of Sellers

Sellers require a more comprehensive suite of tools for managing their marketplace activities. These tools should help them track sales, monitor inventory, optimize marketing efforts, and analyze customer interactions. Specific needs include:

• Sales and Performance Tracking:
  • Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly sales data in real time.
  • Track conversion rates, customer engagement, and average order values.
• Inventory Management:
  • Real-time tracking of stock levels, low inventory alerts, and automatic reorder recommendations.
• Customer Management:
  • Track customer behavior, preferences, and feedback.
  • Easily segment customers for targeted marketing or promotions.
• Promotions and Marketing Insights:
  • Track the effectiveness of ongoing promotions and advertising campaigns.
  • Receive insights on how promotions impact sales and customer behavior.
• Business Analytics:
  • Detailed analytics on product performance, sales trends, customer acquisition costs, and other key metrics.
• Customizable Reports:
  • Generate reports tailored to specific business goals (e.g., ROI, sales trends by product category, or market performance).

Synthesizing Insights and Defining Key Features

Once the data is gathered from the various research methods, the next step will be to synthesize the findings and define the key features that the customizable dashboard must offer to meet the needs of both buyers and sellers. This includes:

• Prioritizing features that address the most pressing pain points for each user group.
• Grouping related features into categories, such as activity tracking, sales management, customer engagement, and analytics.
• Mapping out how these features can be customized for each user type—buyers can focus on shopping activities and offers, while sellers can manage sales, inventory, and promotions.

Timeline and Deliverables

1. Week 1-2: Research Design
   • Design surveys, interview scripts, and focus group agendas.
   • Recruit participants for interviews, surveys, and focus groups.
2. Week 3-4: Data Collection
   • Launch surveys and conduct user interviews and focus groups.
   • Start usability testing with early prototypes.
3. Week 5-6: Data Analysis
   • Analyze collected data to identify key trends, needs, and pain points.
   • Develop a report summarizing the findings and user needs.
4. Week 7: Feature Definition
   • Define the key dashboard features and functionality based on user insights.
   • Present findings to the design and development teams for integration into the dashboard.

Conclusion

Gathering insights from users regarding their needs for the SayPro Monthly Dashboard is essential to delivering a product that truly enhances the marketplace experience for both buyers and sellers. By conducting comprehensive research, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and usability testing, SayPro can develop a customizable dashboard that effectively addresses the pain points of users, provides them with actionable insights, and drives increased engagement with the marketplace. This approach will ensure that both user groups—buyers and sellers—receive the maximum benefit from the new dashboard features.