Being in the top 3%? Here is how we discover how surprisingly easy it could be!

Be in the top 3% with your company with this easy trick: Just focus on your customers, because 97% of others won’t. It’s not about massive budgets or expensive tech, it’s about something so simple it might surprise you: prioritizing your users.

You might think, “Oh come on, that sounds too simple! Aren’t we already doing this?” But the truth is: only 3% of companies genuinely center their users in their product development process. By doing what most overlook, you’re already ahead of the curve.

The Data Backs It Up

Forrester’s 2024 US Customer Experience Index shows that only 3% of companies are customer obsessed, prioritizing users needs above all. These firms see 41% faster revenue growth and 51% better retention (Whoop, anyone?).

UXCam’s UX Statistics reveal that most companies fail to prioritize users, leaving a huge opportunity for those who do:

• 45% don’t conduct user experience (UX) testing, launching products without understanding user needs (UXCam).
• Only 13% have a UX leader in senior management, showing user focus isn’t a priority for most (UXCam).
• 43% lack processes to base design decisions on user feedback, relying on assumptions instead (UXCam).

These numbers show that most of your competitors forget about users, giving you a clear chance to stand out. (It's interesting to explain why this happens, but I'll keep it for another article.)

Why User Focus Wins

At Ingenious Dynamics, we’ve launched numerous hardware and software products, and one thing is clear: user focus is the key to success. With many clients, we didn’t just build the product (get the money and run!). We supported them in defining a clear direction and refining the product design itself, even after completion. This approach ensures the product resonates with users and continues to grow. We do this because we love what we do and always push for the best possible outcome with the resources available.

The Harvard Business Review shows a good example noting that top brands thrive by engaging users, not just selling to them. Or, even more catchy, seems like every $1 invested in UX delivers $100 in return a 9,900% ROI (UXCam).

Overcoming Common Challenges

Most of the times we've faced clients teams being disconnected from their users. We’ve seen technical jargon confuse inexperienced or elderly users, products planned to be launched without usage instructions, or costly features that wouldn’t serve user interests (example, voice controlled shower?). Yes, you read that right: we’ve refused to build features that didn’t benefit end users. This might mean less short-term revenue for us, but it increases our clients chances of success with better funds allocation, which is our ultimate goal. We’ve helped bridge these gaps by encouraging teams to set aside their expertise and technical terms. Instead, we guide them to imagine a user who knows nothing about their product, its workings, or its terminology. Users want their needs met simply, without complex steps, excessive knowledge, or dense instructions.

By reconnecting teams with this user perspective and supporting user research, we’ve transformed products into intuitive, user-friendly solutions, leading to much better outcomes.

How to Be in the Top 3%

Here’s how to make user focus your competitive edge:

• Research Users: Use surveys or interviews to uncover their pain points.
• Test Early: Get feedback on prototypes before you’re too invested.
• Act on Feedback: Be ready to pivot, even if it means scrapping your “perfect” idea.
• Build a User-Centric Culture: Make user satisfaction everyone’s goal.

These steps are straightforward but require commitment. Most companies falter here, which is why mastering them places you in the top 3%.

Conclusion

Launching a winning product it's complicated but not impossible. In a landscape where 97% of companies neglect their users, simply listening to them sets you apart. At Ingenious Dynamics, we’ve seen user-focused strategies revolutionize results. So, ask yourself: Am I truly prioritizing my users? If you are, you’re already on track to dominate your market.