Pepijn Bakker, 14Dayz
14Dayz.com is an easy and simple-to-use time tracking software company based in the Netherlands. It has built its business primarily in the European market. As the Owner of the company, I decided it was time to expand into the US market, and we needed someone locally to help us grow. I contacted Randy on LinkedIn, because he has been a satisfied user since 2006 and offers market research services.
He informed me that the US market was quite different than Europe, and I needed to truly understand what market niches and customer segments to pursue - because 14Dayz didn’t have an unlimited advertising and marketing budget. He explained how Customer Discovery interviews would be of benefit - to help me understand the needs and motivations and pains of customers and prospects in a very big and different market. It made a lot of sense, so I engaged Customer Discovery Pros.com to conduct interviews with people in different segments - my current customers and new prospects in the USA, Canada and Europe. His qualitative market research validated the use and value of our 14Dayz to customers in several niches, and surprisingly, to their clients too.
His market research also validated the shortcoming of a desired feature: an invoicing capability to increase user efficiency and productivity and reduce duplication of effort. (We will be implementing invoicing in the short-term.) We learned from the customer insights and evidence how to position 14Dayz in a congested marketplace in a new country and different business culture. The software’s openness and flexibility, user-friendliness and affordable cost-structure received positive interest.
We enjoyed working with Randy and look forward to working with him again.
Even though it is not always easy to receive constructive feedback and criticism of a product that you have created, it is very helpful to learn about it before investing a lot of money focused on the wrong direction or market segment. Now, we know what to do, where to make changes, and how to move forward in growing our business in the USA.
He informed me that the US market was quite different than Europe, and I needed to truly understand what market niches and customer segments to pursue - because 14Dayz didn’t have an unlimited advertising and marketing budget. He explained how Customer Discovery interviews would be of benefit - to help me understand the needs and motivations and pains of customers and prospects in a very big and different market. It made a lot of sense, so I engaged Customer Discovery Pros.com to conduct interviews with people in different segments - my current customers and new prospects in the USA, Canada and Europe. His qualitative market research validated the use and value of our 14Dayz to customers in several niches, and surprisingly, to their clients too.
His market research also validated the shortcoming of a desired feature: an invoicing capability to increase user efficiency and productivity and reduce duplication of effort. (We will be implementing invoicing in the short-term.) We learned from the customer insights and evidence how to position 14Dayz in a congested marketplace in a new country and different business culture. The software’s openness and flexibility, user-friendliness and affordable cost-structure received positive interest.
We enjoyed working with Randy and look forward to working with him again.
Even though it is not always easy to receive constructive feedback and criticism of a product that you have created, it is very helpful to learn about it before investing a lot of money focused on the wrong direction or market segment. Now, we know what to do, where to make changes, and how to move forward in growing our business in the USA.
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