IDENTIFY YOUR CUSTOMER'S NEEDS. MASLOW PYRAMID.

PROBLEM DISCOVERY

Accelerate your business with these tips on "Identify your customer's needs. Maslow Pyramid. Problem Discovery." Analyse and discover this TIP!

This TIP will help you to better understand what needs / problems your customer may have, the clearer you are about your target, the easier it will be to get it right and improve your solution to maximise your customer's satisfaction! The needs or problems of a customer segment refer to the specific demands that a group of people have in relation to a particular product or service. To illustrate this, here is an example: Let's say you are an entrepreneur who wants to create a mobile online shopping application for people over 60. Your customer segment is those who are not very tech savvy, but who want to shop online easily and securely from the comfort of their own home.

In this case, the needs or problems of your customer segment could include

1. Lack of confidence in the security of online payments.
2. Difficulties navigating complicated and unintuitive online shopping websites.
3. Concerns about the quality and authenticity of products sold online.
4. The need for personalised, real-time customer service.
5. Need to receive relevant and personalised product recommendations.

As an entrepreneur, your focus on needs would involve addressing these specific demands when designing your online shopping mobile app. You could consider implementing features such as secure online payments, a user-friendly user interface design, product authenticity checks, online and personalised customer support, and relevant and personalised product recommendations. By meeting these specific needs of your customer segment, you increase the chances of success for your business.

Here are some examples of needs or problems that different customer segments may have:

1. Working mothers: need flexible and reliable childcare while they are at work.
2. Older people: need products and services adapted to their reduced mobility, such as wheelchairs, ramps or personal assistance services.
3. People with visual disabilities: need products and services that enable them to access information and technology efficiently, such as screen readers, magnifying glasses or applications with accessible interfaces.
4. University students: need affordable and safe accommodation and transport services close to the campus.
5. Entrepreneurs and small businesses: need counselling and training services to develop entrepreneurial skills and better manage their businesses.
6. Frequent travellers: need products and services that enable them to travel comfortably and safely, such as durable luggage, flight tracking applications and airport shuttle services.
7. People concerned about their health: need products and services that enable them to monitor and improve their health, such as fitness tracking apps, organic products and therapy services.
8. Parents: need products and services that enable them to care for their children, such as nappies, healthy food, educational toys, among others.

These are just a few examples, but there are a myriad of needs or problems that a customer segment may have, and focusing on meeting those needs can be key to the success of a venture.

PROBLEM DISCOVERY

Problem discovery is the process of identifying and understanding a problem or need that exists in a market or a specific user group. This process is fundamental for entrepreneurs as it allows them to find opportunities to create innovative solutions and satisfy unmet needs in the market. The problem discovery process involves asking questions, observing and listening to users to understand their needs and problems. Some common techniques used in this process include conducting in-depth interviews, observing users in their natural environment, conducting usability tests, and reviewing online comments and reviews.

A practical example of problem discovery is the case of Airbnb. The founders of Airbnb realised that there was an unmet need in the travel market. Many travellers prefer an authentic, local experience rather than staying in conventional hotels. The founders of Airbnb identified this need and created a platform that connects travellers with people who have rooms or houses to rent.

Another example is the case of Slack. Slack's founders discovered that many companies were struggling to find an effective way to communicate and collaborate. They identified the need for a tool that would enable teams to communicate and work more effectively online. They created Slack, an online messaging and collaboration platform that has become a must-have tool for many businesses.

In a nutshell, the problem discovery process is crucial for entrepreneurs seeking to identify business opportunities and create innovative solutions that meet unmet needs in the market.

Problem Discovery is a research approach that focuses on identifying customer problems and needs. It is a key step in the Lean Startup methodology, as it allows entrepreneurs to discover the real problems faced by customers and then design solutions to effectively solve them.

The Problem Discovery process involves talking to clients and asking open and exploratory questions to understand their needs and challenges. Entrepreneurs can use a variety of tools to collect and analyse customer data, including surveys, interviews, focus groups and data analysis.

By understanding customers' problems and needs, entrepreneurs can design solutions that are tailored to market needs and are more effective in solving real problems. Continuous validation of entrepreneurs' hypotheses through customer feedback allows start-ups to iterate and improve their solutions to ensure that they are addressing real customer problems.

Problem Discovery is a fundamental step in lean startup

The problem discovery is a fundamental process in the Lean Startup approach, which focuses on identifying and validating real customer problems and needs before developing and launching a product or service to the market. The problem discovery process involves talking to potential customers, doing market research and gathering information to understand customers' needs and the problems they face.

This information is crucial to develop a product or service that meets a real need and thus avoid wasting time, resources and money on creating something that no one wants or needs.

In addition, problem discovery can also help identify problems or needs that customers may not have recognised or clearly articulated, allowing entrepreneurs to offer innovative solutions that solve problems that have not yet been addressed in the market.

In short, problem discovery is a This is a fundamental step in the Lean Startup approach because it allows entrepreneurs to better understand the real needs and problems of their customers, which in turn helps to create products or services that are truly valuable and relevant to the market.

Why should an entrepreneur know his customers' needs or problems well?

AN ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OR PROBLEMS OF HIS CUSTOMERS FOR SEVERAL REASONS:

1. Identify business opportunities: By understanding customers' needs and problems, entrepreneurs can identify business opportunities and develop products or services that meet those needs or solve those problems. This will enable them to create more effective and differentiated solutions, which will give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
2. Design adapted products and services: By understanding customers' needs and problems, entrepreneurs can design products and services that are tailored to those specific needs and problems. This will allow them to offer more effective and personalised solutions, which will increase customer satisfaction and foster customer loyalty.
3. Improve the customer experience: By understanding customer needs and problems, entrepreneurs can improve the customer experience by offering products and services that meet those needs or solve those problems. This will enable them to increase customer satisfaction, enhance their reputation and increase the likelihood of customer loyalty.
4. Identify new sales opportunities: By understanding customers' needs and problems, entrepreneurs can identify new sales opportunities, such as complementary products or additional services that they can offer. This will allow them to expand their business and increase their income.

In short, knowing the needs and problems of customers is fundamental for any entrepreneur, as it will allow them to identify business opportunities, design adapted products and services, improve the customer experience and identify new sales opportunities.

How can an entrepreneur understand well the needs or problems of his customer segment?

TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OR PROBLEMS OF CUSTOMERS, AN ENTREPRENEUR CAN TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. Market research: Market research can be conducted to find out the needs and problems of customers in the market you want to enter. This can be done through surveys, interviews or analysis of sales data and customer behaviour.
2. Competitive analysis: Analysing the competition and their products or services can provide valuable information about customer needs and how to meet them effectively.
3. Listening to customers: Entrepreneurs must interact with their customers and listen to their opinions and suggestions to improve their products or services. This can be achieved by conducting surveys, focus groups, interviews, among other strategies.
4. Social media monitoring: Social media is an important source of feedback on customer needs and problems. Entrepreneurs can monitor social media conversations to better understand customers' needs and opinions about their product or service.
5. User testing: Entrepreneurs can conduct user tests with potential customers to get direct feedback on their product or service. This will allow them to make the necessary improvements and adjustments to meet customer needs.

In short, knowing the needs or problems of customers is fundamental to the success of any venture. Entrepreneurs must conduct thorough research and be open to customer feedback in order to be able to offer products or services that meet their needs and expectations.

THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF START-UPS FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OR PROBLEMS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS

SOME OF THEM ARE:

1. Blockbuster: the movie rental chain failed to understand that customers were looking for a more convenient way to watch movies at home and that renting physical DVDs was not the best option.
2. Kodak: the photo company failed to adapt to the transition from physical to digital and did not understand that customers were looking for an easier and faster way to capture and share images.
3. Juicero: the cold-squeezed juice company failed to understand that customers were not willing to pay for an expensive juicing machine when they could buy similar juices in a grocery shop.
4. Google Glass: augmented reality technology failed to understand that customers were not ready to use devices that made them look like robots, and that they did not want to be filmed without their knowledge.

These examples show the importance of understanding customers' needs and problems for the success of a company.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN HELP AN ENTREPRENEUR TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OR PROBLEMS OF HIS CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS:

1. Market research: can provide information and advice on how to carry out appropriate market research to identify the needs and problems of potential customers.
2. Data analysis: can help analyse data collected through market research to better understand customer behaviour patterns and trends.
3. Evaluation of comments: can help evaluate feedback from existing customers to identify areas for improvement and opportunities to develop new products or services that better meet their needs.
4. Identification of trends: can help identify emerging trends in the market and provide guidance on how companies can adjust their strategies to keep up with changing customer needs and wants.
5. Creation of customer profiles: can help entrepreneurs create detailed profiles of their ideal customers, which can help to better understand their needs, wants and problems.

In general, artificial intelligence can provide guidance and advice on how entrepreneurs can use various tools and techniques to better understand their customers' needs and problems and develop solutions that meet those needs.

TO DISCOVER UNMET NEEDS AND POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, I RECOMMEND YOU TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. Identify a target market: Choose a specific group of people you want to target with your product or service. For example, you could focus on university students, parents, seniors, etc.
2. Make a list of the common needs of that market: Think about the common needs that people in that market have. For example, university students may need tutoring services, solutions to better organise themselves, etc.
3. Investigate these needs thoroughly: What are the current limitations in the supply of solutions to these needs? What frustrations do people experience when trying to meet these needs?
4. Look at current market trends: Research current trends in the market to identify new and emerging needs. What new technologies, products or services are being developed and how do they affect your target market?
5. Listen to your potential customers: Talk to your potential customers and listen to their needs and wants. You can do this through surveys, interviews or focus groups.
6. Identifies business opportunities: Use all the information you have gathered to identify business opportunities. Think of innovative solutions to meet the unmet needs you have identified.

Remember that the identification of unmet needs is an ongoing process, so you should always be aware of changes in the market and the needs of your customers.

• Make a "Customer Journey Map" of a specific customer profile, and identify the critical moments in your customer's experience.
• The business world is changing and generating needs, and these needs are opportunities. To go deeper into the sector. Attend business networking to understand and be able to improve our proposal.

MASLOW'S PYRAMID

Maslow's pyramid is a theory of psychology that classifies human needs into five categories, which are organised in a hierarchy. The theory states that human beings have a number of needs that must be satisfied in an orderly fashion. The most basic needs must be met before we can worry about more advanced needs. An entrepreneur can use Maslow's pyramid to better understand the needs of his customers, as this theory helps to identify needs in terms of their relative importance to people.

For example, if an entrepreneur is designing a product or service that meets people's basic needs, such as security or food, he must ensure that his offering meets these needs before worrying about more advanced needs, such as self-esteem or personal fulfilment. Moreover, by understanding the needs of his customers according to Maslow's pyramid, an entrepreneur can design his offer in a way that responds to one or several needs at the same time.

For example, a healthy food service can satisfy the need for security and the need for love and belonging of customers who are looking to eat healthy and share that experience with their family and friends. In a nutshell, Maslow's pyramid can help an entrepreneur to better identify the needs of his customers and to design his offer in a way that responds to those needs effectively.

The Pyramid was formulated by Abraham Maslow in 1943 in his work "A Theroy of Human Motivation" the theory of the so-called Maslow Pyramid as a principle within psychology, but its application to entrepreneurship has far surpassed this discipline in recent years, entering fully into business strategy, mainly in aspects of marketing and human resource management.

The pyramid is a theory of motivation that explains human behaviour and especially that of your customers.  It graphically represents our behaviour as individuals according to our needs and shows a set of five levels ordered according to the "stages" that all people go through. Thus, at its base are the basic needs of any individual and as we rise we cover "stages" of security, social aspects, esteem and self-realisation.

Explains where the impulses of human behaviour come from, i.e. why do we do something, or why do we think in a certain way? This can be transferred and applied to your customers and seen from another point of view, why do they buy some products and not others, or why do they buy some brands and not others? By understanding how Maslow's pyramid works, you can learn how your customers behave, why customers buy your products instead of your competitors' products and vice versa.

For example; What differentiates a BMW customer from a Citroën customer, assuming that both have the same purchasing power? The Citroën customer satisfies the "basic" need to get around town as well as the BMW customer, but BMW also satisfies other needs such as social acceptance and self-esteem.

Another example: of how companies use this theory to their advantage is Coca-Cola. In principle, by its nature it would belong to the lowest rung of the pyramid, to quench thirst, however, its advertising and marketing campaigns focus on showing qualities that allow us to enhance friendship and belonging to a group, i.e. qualities that satisfy the third rung of the pyramid.

According to Maslow, human beings tend to satisfy their needs in an upward direction, i.e. we will not buy a product that gives us security or social recognition if we have not first covered our basic needs. Therefore, a company will adapt its product, its message or its communication to that level of need that it believes it can cover and satisfy.