At SAP, user research is an important aspect of product development. It helps identify user pain points, preferences, and behaviors. It is a crucial phase in creating a product that is user-friendly and meets the needs of the end user.

User Research within Design-Led Development

By incorporating user research throughout the entire product development process, teams can ensure that they are building products and services that truly meet the needs and expectations of their users.

User research is practiced in three phases of SAP’s design-led development process: Discover, Design, and Deliver. The graphic below shows 14 user research methods typically used in each phase.

In the Discover phase, user research helps to understand the needs, behaviors, and pain points of the target users. This can be done through methods such as interviews, surveys, and shadowing to gather insights into user preferences and expectations.

In the Design phase, user research helps to validate design decisions and ensure that the product or service meets the needs of the users. This can involve usability testing to gather feedback on the design and iterate on it based on user input.

In the Deliver phase, user research helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the product or service and to identify areas for improvement. This can involve methods like usability benchmarking and other feedback mechanisms to gather data on how users are using the product and adjust to their behavior.

SAP User Research Panel

The SAP User Research Panel is an opportunity for SAP end-users to have a direct impact on the development and enhancement of our products. By participating in the panel, end-users can share their opinions, suggestions, and concerns with product teams, ultimately helping us create user experiences aligning with their needs.

We encourage all SAP end-users to join the SAP User Research Panel to contribute to the evolution of SAP products. To invite your customers and SAP end-users, please direct them to the external webpage and panel registration.

Available for Download

User Research Method Cards

The SAP UX User Research Method Cards are a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their user research skills. These cards provide a convenient way to learn and select from the 14 most effective user research methods used at SAP.

For more information, have a look at the respective blog.

Inclusive Research Handbook

The Inclusive Research Handbook offers advice, tools, and templates for conducting research in an inclusive way.

Scenes Toolkit

The Scenes toolkit includes pre-defined illustrations that can be physically or digitally combined to create storyboards, humanizing research insights.

Further Resources

Take a look at our user research content on the SAP Community for all the latest news and updates. To dive deeper into user research case studies, approaches, and stories from behind the scenes, check out our blog collection.