The Future of Search: Combining LeanUX and User-Centricity for a Better Experience

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Aug 11, 2023

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The Future of Search: Combining LeanUX and User-Centricity for a Better Experience

In today's digital age, search engines play a crucial role in our daily lives. Whether we're looking for information, products, or services, search engines have become the go-to source for fulfilling our needs. However, as the volume of information on the internet continues to grow exponentially, the traditional model of search is starting to show its limitations. This is where the concept of LeanUX and user-centricity comes into play, offering a new perspective on how we can enhance the search experience.

LeanUX, a method that applies the principles of lean startup to UX design, has gained popularity as a way to improve the success rate of startups. By incorporating agile development practices and focusing on delivering a streamlined user experience, LeanUX aims to build products that meet user needs efficiently and effectively. This approach aligns well with the fast-paced nature of today's digital landscape and emphasizes collaboration across departments to increase productivity.

One of the key principles of LeanUX is the emphasis on outcomes rather than outputs. Instead of just focusing on the end result, teams should strive to understand the desired outcomes and work towards achieving them. This requires a shared understanding among team members and a clear alignment of goals. Taking the time to define the desired outcomes and ensuring everyone is on the same page can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the design process.

Another important principle of LeanUX is the shift from individual performance to teamwork. In LeanUX, the focus is on fostering collaboration and leveraging the collective intelligence of the team. This means that individual achievements take a backseat to the overall success of the team. By promoting a culture of collaboration and teamwork, LeanUX creates an environment where ideas can be shared, feedback can be given, and the best solutions can be developed collectively.

A crucial aspect of LeanUX is embracing failure as a learning opportunity. In traditional models of product development, failure is often seen as a setback. However, in the LeanUX approach, failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and iterate. By quickly developing a minimum viable product (MVP) and releasing it to users, teams can gather valuable feedback and insights. This feedback loop allows for continuous learning and improvement, ultimately resulting in a better product.

"Getting Out Of The Building" (GOOB) is a core principle of LeanUX. This concept emphasizes the importance of engaging with real users early on in the design process. By meeting with users and obtaining their feedback, teams can gain valuable insights that can inform the design and development of the product. GOOB helps teams avoid assumptions and ensures that the product is truly meeting the needs of its intended users.

Now, let's shift our focus to the future of search and how it can be improved. Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO and Co-founder of Neeva, a search engine aiming to fix the broken model of search, shares his insights on the current state of search and his vision for the future. Ramaswamy highlights the initial insight that led to the creation of Google's PageRank algorithm - the idea that quality should be a priority when it comes to information on the internet. This insight laid the foundation for Google's success and set the stage for a better search experience.

However, as Google grew in dominance, the focus shifted from quality to revenue generation. The ad-supported model of search introduced a conflict of interest between serving the user and serving the advertiser. Users were forced to navigate through ads before accessing the search results, compromising the user experience. Ramaswamy realized that the advertising model was fundamentally flawed and that a better approach was needed.

Neeva, Ramaswamy's brainchild, aims to be a customer-first product by offering an ad-free and private search experience. By adopting a subscription-based model, Neeva can provide a predictable revenue stream and focus on delivering value to its users. This model also allows Neeva to support content creators by sharing a portion of its revenue with them. This shift from the traditional ad-supported model to a subscription-based model has the potential to transform the search landscape and create new opportunities for content creators.

Ramaswamy envisions search as a way to fund content creation and support local newspapers and original content. In a world where content has been devalued by the Adsense model, Neeva aims to restore the value of quality content by incentivizing content creators. By sharing revenue with content creators, Neeva can foster a sustainable ecosystem where quality content is rewarded.

In conclusion, the convergence of LeanUX principles and a customer-centric approach to search presents an exciting opportunity to enhance the search experience. By focusing on outcomes, promoting teamwork, embracing failure, and engaging with users early on, teams can develop products that meet user needs efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the shift from the traditional ad-supported model to a subscription-based model, as exemplified by Neeva, has the potential to revolutionize the search landscape and support content creators. As we look to the future, it's clear that the search experience will continue to evolve, driven by a commitment to user-centricity and the desire to deliver value.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork within your organization. Encourage cross-departmental collaboration and create an environment where ideas can be shared freely.
  • 2. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Encourage experimentation and iteration, and view failures as valuable insights that can drive improvement.
  • 3. Engage with users early on in the design process. Seek feedback from real users to ensure that your product is meeting their needs effectively. Incorporate a "Getting Out Of The Building" mindset to gather insights and validate assumptions.

By combining the principles of LeanUX with a customer-centric approach to search, we can create a future where search engines truly serve the needs of their users while supporting content creators and delivering value.

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