Title: Creating value through user experience: a case study in the metals and engineering industry

Authors: Heli Väätäjä; Marko Seppänen; Aija Paananen

Addresses: Tampere University of Technology, Korkeakoulunkatu 6, FI 33720 Tampere, Finland ' Tampere University of Technology, Korkeakoulunkatu 6, FI 33720 Tampere, Finland ' Tampere University of Technology, Korkeakoulunkatu 6, FI 33720 Tampere, Finland

Abstract: This paper explores how three Finnish companies perceive and approach user experience. User experience was perceived both as a management tool within the company and a source of differentiation in the market. The two main challenges were creating a solid value argumentation for user experience, and showing the link between user experience and the monetary value it can create for the customer. The proposed solution to overcome the challenges includes four phases: 1) identifying the current position in turning user experience into a value proposition; 2) understanding the customers' business models; 3) crafting the value proposition by showing long-term tangible and intangible impacts and using the supplier's internal knowledge of users when selling; 4) communicating the value of user experience more effectively by improving the competence and trust of the sales personnel in user experience. In addition, a conceptual framework for linking user experience and customer value is presented.

Keywords: user experience; strategic tools; value creation; metals industry; engineering industry; co-creation; value-based selling; Finland; business models; internal knowledge; competence; trust; sales personnel.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2014.060093

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2014 Vol.9 No.2, pp.163 - 186

Received: 29 Jan 2013
Accepted: 25 Jun 2013

Published online: 30 May 2014 *

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