Highland

?? Why Research Must Start with Context Great product design isn’t just about the features—it’s about understanding the real-world context of users. Amrita Kulkarni, Research Director at Highland, stresses that effective research begins by immersing in the environments where products will be used. “Before testing a solution, we need to ask: Where will this product fit into someone’s life? What pressures, habits, and competing tasks shape their decisions?” Amrita explains. Observing users in their natural settings—whether it’s a childcare drop-off or a daily financial routine—reveals insights that surveys and analytics alone can’t capture. ?? Want to build products that truly meet user needs? Start by researching behavior where it happens. https://lnkd.in/eGeR_8qs #UserResearch #ContextMatters #BehavioralInsights #UXResearch #HumanCenteredDesign

??Knowing Where & How to Scale: Frameworks for Productizing Your Services Business Many service-based businesses hit a ceiling—growth stalls, hiring becomes expensive, and scaling feels impossible. The answer? Productizing your services. In our latest Insights, Jon Berbaum, Jeff Blanchard, and Amrita Kulkarni break down proven frameworks to help you: ? Identify what services can be productized ? Balance customization with repeatability ? Avoid common scaling traps Ready to scale without adding complexity? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/emUDihad #BusinessGrowth #Scaling #Productization #ServiceBusiness #DigitalTransformation #HighlandSolutions

?? Coming up on Monday, February 25th at 12pm EST - David Whited and Amrita Kulkarni present "How Top Associations Attract Young Professionals: Four Key Factors." This webinar explores effective strategies to captivate early career talent, foster their ongoing commitment, and inspire active participation within your organization. ?? Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/ehv2s-bU #YPMI #HighlandSolutions #MembershipGrowth #associations #Innovation

?? Beyond Code: The Key to Building Successful Digital Products Good engineering alone doesn’t create great software. According to Jon Berbaum, successful digital product engineering is a multidisciplinary effort—where UX, product strategy, and go-to-market planning are just as critical as clean code. The days of handing developers a spec sheet and expecting magic are long gone. Instead, teams must collaborate across design, engineering, and strategy to ensure products deliver both user value and business impact. Want to build software that works and wins in the market? It’s all about alignment. https://lnkd.in/eGeR_8qs #ProductEngineering #UXDesign #DigitalTransformation #GoToMarket #TechLeadership

?? On February 25th at 12pm EST join David Whited and Amrita Kulkarnifor the webinar "How Top Associations Attract Young Professionals: Four Key Factors." They explore effective strategies to captivate early career talent, foster their ongoing commitment, and inspire active participation within your organization. ?? Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/ehv2s-bU #YPMI #HighlandSolutions #MembershipGrowth #associations #Innovation

?? Beyond the Numbers: Why Qualitative Research Matters In a world obsessed with data, it's easy to be seduced by the certainty of quantitative metrics. But as Highland's Amrita Kulkarni reminds us, numbers alone don’t tell the full story. “One number, without referencing another or in context, can look and feel very, very different.” Quantitative data can be manipulated to tell different narratives, but qualitative research uncovers the why behind the numbers—giving organizations a deeper, more human understanding of user behavior. So when making strategic decisions, don’t just chase the comfort of numbers. Instead, ask: How much uncertainty exists in our understanding of our users? If the answer is “a lot,” then qualitative research should be your starting point. ?? Want to build more meaningful insights? Let’s talk. https://lnkd.in/eGeR_8qs #QualitativeResearch #BeyondTheNumbers #HumanCenteredDesign #DecisionMaking #DataWithContext #LeadershipStrategy #CustomerExperience #UserInsights

?? In this Highland Perspectives, Jon Berbaum discusses how Highland ensures that the digital products it engineers are both scalable and sustainable for its clients. Building scalable, sustainable digital products isn’t just about technology—it’s about strategy. Jon sheds light on how his team ensures digital products are both future-proof and high-performing for their clients. Jon identifies two critical steps in this process. The goal? To create digital solutions that grow with your business, avoid technical dead ends, and empower future development without slowdowns or frustrations. Is your organization planning to build or scale a digital product? Connect with Highland to ensure your investment delivers long-term impact. Let’s build something scalable together https://lnkd.in/eGeR_8qs #DigitalTransformation #ScalableTech #SustainableDevelopment #ProductStrategy #UXDesign #SoftwareDevelopment #HighlandSolutions #TechLeadership #Innovation #DigitalStrategy #CustomSoftware #GrowthReadyProducts

?? On February 25th at 12pm EST David Whited and Amrita Kulkarni present "How Top Associations Attract Young Professionals: Four Key Factors." This webinar explores effective strategies to captivate early career talent, foster their ongoing commitment, and inspire active participation within your organization. ?? Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/ehv2s-bU #YPMI #HighlandSolutions #MembershipGrowth #associations #Innovation

?? De-Risking Your Digital Product Investment: Start Small and Smart ?? Investing in digital products can feel risky—especially when the upfront costs are significant and many organizations don't have extensive experience in digital innovation. ?? As Highland's Jon Berbaum points out, there's always some inherent risk when extending a new service line or developing a new product. However, the real issue isn’t just the risk itself but how organizations approach digital development that can unnecessarily amplify that risk. ?? Too often, the industry defaults to a technology-first approach: a good idea sparks interest, development begins, and then only later do we discover whether the product is valuable or meets market needs. This process leaves a lot of uncertainty, and unfortunately, some businesses realize too late that they’ve built something that isn’t resonating with their customers. ?? So, how do you de-risk digital innovation? ? Ready to de-risk your digital innovation? Contact Highland to discover more ways to test and validate your ideas: https://lnkd.in/eGeR_8qs #DigitalProducts #Innovation #HighlandSolutions #ProductDevelopment #DeRisking

?? Understanding what motivates young professionals to join is crucial for membership growth. How does your association cater to these needs? ?? Join The February 2025 Future of Membership cohort experience for #association leaders. Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/emPen8Mq #MemberEngagement #YoungProfessionals #Associations #ResearchDriven #HighlandSolutions #RetentionInnovation