{"id":4811,"date":"2024-12-10T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T10:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/?p=4811"},"modified":"2024-12-11T09:21:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T09:21:01","slug":"how-to-get-your-boss-invested-in-the-business-benefits-of-ux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-boss-invested-in-the-business-benefits-of-ux\/","title":{"rendered":"How to persuade your manager to invest in UX"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re not working in a design-led organisation, getting buy-in for UX can be tough. Especially when budgets are tight and time is scarce, your attempts to advocate for better UX may be met with scepticism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if your manager is open to the idea, the reality of day-to-day operations and competing priorities might mean that UX never really makes it to the top of the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how do you cut through the noise and finally persuade your manager to invest in UX?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Keep reading: we\u2019ll show you exactly what you need to do in this guide.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

First, we\u2019ll outline 5 major benefits you must highlight in order to communicate the business value of UX. Then, if you\u2019re hoping to get your manager\u2019s approval for a UX design course, we\u2019ll show you how to do that, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

How to show your manager the business value of UX: 5 major benefits to highlight\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You want to convince your manager to invest in UX\u2014so it\u2019s important to show them exactly why UX is valuable for the business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By tying the impact of UX to key business metrics, you can demonstrate that UX is a worthwhile investment. One of the best investments to be made, in fact, when you consider that, on average, <\/span>every $1 invested in UX yields a return of $100.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

As Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, famously once said: \u201cIf you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With that, here are some key business benefits to highlight when discussing the value and impact of UX.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Good UX boosts conversion rates to drive sales and revenue<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Conversions and revenue are crucial for every business, and investing in UX will help to increase both. Whether your company is targeting sign-ups, downloads, subscriptions, or sales; an accessible, intuitive, and well-designed user experience is key.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most oft-cited statistics comes from a 2016 report by <\/span>Forrester Research<\/span><\/a>, which found that <\/span>a well-designed user interface can increase website conversion rates by as much as 200%. <\/b>The report also found that <\/span>improving\u00a0 the overall UX of your website can help you achieve conversion rates as high as 400%.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Although this report is now almost ten years old, those findings ring truer than ever in today\u2019s market. As consumers, our expectations of digital products are extremely high, and we have almost zero tolerance for poorly-designed interfaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, of course, we have more options than ever before, so the user experience is even more critical now in determining whether or not a visitor turns into a paying customer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, it\u2019s well-documented that customers are willing to pay considerably more for a better experience\u2014and that\u2019s ultimately what UX is all about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Good UX fosters customer loyalty<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Customer satisfaction should be a top priority for the business. Happy customers are not only more likely to spend money; they\u2019re also more inclined to return, remain loyal, and recommend the brand to family and friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, UX has a critical role to play here. Consider that <\/span>72% of customers will tell 6 other people about a good user experience they had <\/b>(source: <\/span>Spiralytics<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side, <\/span>1 in 3 customers will leave a brand they love after just one bad experience<\/b>\u2014while 92% of customers would completely abandon a company after just two or three negative interactions (source: <\/span>PwC<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Businesses who want their customers to keep coming back\u2014and spread the good word about the brand\u2014must invest in the user experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Investing in UX early on saves time and money<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cutting corners in UX, or failing to invest in UX at all, is an expensive risk to take.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A solid and thorough UX process centres on extensive user research, building a deep understanding of the end-users\u2019 needs, and iteratively prototyping and testing to validate designs. This encourages early failure, allowing you to fix usability issues and design flaws before you spend a penny on development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without that process, you\u2019re basing product decisions on guesswork and assumptions\u2014and you have no idea how the design will actually perform when it\u2019s in front of real users.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is incredibly risky, and inevitably results in expensive recovery work later on. Not only is that a waste of time and resources; it\u2019s also extremely frustrating for developers, customer service reps, and any other key stakeholders who are under pressure to put things right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in UX upfront saves businesses a significant amount of time, money, and employee frustration.<\/span><\/p>\n

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[GET CERTIFIED IN UX]<\/p>\n Take our Professional Diploma in UX Design course<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

4. Companies that invest in UX have a strong competitive edge\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the end of the day, it\u2019s not a company\u2019s products or services that set them apart. Customers typically have many options when it comes to finding what they want, especially online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What secures companies a competitive edge is their ability to meet their users\u2019 needs. Seamless digital interactions, quick and easy purchase processes, and a generally engaging and intuitive user experience all give customers a compelling reason to choose one brand over another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider some of the most successful brands in the world, like Airbnb, Spotify, Uber, and Amazon. None of these companies were the first to offer their respective products and services; similar players already existed.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, all of these brands secured their competitive edge by prioritising the user experience. By removing friction in the user journey and raising the bar for usability and engagement, they\u2019ve become the go-to choice among customers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in UX and securing this competitive edge is crucial for businesses that want to ensure long-term growth and profitability.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. UX-first companies are better equipped to leverage (and profit from) emerging trends<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Investing in UX is not just about meeting customers\u2019 needs in the here and now. It also equips businesses to stay ahead of the curve and quickly adapt to, and profit from, emerging trends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take the example of Airbnb. By adopting a UX-first approach, Airbnb has remained agile\u2014and highly successful\u2014in an ever-changing market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, <\/span>CEO Brian Chesky recalls<\/span><\/a> how the company lost 80% of their business within eight weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what did they do? They capitalised on a key trend\u2014the rising popularity of remote work\u2014and quickly launched new features that focused on longer-term stays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, Airbnb has leveraged key trends around sustainability and personalisation to their advantage, introducing new features that enable guests to search for eco-friendly accommodation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With its emphasis on continuous <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>, testing, and competitor analysis, UX ensures that companies are always attuned to how customer expectations and broader market trends are evolving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Armed with these insights, businesses can adapt their products and services accordingly, just like Airbnb\u2014whether it\u2019s introducing new features, successfully integrating AI, responding to new accessibility standards, or catering to a new demographic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In short: adopting a UX-first mindset enables companies to stay agile, responsive, and relevant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By outlining these core benefits, you can show your employer that UX is indispensable for any business\u2014and bring them one step closer to approving your UX course.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to secure your manager\u2019s approval for a UX course: 5 essential points to cover\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Besides emphasising <\/span>the business value of UX<\/span><\/a>, you can also discuss why it\u2019s important that your employer invest in your personal and professional growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 5 key points to cover if you want to get your manager\u2019s buy-in for a UX course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Highlight the impact of professional development on employee happiness, productivity, and retention\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to LinkedIn\u2019s <\/span>2024 Workplace Learning Report<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>94% of employees would stay longer at a company that invests in their career growth<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same report, 90% of organisations expressed concerns about employee retention\u2014and providing learning opportunities came out as the number one retention strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to advocate for your own professional development, explain how learning new skills will help to build your confidence, increase your engagement at work, and enable you to envision a long-term future with the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A great employer will see how this is beneficial for both sides, and they\u2019ll be invested in your growth and success.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Talk about how UX skills are critical for building a future-ready workforce<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the midst of rapid digital transformation, ever-changing consumer expectations, and advances in technology, UX skills are more important than ever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, the demand for UX skills is increasing. According to the <\/span>World Economic Forum<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>UX and design skills are among the top 10 skills that businesses will be prioritising in the coming years<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting this trend, <\/span>68% of UX hiring managers expect demand for UX skills to grow at their companies<\/b> in the next few years (source: the UX Design Institute\u2019s <\/span>State of UX Hiring Report<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what does that mean for you and your employer, exactly?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, by supporting your professional development through a UX course, your employer can ensure that they\u2019re building a future-ready workforce\u2014a workforce equipped to navigate emerging trends and tackle critical challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another key point to make: developing these essential UX skills in-house is much more cost-effective than hiring externally. Why not invest in an existing employee\u2019s growth and development, rather than having to compete with other companies to hire talented UX candidates further down the line?<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Emphasise the many transferable skills you\u2019ll learn (and why that\u2019s so valuable)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you take a UX course, you\u2019re not only learning <\/span>essential design tools<\/span><\/a>, practices, and methodologies. You\u2019ll also be developing and honing some incredibly valuable transferable skills\u2014like problem-solving, critical thinking, and research and data analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

These skills are not only relevant to UX design. They\u2019re applicable to all areas of business, and will prove valuable across a whole host of disciplines\u2014from marketing and customer support to product management and business strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in your UX skills isn\u2019t just about improving the design of your product. It\u2019s also about improving communication and collaboration, streamlining day-to-day workflows, and becoming a more agile and effective problem-solver\u2014all of which are hugely beneficial to the entire organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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[GET CERTIFIED IN PRODUCT DESIGN (UX & UI)]<\/p>\n Enrol now in our Product Design Programme<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

4. Connect what you\u2019ll learn on the course to your company\u2019s goals and challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t just talk about the abstract, theoretical benefits of taking a UX course. Where possible, provide concrete examples of how you\u2019ll apply what you learn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about key goals and challenges within the business\u2014and how your newfound UX skills can make an immediate impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your team is focused on improving customer retention, for example, explain how learning <\/span>fundamental UX principles<\/span><\/a> will help you to improve usability and engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or perhaps your manager wants the team to be more data-driven. After learning how to collect, interpret, and communicate data effectively on your UX course, this is an area where you can lead great change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By tying your UX course to concrete wins for the business, you can emphasise just how valuable an investment it will be. This approach also demonstrates proactivity, showing that you\u2019re committed to contributing to the company\u2019s success.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Emphasise the importance of studying UX with a reputable provider<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Last but not least, you need to advocate for your chosen UX course\u2014and explain <\/span>why it\u2019s a better investment than free UX design courses or bootcamps<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of courses that promise to teach UX design, but they vary considerably in terms of quality and relevance. If you can demonstrate that your chosen UX course is credible, effective, and great value for money, it\u2019ll be much easier to get your manager\u2019s approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re hoping to take the UX Design Institute\u2019s <\/span>Professional Diploma in UX Design<\/span><\/a>, here are some important points to highlight:<\/span><\/p>\n