Customer Problem Statement Template

Utilizing the customer problem statement template provides you with clear guidelines for crafting an effective problem statement. As a crucial aspect of the Design Thinking methodology, a problem statement allows you to empathize and see things from your customer's perspective when designing products or services. By addressing the underlying issues behind your customers' needs, you can create solutions that cater to their requirements effectively.

What is a customer problem statement?

A customer problem statement defines the challenges faced by your customers, enabling you to determine how your product or service can solve these issues for them. This statement provides insights into the type of experience you wish to offer your customers and assists in identifying a new audience when developing a new product or service.

A well-crafted customer problem statement empowers you and your team to identify optimal solutions for addressing the challenges that customers encounter. Throughout this process, empathizing with your customers helps you understand their perspective better and gain valuable insights into how they perceive your product or service. Validating your customer's problems through user research is crucial. It is essential to note that this template serves as a tool for creating an effective problem statement rather than analyzing customer profiles or needs.

How do you create a customer problem statement?

An effective customer problem statement should offer a comprehensive description of your customer's present circumstances. Consider their emotions, financial and emotional impact, and any other critical details regarding their thoughts or feelings.

Creating a customer problem statement is simple with FigJam. Our collaborative online whiteboard enables you to design an online problem statement that is easy to understand and share with your team. Sign up for free, select this template, and follow the steps provided to complete the template.

The template comprises five quadrants, each with different propositions that contribute to creating your problem statement:

1. I am...

   Identify the person you are targeting. Are they a young professional, retired, or a CEO? Knowing your customer and their potential problems is crucial.

2. I'm trying to...

   Define the actions your customer is taking. Do they have set financial goals or wish to adopt a healthier lifestyle? Understanding their objectives will help you develop solutions that align with their goals.

3. But...

   Identify what's hindering your customers from achieving their objectives. Is it budget constraints or difficulty prioritizing spending? Identifying these challenges will result in better comprehension of how to address them effectively.

4. Because...

   Identify the underlying cause of your customer's problem. For instance, if they are struggling to prioritize their spending, what is causing it? Determining the root cause of the issue will assist you in comprehending how your customer feels.

5. Which makes me feel...

   As a result of all the previous points, your customer experiences specific emotions. This section enables you to address precisely how your product or service can solve their problems effectively. Will you offer discounts on products or provide additional services? With this statement, you'll be able to determine the ideal course of action for addressing your customers' needs.

Why use the customer problem statement?

Here are some reasons why using a customer problem statement is advantageous:

1. Provide clarity: To develop an effective solution, it's crucial to identify the problem accurately. By creating a concise problem statement, you gain clarity and determine how best to address the issue.
2. Better understand your customers: Using the customer problem statement template enables you to empathize with your customers' thoughts and feelings better. This increased understanding improves your ability to create valuable solutions that cater to their needs.
3. Improve your product or service: The customer problem statement helps you pinpoint areas of improvement for your product or service by identifying the challenges faced by your customers. By understanding their experiences, you can find common solutions that enhance your product or service effectively.
4. Educate your team: A problem statement serves as a powerful tool for demonstrating to your team why you are offering a specific product or service. It enables them to gain insight into the challenges faced by your customers and how your product or service addresses those issues. Problem statements also assist in maintaining focus on achieving common goals, aligning efforts, and promoting collaboration within the team.

When to use the customer problem statement

There are numerous instances where incorporating a customer problem statement can be advantageous. Here are a few examples to illustrate:

Firstly, when you are aware of an issue. If you have knowledge of a problem that your customers face, utilizing the statement will aid in comprehending it better. Consequently, you can modify your product or service to tackle this issue and offer customers an enhanced experience.

Secondly, when you want to enhance your product or service. Implementing a problem statement is an excellent way to recognize areas for improvement. You will gain deeper insight into what your customers desire and ensure that any modifications made provide them with something they require.

Finally, when entering a new marketplace with a new product or service. To guarantee that you completely comprehend your buyers and their needs from your product/service, utilize a customer problem statement. This way, you can anticipate any issues before launching and make necessary amendments ahead of time.

Tips for creating a successful customer problem statement

Crafting a successful customer problem statement can be challenging. To assist you in staying on the right path, here are some tips and tricks that you can use:

Firstly, avoid mentioning your product or service in the statement itself as it should concentrate on the problem rather than the solution.

Secondly, articulate the current situation as that is what you intend to disrupt.

Thirdly, consider any potential limitations your customers might have.

Fourthly, target a specific group with whom you can empathize.

Fifthly, provide measurable outcomes to make it simpler to devise metrics that can be used to track progress.

Finally, use a template since there is a lot of information to condense into one sentence. Having a template in place helps ensure that all necessary components are included and prevents straying off-topic.

FAQs about Customer Problem Statements

What are the five elements of a problem statement?

To create an effective problem statement, there are five key components to consider: "I am," "I'm trying to," "But," "Because," and "Which makes me feel." By utilizing these elements, you can gain insight into the specific challenge your customer is encountering and their emotional response to it. This valuable information will enable you to determine the most suitable approach for addressing their problem using your product or service.

How do you create a problem statement?

The first step in creating an effective problem statement is to conduct thorough user or customer research to identify their pain points and requirements. Once you have gathered this information, you can summarize your findings and utilize FigJam's readily available template to concisely structure your statement.

It's important to remember that the problem statement should focus solely on the customer's challenges, without any mention of product features or service solutions. Finally, ensure that your problem statement truly reflects the customer experience and outlines how you intend to measure the success of your proposed solution.