In today’s competitive business environment, expert interviews are essential for staying ahead in new and existing markets. Simply relying on data isn’t enough. It takes actionable insights from people with real-world experience to shape a successful product strategy. At Maven, we specialize in connecting companies with the right experts who provide the technical expertise needed to make faster, more informed decisions.

The product development landscape is evolving rapidly. According to a 2023 McKinsey report, companies that integrate expert interviews into their decision-making processes experience a 30% faster time-to-market and a 20% improvement in product success rates. However, one of the biggest challenges for product teams is gathering accurate, timely insights that can be trusted. Traditional research methods often lack the depth or specificity needed to understand niche markets, unique customer behaviors, or technical requirements.

A study by Forrester Research further underscores this point, revealing that 72% of companies struggle to gather actionable insights quickly enough to influence their product development cycles. This lag in decision-making can lead to missed opportunities, increased costs, and lost market share.

That’s where expert networks like Maven come in, giving businesses access to a global pool of experts with first-hand knowledge. These experts offer critical, real-time technical expertise, helping teams bridge knowledge gaps and fine-tune their product strategy for better results.

A senior director of product strategy recently shared their experience using Maven’s expert network:

“Maven provided an easy option to get our research moving forward. We can’t believe how easy it was to get these results!”

This testimonial highlights the power of expert interviews in accelerating product strategy. By connecting with specialists who have deep technical expertise, teams can move beyond surface-level research. These interviews provide insights into market trends, customer needs, and technical challenges, allowing product teams to adjust their strategies with precision. 

Expert interviews are particularly useful for:

• Entering New Markets: Understanding industry regulations, customer behaviors, and competitive landscapes.
• Validating Product Concepts: Testing ideas with those who have hands-on experience in similar fields.
• Optimizing Existing Products: Identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement based on technical feedback.
• Assessing Emerging Technologies: Learning from experts who have worked with cutting-edge innovations before they become mainstream.
• Understanding Regional Differences: Gaining insights into cultural, economic, and regulatory variations that impact market entry.

For companies exploring new markets or launching innovative products, basic research won’t cut it. In many cases, you need highly specialized technical expertise to answer detailed questions about the market, customer behavior, or product development. According to Harvard Business Review, companies that leverage technical expertise in their product strategy see a 25% increase in market adoption rates compared to those relying solely on internal research.

Maven connects your team with the experts who have walked that path before – those with experience in specific industries, regions, or technologies. This allows you to go beyond theory and gain insights grounded in real-world experience.

Incorporating technical expertise into product strategy is critical for making informed, strategic decisions. By leveraging expert insights, companies can streamline development, reduce risks, and gain a competitive edge in their industries.

• Speed to Market: Expert insights help teams avoid costly mistakes and navigate industry complexities faster.
• Risk Mitigation: Understanding potential pitfalls from those who have faced similar challenges reduces uncertainty.
• Competitive Advantage: Leveraging expert knowledge gives companies a strategic edge over competitors relying solely on secondary research.
• Cost Savings: Reducing trial-and-error approaches saves time and resources in the product development cycle.

Consider the case of a medical device company looking to expand into a new region. They needed to understand regulatory hurdles, hospital procurement processes, and physician adoption rates. By leveraging Maven’s expert network, they conducted targeted expert interviews with healthcare professionals and regulatory specialists, gaining insights that helped them adjust their product strategy. As a result, they reduced market entry time by six months and increased adoption rates by 15% in the first year.

Similarly, a SaaS company developing AI-driven analytics tools used expert interviews to refine their product offering. By engaging data scientists and industry leaders, they identified key usability concerns and feature gaps, leading to a 40% improvement in user satisfaction post-launch.

A separate study from Deloitte indicates that companies leveraging real-time expert insights see a 35% increase in decision-making efficiency, allowing them to outpace competitors and adapt to market shifts faster.

Maven’s expert network offers unparalleled access to thousands of professionals across diverse industries, ensuring that product strategy teams can:

• Find technical experts with hands-on experience in their field.
• Get rapid, on-demand insights without the delays of traditional research.
• Make data-driven decisions with confidence, backed by expert knowledge.

Our Simple, Effective Process:

1. Define Your Research Needs: Share your objectives with us, and we’ll identify the right experts.
2. Connect with Experts: Conduct one-on-one interviews, surveys, or small group discussions.
3. Apply Actionable Insights: Use expert input to refine product strategy and make informed decisions.

By streamlining the research process, Maven empowers product teams to move faster, reduce risk, and gain a competitive edge in an ever-changing market.

At Maven, we make it easy for product strategy teams to connect with the right experts at the right time. Whether you’re navigating a new market, evaluating product ideas, or trying to understand customer feedback, our network of experts is available to support your needs.

If you want to see how expert interviews and access to technical expertise can accelerate your team’s product strategy, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us today, and let’s discuss how Maven can help your team make smarter, faster, and more impactful decisions.

An open talent network is a powerful tool for businesses looking to optimize their workforce, reduce costs, and boost innovation.

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, companies are under constant pressure to innovate while managing costs efficiently. One effective strategy to achieve this balance is by leveraging an open talent network, which is an internal database that maps the expertise of current employees. By tapping into their own workforce’s knowledge and skills, businesses can unlock immense value, reducing reliance on external consultants and fostering a culture of innovation.

Companies spend significant amounts annually on external talent. For instance, the global contingent workforce management market was valued at $171.5 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $465.2 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.5%.

While external talent is sometimes necessary, many organizations overlook the rich reservoir of expertise within their own ranks. Implementing an internal expertise database offers several benefits:

• Reduce External Hiring Costs: By identifying and utilizing internal talent, companies can decrease expenditures associated with hiring external consultants.
• Minimize Onboarding Time: Existing employees are already familiar with company culture, systems, and processes, reducing the time needed to integrate into new projects.
• Increase Employee Utilization: Many employees possess underutilized skills. A robust internal talent network ensures these capabilities are harnessed effectively, maximizing return on investment in the workforce.

An open talent network not only cuts costs but also fuels innovation. When employees collaborate across departments and projects, they bring fresh perspectives and insights that drive creative problem-solving. Companies with strong internal knowledge-sharing cultures are more likely to outperform their competitors in revenue growth. Benefits include:

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Employees from diverse backgrounds contribute varied insights, leading to breakthrough ideas.
• Faster Problem-Solving: Instead of seeking external solutions, companies can rapidly mobilize in-house experts to tackle challenges.
• Retaining Institutional Knowledge: An internal talent database helps capture and distribute institutional knowledge, ensuring continuity even when employees depart.

Several enterprises have successfully harnessed their internal talent networks. For example:

• Schneider Electric: With 140,000 global employees, Schneider Electric implemented an internal mobility program using Gloat’s platform. This initiative not only shared jobs and projects but also established mentoring through their Open Talent Market system, enhancing employee engagement and reducing turnover.
• NASA: Through its Talent Marketplace, NASA provides employees access to a wider range of internal career development opportunities across the agency. This platform enhances transparency and accessibility, allowing employees to increase their skills, expand their networks, and apply their expertise to advance NASA’s mission.
• Unilever’s FLEX Program: Enables employees to take on internal gigs beyond their traditional job descriptions, leading to faster project completion and higher engagement.
• Google’s “20% Time” Initiative: Allows employees to dedicate part of their working hours to projects outside their primary role, fostering breakthrough innovations like Gmail and Google Maps.
• Siemens’ Expertise Exchange Platform: Connects employees with internal experts, reducing reliance on external consultants and accelerating problem-solving.
•  

To establish an effective open talent network, companies can:

1. Build an Internal Expertise Database: Utilize AI-driven platforms to map employee skills, experiences, and interests.
2. Encourage a Gig Economy Mindset: Promote internal gig opportunities where employees can contribute beyond their primary roles.
3. Incentivize Participation: Recognize and reward employees who actively share their expertise and collaborate on internal projects.
4. Foster a Culture of Knowledge Sharing: Implement mentorship programs and cross-functional initiatives to encourage collaboration.
   

As companies strive for agility and efficiency, open talent networks will become a cornerstone of modern workforce strategies. Organizations that harness the full potential of their internal talent will not only cut costs but also cultivate a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation. By adopting an open talent approach, businesses can future-proof their workforce, drive competitive advantage, and ensure they remain at the forefront of their industries. The question isn’t whether companies should leverage their internal expertise, it’s whether they can afford not to.