Digital Value Proposition: Where Does the Value Lie?
In this model, “Digital Value Proposition: Delivery Cycle,” wants to highlight that the true value lies in the Value Proposition AND the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. It’s not just about the digital product or service itself, but how it’s delivered and consumed by the user. Let’s break down the components and their interplay:
Model’s Breakdown and Explanation
1. Value Proposition
This is the core offering—the problem you solve or the benefit you provide. It’s what attracts users and drives their engagement.
2. User/Customer
This is the target audience—who you are creating the digital experience for. Understanding their needs, behaviors, and preferences is paramount.
3. Access Devices
These are the platforms through which users access the digital experience. Examples include smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and emerging technologies like Apple Vision (AR/VR headsets).
4. UX/UI
This is the design and execution of the user interface and the overall user experience. It’s about making the interaction with the digital product or service intuitive, enjoyable, and effective.
UX/UI as an Enabler of Value
While the core value proposition might not be the UX/UI itself, it’s the UX/UI that unlocks and delivers that value. Here’s how:
Accessibility
UX/UI ensures that the digital product or service is accessible and usable across different devices (smartphones, tablets, Apple Vision, etc.).
Usability
Good UX/UI makes the product or service easy to use and navigate, reducing friction and increasing user satisfaction.
Engagement
Engaging UX/UI keeps users coming back for more, increasing usage and loyalty.
Differentiation
In a crowded market, a strong UX/UI can set your product or service apart from the competition.
Brand Experience
UX/UI contributes to the overall brand experience, shaping user perceptions and building trust.
Some Examples of the Model’s Application
- E-commerce: The core value proposition is to sell products. UX/UI plays a crucial role in creating a seamless online shopping experience, from product discovery and navigation to checkout and customer support.
- Social Media: The core value proposition is to connect people. UX/UI determines how users interact with the platform, how they find content, and how they engage with others.
- Healthcare Apps: The core value proposition is to improve health outcomes. UX/UI ensures that users can easily track their health data, access personalized insights, and engage with healthcare providers.
The Role of Devices
Devices like Apple Vision and tablets present unique opportunities and challenges for UX/UI design:
- Apple Vision: AR/VR headsets offer immersive experiences, but UX/UI needs to be designed for 3D interactions and virtual environments.
- Tablets: Tablets offer a larger screen and touch interface compared to smartphones, enabling richer and more interactive experiences.
In Conclusion
While the core value proposition might be the driving force, UX/UI is the crucial element that bridges the gap between the value proposition and the user. By delivering a seamless, engaging, and accessible user experience across different devices, UX/UI can unlock the full potential of digital assets and drive user adoption and satisfaction.
This model shows how value delivery does not unfold as a linear process but rather a circular one. By accepting that the definition and adjustment of the value proposition acts as a ‘trigger’ for the entire process, it simultaneously sets off an iterative ‘non-finite’ process of improving the experience – and, therefore, also the value delivered. In simpler terms: The model shows that delivering value is like a wheel that keeps turning. Once you decide what you’re offering to the customer, it starts a never-ending cycle of making things better. You keep improving the customer’s experience, which in turn, increases the value they get.
This model has been developed by its author, Oriol Guitart, and is available for download in .pdf format. All rights reserved, with the duration and extension established by the Intellectual Property Law. Its reproduction, dissemination, public communication and/or total or partial transformation is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of the author, who must in any case be recognized as such in any subsequent use.
