Business: Industry Report

In May 2020, User Fountain conducted a study of the usability-testing industry to research digital professionals’ attitudes and opinions and learn how companies are managing usability testing and user research, as well as the challenges within the space.

For the study, User Fountain recruited 55 digital professionals, who work across a range of industries. The majority of respondents were working in a UX role (58%), but other roles included digital, conversion optimization, user research, design, product, sales, and insights. In this article, I’ll summarize the key findings of the study. Read More

UXmatters and the UX research consultancy User Fountain recently teamed up to survey UX professionals around the world on the role of User Experience within their organization. The Role of UX: 2020 Benchmark Study explores UX roles, tools, methods, and organizational structures, as well as organizations’ various levels of UX maturity.

Our analysis of the survey’s findings explores three key themes:

1. How did the work of UX teams change in 2020? What impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on these teams and their work?
2. What might 2021 bring for UX professionals?
3. What impact has User Experience had on organizations?

Finally, we’ll take a look at the UX professionals who participated in our survey—particularly their role within their organization—and the UX community resources on which they rely. Read More

As many experts have predicted, artificial intelligence (AI) has delivered massive productivity gains in 2025. According to the Reveal 2026 Top Software Development Challenges Survey, 52% of organizations increased their productivity last year. Many achieved these gains by incorporating AI, embedding analytics, and automating repetitive work.

At the same time, economic pressures are reshaping organization’s expansion plans. A quarter of organizations are planning to cut their spending in 2026. More than half (54%) are delaying product launches or expansions and 43% are reducing their innovation budgets. This creates structural tension. Teams are trying to integrate more intelligence into their products while operating under tighter budgetary constraints. Demand remains strong, but execution capacity has narrowed.

A low-code platform context means moving away from custom-coded AI black boxes toward modular, drag-and-drop AI components that enable rapid iteration without heavy development overhead. This tension is central to developing the product experience in 2026. AI, analytics, and economic pressures are now shaping how teams design, build, and ship intelligent software. Read More