The Cortex Research Group: Our Approach to User-Driven Product Design
At Cortex, we believe the only way to build truly industry-leading products is by working in direct partnership with the people who use them every day: our customers. We're driven by a passion to push the sports industry forward, and that commitment is embodied by the Cortex Research Group, our dedicated process for embedding collaborative user feedback directly into the product design and development lifecycle. This is how we ensure our tools meet the exacting needs of the sports industry.
Product Design is Driven by Your Feedback
Understanding what you want, need, and, yes, even what you find frustrating with the Cortex platform is the first and most critical step in designing any new product or feature.
Our goal is simple: to make sure you can serve your fans and partners with ease, helping you reach your commercial and engagement goals efficiently. The insights we gather from speaking with you will inform and guide all of our new features and improvements to the Cortex platform. This isn't just about collecting data; it's about embedding a collaborative spirit into our product development cycle.
What Users Gain from the Process
When users are invited to participate in the Cortex Research Group, they become an integral part of our product development journey. This isn't passive feedback—it’s hands-on influence.
- Sneak Preview: Participants see what our product team is working on before anyone else.
- Direct Access: They connect and speak directly with Cortex’s product designers.
- Influence the Roadmap: They test out prototypes and new features, providing feedback that will directly influence and improve our final products.
- Help Define the Industry: Participants contribute to building the best possible products, ensuring the tools they use are the tools the sports industry needs.
How Our Monthly Research Cycle Works
Participation is designed to be straightforward and respectful of our users' time. We intend to connect with key users each month through a simple four-week process:
Week 1: Confirm the Next Topic - Our product team meets to decide which feature, area, or product requires user input that month.
Week 2: We Reach Out to You - If the confirmed research topic is relevant to a user's specific use of the platform, we’ll get in touch to explain the content, share potential times, and send their invitation.
Week 3: Confirm Your Attendance - We'll finalise attendance and schedule the specific call time by the end of this week.
Week 4: 45 Minute Call with Design Team - On the last week of the month, we conduct a focused call to give the user the opportunity to share feedback, try a prototype, or simply show us how they use the platform.
During the calls, users might be asked to share their screen to demonstrate how they currently use Cortex, try out a new feature prototype, or simply talk us through a frustration or a great idea they have. This process of direct, consistent dialogue ensures that every feature we build is validated by real-world needs.
