{"id":26636,"date":"2026-07-22T13:10:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T11:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/userlutions.com\/case-studies\/emply-product-market-fit\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T16:02:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T14:02:02","slug":"emply-product-market-fit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/userlutions.com\/en\/case-studies\/emply-product-market-fit\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study: Emply"},"content":{"rendered":"
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User Research in Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how we analyzed Emply’s product-market fit in three countries<\/h1>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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UX services<\/h2>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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User research<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Business model validation<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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User interviews<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Product-market fit<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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International<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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The challenge<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Emply identifies the most relevant HR functions for small and medium-sized businesses<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Emply is an HR platform that simplifies complex HR processes for medium and large companies. In the project described here, the company assessed the product\u2019s market viability for small businesses by testing a streamlined version of the software platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analyzing the product-market fit required an unbiased approach to avoid unconsciously steering participants in a certain direction, which is why Emply entrusted us with conducting the interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We conducted qualitative interviews with 8 HR professionals each from Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain to find out what features the target group really needs and what their requirements are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Germans were interviewed in German. For the Dutch interviews, we recruited participants who use English as their working language and then interviewed them in English. The Spanish participants were interviewed by a Spanish interviewer, with a simultaneous interpreter providing translation via Zoom. <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Goals<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Examine and validate country-specific needs and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Collecting user insights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gather insights about users in the three markets to determine the fit between the product and the market.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Discovering needs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover country-specific needs and requirements for HR software.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Validate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Determine whether the features identified as important for the German market in a previous research study are also significant for thein the Netherlands and Spain.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Project timeline<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From recruiting participants to a detailed report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our project manager took care of everything: recruiting participants, arranging for translation and foreign-language moderation, conducting the interviews, analyzing the data, and preparing a report that presents the results by country and compares them across the three countries.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Recruitment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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We used our international partner panels to find participants from the appropriate target groups.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Interviews<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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We conducted the German and Dutch interviews ourselves. For the Spanish interviews, we were present in person and used a simultaneous interpreter. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Translation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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For Spain, we worked with a Spanish interviewer and a simultaneous interpreter from our international partner network.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Analysis<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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After all the interviews were completed, we analyzed the data we had collected to identify similarities and differences between countries and industries.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Report<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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Our detailed report presents all the findings clearly and concisely. The focus is on the differences and similarities between the three countries. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Requirements<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How do HR requirements differ across theEuropean countries?<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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To illustrate some of the questionswe showed participants aprototype; however, they were not supposed to exploreon their own.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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We surveyed HR professionals fromvarious industries, such asthe restaurant industry, the healthcare sector, andthe events industry.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Clear instructions were needed for the Spanishinterviewers to ensurea consistent interview style.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Result<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Detailed report highlights the differences between the three countries<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Some insights from the interviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Time tracking is absolutely crucial for the Spanish market, but it is also important for Germany and the Netherlands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Data protection was more important in Germany than in the other two countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The chat feature, which allows HR managers to chat with employees and employees to chat with their supervisors, received mixed reviews. Some considered it unnecessary, while others liked the idea. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    We conducted qualitative interviews with 8 HR professionals each from Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain to find out what features the target group really needs and what their requirements are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Germans were interviewed in German. For the Dutch interviews, we recruited participants who use English as their working language and then interviewed them in English. The Spanish participants were interviewed by a Spanish interviewer, with a simultaneous interpreter providing translation via Zoom. <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    We have already used Userlutions’ services for several user research projects and gained valuable insights in the process. The product-market fit analysis provided us with helpful information that enabled us to make informed decisions and take further steps. <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Customer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Inger \u00d8stergaard LiljaChief Marketing OfficerLessor \/ Employee<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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    Where do you want to start? Let’s talk\u2014no strings attached. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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    Birgit B\u00e4rnreuther<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Head of Consulting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    +49 30 \/ 544 870 24<\/strong>(Mon\u2013Fri, 9 a.m.\u20136 p.m.)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Birgit B\u00e4rnreuther<\/strong>, Head of Consulting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    +49 30 \/ 544 870 24<\/strong>(Mon\u2013Fri, 9 a.m.\u20136 p.m.)<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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