This week, Product College hosted Zafeer Rais, Sr Product Supervisor at Zalando, for a particular #AskMeAnything session. Zafeer shares his ideas on how empathy is a very powerful ability new PMs must develop, buyer analysis, and information analytics.

Meet Zafeer

Zafeer Rais is a Zalando Senior Product Supervisor with years of expertise constructing SaaS merchandise in world groups throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. He enjoys a problem and getting the entire staff motivated and centered on fixing robust issues. His robust folks abilities enable him to convey groups collectively and have given him the boldness to share his abilities as a mentor within the Product Administration group.

Many skilled Product Managers additionally go into session. What do you do whenever you’re working with two purchasers which might be opponents?

If the character information you’re dealing with is confidential you’d be required to signal an NDA. Ethically I feel it’s incorrect to share earlier shopper information with a brand new shopper. I’d not try this. It is dependent upon what you outline as “invaluable”. Then once more you’re the finest decide. Morals play an essential position right here.

Do you construct new merchandise floor up or is it largely options and enhancements?

That might rely on the issue you’re fixing. So there isn’t any mounted rule. Nonetheless you’d largely be constructing options and enhancements slightly than new merchandise as it’s cheaper as nicely. I’d say concentrate on constructing options above all.

How do you sometimes go forward with buyer / market analysis to attain product market match?

Speak to customers, inner stakeholders, exterior stakeholders and have a look at buyer information. Buyer information could be assist tickets, qualitative and quantitative information and person interview. You may as well do secondary analysis and aggressive evaluation.

As a PM do you need to do information analytics your self or do you rely on an analytics staff?

bird's eye view of people seated around a table working on a data presentation. There are pieces of paper, coffee mugs, and different types of electronic devices (mobile, tablet, computer) scattered around the table

Properly that is dependent upon how huge your group is. Ideally I want to have an analytics staff, because it takes loads of your time, nonetheless if not I’d do it myself. The way in which to work with analytics staff is mutual. You inform them what you are attempting to unravel they usually will help you with the very best information. Many a instances there are other ways to get information which you may not concentrate on. Therefore as an alternative of laying down necessities, lay down the issue.

I’ve 18 years of Mission Administration expertise with some inner merchandise / device developed. Making an attempt to get into Product Administration. Any recommendation?

Best could be to strive an entry into your individual product. Speak to Product Crew, supply to assist and be taught, shadow them, look out for openings in your individual Product Crew. You’ve got the data of the product. Put that to make use of.