lead user

Lead users can be translated as lead users. This refers to people who are qualified and motivated and act as opinion leaders for products in the launch phase.

Lead users are already involved in the innovation and development phases for new products and directly influence product innovation.

Lead users can articulate their needs during the product innovation phase because they are likely to be market-driven. Potential problems with a product can be identified early on in this way. Lead users are the first to work with the product during its lifetime and test its benefits. They are followed later by the general users, whose number is much higher than that of the lead users.