Data analytics in product development: Implications from expert interviews

An increasing number of technical products are being equipped with connectivity components, which enables the collection of use phase data. Such data helps to better design products or understand customer needs. Available studies only take a cross-industry perspective on data analytics. Due to longer development and product life cycles, engineering companies work under special circumstances. The authors therefore conducted expert interviews to better understand the needs and current practices in engineering companies. Experts highlighted the potential of data analytics for instance in requirements engineering. Experts also mentioned the various problems that occur when identifying and implementing use cases. Besides support for technical issues, experts raised the need for additional support during the initial planning phase.