A Guide to the Role of UX Product Manager

Q: 3. What tools do UX Product Managers commonly use?

UX Product Managers often use tools like Sketch , Figma , Adobe XD for design, InVision for prototyping, and Google Analytics for user data analysis.

March 14, 2024
product management
5 min read

User experience (UX) is becoming the key success factor that determines whether or not the product will make it. Companies realize that the new world is not just about any product with fantastic features but ensuring the user has a good time playing around with it. This results in a UX Product Manager emerging in the scenario. In short, their mission is to make sure that the journey for every user is smooth, intuitive, and satisfying- all while positioning the product’s design and functionality in alignment with larger business goals. So, what exactly is this mysterious creature, and why does it become more indisposable day by day? Come, let’s find out in this blog.

Key Takeaways:

UX product managers care not only about how well products function but also ensure that there is a smooth and enjoyable experience from their side.
They bridge the gap between user needs and the business goals of a product where, ultimately, the latter aligns with the company goals.
Their activities include carrying out extensive research and engaging with users, working collaboratively on designs, and constantly iterating based on user feedback.
Some of the important skills for a UX product manager involve empathy, strong communication skills, problem-solving ability, and adaptability.
The demand for UX product managers is increasing in India with competitive salaries, and that too in the tech hubs like Bangalore.

In this article

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

What Is a UX Product Manager?

A UX product manager is a professional person at the crossroads of both user experience design and product management. He or she is a professional who designs a product not only to solve a problem but does it in such a manner that the process feels effortless and engaging to the user. While the old-fashioned Product Managers would be more focused on business objectives, market positioning, and technical requirements, the UX Product Manager focuses more on the user’s journey in the product lifecycle.

This role demands familiarity both with the user and with the product. Such a manager should have the capability to foresee the user’s needs and possible difficulties and ensure that the design and functionality of the product fulfill those needs in the most user-friendly way possible. They usually work in teams with designers, developers, and researchers to ensure the product will be effective and delightful.

Why Are UX Product Managers Important?

The importance of UX Product Managers lies in their ability to connect user needs with business goals, ensuring that the product not only serves its intended purpose but also provides a positive user experience. In many companies, two separate teams are often in charge of product development and user experience design. This sometimes creates conflict: a technically strong product does not resonate with users or a user-friendly design doesn’t fit within the strategic goals of the company. A UX Product Manager closes the gap by making the product user-centered as well as aligned with the business goals.

For instance, while designing a new app or website, the UX product manager makes sure that all aspects of the product are improved to better interact with users. Such a product will make intuitive sense and be easy to use, which can call for higher levels of user satisfaction, and more engagement, and further boost the success rate of such products in the market. In a nutshell, UX Product Managers are crucial in ensuring that the product not only works well but also feels right for the user.

The Role of UX in Product Development

While user experience (UX) is a crucial ingredient in product development, UX is not only about understanding the needs of users but also about how they interact with the product and how one can make the product meet their needs better. It embeds itself in all of the stages- from research at the initial stages to final testing and iteration-and the role of the UX Product Manager ensures that the product is designed keeping in mind the needs and expectations of the user.

User Research: The first process before even creating the product is to know what kind of users will be there, what are their needs, and what pain points they have. The extent of the research a UX Product Manager does regarding understanding users’ behavior and preferences and the pain points is substantial. The forms the research can take are as simple as surveys, and interviews, or as complex as usability testing of a product. The insights gained through that research form the very base of design and development for the product.
Design Collaboration: The products, as designed from the research phase by the UX Product Managers, are then developed with designers who provide wireframes, prototypes, and user flows. These are essentially artistic visualizations of the product’s structure and its functionalities in real life. The UX Product Manager ensures that it is visually appealing but also very functional and easy to use. They collaborate with designers to ensure that every single aspect from the buttons and menu to overall layout positively contributes to the experience that users will undergo. This is very critical because it translates research findings into a concrete product design that could be developed further.
Product Development: Once the designing phase gets sealed, the product will be moved to the development phase. Here, the UX Product Manager, aided by the development team, gets into the process of bringing that product alive. They ensure that the final product does not vary in terms of design and compromise the quality of usability. This phase is witnessed by the UX Product Manager as they oversee the functionality of the product up to a very high level of meeting user expectations. They require constant communication with the development team so that they can raise any issue or challenge that may come about during the development process.
Testing and Iteration: The work never really stops once the product launches. The UX Product Manager receives feedback from the users to identify where improvements can be made. This is essential to make changes pertinent to the product. Whether tweaking certain functionalities making navigation better or adding functionality, the UX Product Manager uses this feedback to iterate on the product. Be positioned as a product that continually evolves to best meet user needs and expectations.

The Skills and Qualities of a Good UX Product Manager

A successful UX Product Manager needs a diverse set of skills that blend analytical thinking with creativity. Here are some of the key qualities that define a good UX Product Manager:

Empathy: The UX Product Manager should empathize with the user. A UX Product Manager understands and internalizes the needs, frustration, and desires of a user. He or she uses all these needs to be the root of every decision.
Communication: A great UX Product Manager should possess excellent communication skills. In this direction, ideas need to be clearly and effectively communicated to the design teams, development teams, and marketing teams. In this way, all parties would work toward the same thing with a unified product vision.
Problem-Solving: The problems in product development range from design dilemmas to technical issues. A good UX Product Manager must think out of the box and develop solutions that align with the needs of the user but offer no compromise on the quality of the product or functionality.
Analytical Skills: Data has a major role in UX product management. A UX Product Manager should be adept at reading user feedback, running A/B tests, and tracking user engagement metrics. This data-driven approach enables you to be able to make more insightful and efficient decisions for raising the product’s usability and user satisfaction.
Adaptability: The tech industry keeps changing every day with new tools, technologies, and methodologies that pop out. Therefore, a UX Product Manager has to be adaptable, ready to learn, and assume new approaches in doing work so that the product remains relevant and effective.

The Future of UX Product Management

In this day and age with greater and greater technological advancement, a UX Product Manager’s role is all the more important. With AI being an integral part of day-to-day life and voice interfaces and virtual reality growing popular, the pure functionalities are all going to not cut it; it also needs to be easy to use. UX Product Managers will have to be at the forefront of all these newer trends and should be constantly innovative to keep the users engaged 24/7.

An example may be how the proliferation of voice-activated assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant will change how UX Product Managers think about users working with such devices versus working with other apps. For example, it may include developing intuitive voice commands that are easily memorable or ensuring voice interfaces provide clear and helpful feedback to the user.

The growing significance of accessibility in product design will also influence the future of UX Product Management. Ensuring that products are usable by people with diverse abilities becomes part of the new expectation. Thus, the availability of screen reader compatibility, voice control, and other accessibility features would necessarily be taken into consideration in their product to ensure it is inclusive and meets the needs of all users.

More information will develop with the future of UX Product Management, which will help to measure more interconnected products through the Internet of Things. Using such information, UX Product Managers may receive better insights about user behavior. Most importantly, data will give them valuable insights about how users would interact with products. These can allow UX Product Managers to make more informed decisions while working to create more personalized and effective user experiences.

UX Product Manager Salary in India

Salaries for UX Product Managers in India vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and the size of the company. Here’s a general breakdown:

Entry-Level: For those just starting in their careers, with less than 3 years of experience, the salary typically ranges between ₹8 to ₹12 lakhs per year. Entry-level UX Product Managers are often involved in supporting more senior team members and learning the ropes of product management and UX design.
Mid-Level: With 3 to 7 years of experience, UX Product Managers can expect to earn between ₹15 to ₹25 lakhs per year. At this stage, they are usually leading projects, making significant contributions to product strategy, and taking on more responsibility for the overall user experience.
Senior-Level: Experienced UX Product Managers with over 7 years in the field, especially in major cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi, can earn upwards of ₹30 lakhs per year. Senior professionals often lead entire product teams, shape product strategies, and influence high-level decisions within the company.

(Source: Glassdoor)

Location also plays a significant role in determining salary. For example, UX Product Managers in Bangalore generally earn higher salaries due to the presence of numerous tech companies and startups. Additionally, working for a multinational company or a large corporation can significantly boost earning potential compared to working in a smaller firm.

The role of a UX Product Manager is vital in today’s market, where user experience is a key differentiator. By ensuring that products are not only functional but also enjoyable to use, UX Product Managers help companies build stronger relationships with their customers, leading to greater success. As this role continues to evolve, those with the right skills and mindset will find ample opportunities to make a significant impact in their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a UX Product Manager and a traditional Product Manager?

A UX Product Manager focuses more on the user experience aspect of the product, ensuring it is user-friendly and meets the needs of the target audience.

In contrast, a traditional Product Manager might focus more on the business strategy and market positioning of the product

2. Can someone with a design background become a UX Product Manager?

Yes, having a design background can be a significant advantage for a UX Product Manager since it provides a deep understanding of user experience principles and design thinking.

3. What tools do UX Product Managers commonly use?

UX Product Managers often use tools like Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD for design, InVision for prototyping, and Google Analytics for user data analysis.

4. How does a UX Product Manager gather user feedback?

They use methods like user surveys, interviews, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather feedback and insights on how users interact with the product.

5. Is the role of a UX Product Manager limited to tech companies?

No, while the role is prevalent in tech companies, industries like finance, healthcare, and retail also value UX Product Managers to ensure their digital products meet user needs effectively