Feature Request Management Tool – A Detailed Guide 

The finest product ideas for your company are often generated by your consumers. The individuals who use your product are the best ones to advise you on the direction it should go in.

Even more challenging is developing a two-way system where you cooperate and talk to your consumers about their desires.

The majority of companies say they care about feature requests, and they do, but they don’t have a good mechanism in place to handle them. These causes feature requests to be ignored, incorrect requests to be given priority, and a variety of other problems.

Many of these issues may be resolved by feature request management software, which can also assist in keeping your product firmly focused on the requirements and desires of actual consumers. Continue reading to learn about the top feature request tools available right now.

What is the need for the Feature Request Management Tool? 

Let’s start by asking what makes a feature request tracking solution good or bad.

When selecting which tool to utilize, there are a few factors and characteristics to consider. You may improve the efficiency of your feedback management process by using some of the criteria we used to rate the feature request tools in this article.

Central Place to Receive and Manage the Request 

The majority of businesses do consider customer reviews and feature requests. The issue is that it’s distributed throughout a hundred separate locations. Some are recorded in service tickets, emails to the founder, emails to one salesman, a feature request spreadsheet that only one person updates, and so forth.

Everything should be collected in one location by your feature request tracker so you can simply see which features all of your clients are requesting.

Acknowledging the Customer’s Request 

Make sure your users know they are being heard when they provide comments or feature requests. By letting you know that customers wish to continue using and paying for your program, they are doing you a favor. Therefore, let them know your consideration of their comments. Additionally, it enables your consumers to connect with and experience a sense of ownership over your product. Technically speaking, you are boosting a customer’s lifetime value in addition to moving in the correct direction.

Your consumers will know that their input is being utilized constructively if your feature request management process is open and transparent, and this will motivate users to provide more feedback in the future.

Help Enabling the Comments 

Actionable insight often results from feature requests that are longer than one phrase. It results from the in-depth conversation. This debate is made possible by comments, which start a dialogue between consumers and your team and help you determine the true nature of your product’s vision.

You will be able to release features that really provide your consumers the greatest value if you have this higher degree of awareness.

Helps you to organize the request differently

You require the ability to classify and categorise feature requests or product feedback the more your product and its features are vast.

For input on certain features or components of your product, you may want to create distinct discussion forums. You might also want a means to distinguish between feature requests and issue reports.

Help to prioritize the popular request with the upvotes 

The opinions of every user are valuable. Instead of learning what the bulk of consumers wants, we all too often end up listening to the loudest or most vocal people.

Making the most popular feature requests a priority is simple with a feature request tool that allows for upvoting. Instead of devoting a development cycle to something that only gets utilized by one or two individuals, this will lead to new releases that resonate with your user base and speedier adaptations.

A great way to be in touch with the customer 

Your feature request app should be a two-way communication channel that enables you to actively engage your user base as well as get client feedback.

You may ask consumers what they want to see through your feedback board if you want input on a fresh concept that has been explored internally or you have two prospective features that are competing for the next release. To demonstrate that you are still thinking about your customers’ feature requests, comments, and problem reports, you may also give updates on such issues.

Communication your direction with the publich roadmap 

You’ll likely get requests for things that are already planned or being developed, supposing that you and your consumers have the same priorities. A public roadmap will inform many people that their “must-have” feature will be available soon and will provide them insight into the future path of your product.

Additionally, it provides complete transparency into your product development process, enabling you to communicate your commitment to creating a fantastic, feature-rich product with your consumers and establish expectations with them.

Informing the customer about the new features 

You must “close the loop” and inform your clients that their request has been fulfilled after you’ve finally released that new feature or fixed that unpleasant problem.

Your feature request tool should ideally include a means to let users know when their feature request has been delivered along with an easy way to announce new versions, such as a public changelog.