Shortlisting SaaS Features via AI-Powered Testing

Overview

A mid-sized SaaS provider specializing in productivity tools needed to prioritize a shortlist of new features for their upcoming product release. Facing tight development cycles and limited access to reliable user feedback in the early ideation stage, the client turned to DataDiggers for an innovative, cost-effective solution.

By combining synthetic insights from Syntheo with scenario testing via Modeliq, DataDiggers enabled the client to validate assumptions, simulate user preferences, and confidently choose the features most likely to drive engagement and retention — all without the delays and cost of traditional concept testing.

The Challenge

Launching a new suite of features often involves a series of assumptions:

• Will users adopt it?
• Does it solve a real pain point?
• How should features be bundled or staged?

For this client, relying solely on internal brainstorming and anecdotal user input created risk. Traditional qualitative and quantitative research was either too slow or too resource-intensive to justify for the exploratory phase. Moreover, the client wanted to test features that hadn’t yet been fully developed or communicated — a key barrier for standard research methods.

The Solution: Synthetic Insights Meet Simulation

To overcome these challenges, DataDiggers designed a two-phased AI-powered testing strategy:

Phase 1 – Exploratory Filtering with Syntheo

Using Syntheo, DataDiggers created a panel of AI-generated digital personas representing key user segments:

• Tech-savvy SMB founders
• Corporate IT managers
• Freelancers in creative industries

These personas were modeled using real-world behavioral data, decision-making heuristics, and role-specific priorities. Each feature concept was exposed to this synthetic audience to gather early-stage feedback on:

• Relevance
• Perceived value
• Potential usage frequency
• Integration expectations

The result: a synthetic ranking of the top 5 most compelling features, backed by segmented logic and behavioral explanation.

Phase 2 – Scenario Testing with Modeliq

With the top 5 features identified, Modeliq was deployed to simulate:

• Adoption likelihood under different onboarding flows
• Impact of bundling certain features together
• Predicted churn rates in the presence/absence of certain features
• Feature impact on perceived product value (measured via modeled NPS shifts)

Modeliq drew on historical usage data from comparable apps and layered it with statistical modeling and user behavior simulations. This phase helped the client answer not just which features to prioritize, but also how to introduce them.

Results

Thanks to the AI-first testing approach, the SaaS provider was able to:

✅ Shortlist 3 priority features with modeled adoption rates over 70%
✅ Simulate rollout scenarios, reducing potential churn risk by 18%
✅ Avoid costly development of two features with low projected impact
✅ Cut research costs by 45% and time-to-insight from 6 weeks to just 5 days
✅ Gain internal alignment between product, marketing, and UX teams through evidence-backed recommendations

“DataDiggers helped us make confident product decisions without waiting for real-world data we didn’t have yet. The synthetic insights were shockingly intuitive — and matched almost exactly what later beta testers confirmed.”
— Chief Product Officer, SaaS Client

Why It Worked

This success was possible thanks to DataDiggers’ unique AI-powered ecosystem, combining:

• Syntheo: AI personas for exploratory insights when real users aren’t reachable or concepts are too early for testing
• Modeliq: Scenario modeling using advanced data logic to project behavioral outcomes with precision
• Data integrity & validation: Even synthetic insights are built from a base of real-world patterns, ensuring alignment with actual behavior

This approach empowered a lean SaaS team to run early-stage product research without traditional constraints, accelerating innovation while reducing uncertainty.

About DataDiggers

Founded in 2015, DataDiggers is a technology-driven market research agency combining proprietary panels, cutting-edge AI, and global reach to deliver fast, reliable, and high-quality insights. With a suite of powerful tools — including Brainactive (DIY research), Syntheo (AI personas), Modeliq (scenario modeling), and Correlix (bias correction at scale) — DataDiggers supports smarter decisions for both brands and agencies.

Whether you need real-user data or synthetic exploration, DataDiggers ensures speed, accuracy, and integrity at every step.

Want to Test New Product Ideas Without the Wait?

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