A recent post on TechCrunch about TaskRabbit’s roll-out of a new market structure, largely seen as a failed roll-out, offers many lessons for all types of companies. TaskRabbit rolled out a very different version of its market place last July and faced what many called a “revolt” and “rabbit revolution.” Outside of the business reasons for the change and whether it was a net positive for the company (still debatable), there are many lessons from the experience for any company.
Do not surprise your customers
TaskRabbit’s change to a new platform caught many of its customers by surprise, leading to immediate protests. TaskRabbit had tested its new platform in the United Kingdom (where it previously did not have a presence) and saw substantial improvement in its metrics. Based on these results, it decided to replace its platform in the U.S. with the new model. As TechCruch wrote, “as soon as the launch actually went live, the protests and confusion started to pour in.” The company underestimated just how strong the bidding and auction model was ingrained in its brand identity here in the U.S., and how that resonated emotionally with users. Continue reading “How to avoid a product change or new feature debacle”
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