At Userlens, I help tech leaders, startups, and businesses make data-driven decisions with lean, strategic UX research. By uncovering real user needs and validating critical assumptions early, I enable teams to prioritize effectively, innovate smarter, and confidently launch products. With a background working at Nordstrom and Booking.com, I bring expertise that aligns your product with real customer behavior—mitigating risk, improving product-market fit, and driving innovation.
UX Research for tech leaders, startups, and growing teams
Services
Ensure it meets real user needs
Product opportunity discovery-Know where to play and how to win. Get a clear understanding of market gaps, competitor strengths, and customer needs to guide your next big move.
Solve the right problem—before it’s too late.
Problem space research-Ensure you're solving the right problem. I help you uncover real user pain points so your product strategy is built on evidence, not assumptions. Ready to connect!
Stay ahead of the competition
UX strategy & advisory-High-impact research support—without hiring full-time. Whether you're building a team or need a strategic partner, I embed within your org to support planning, execution, and decision-making. Ideal for leaders who want insights that drive alignment and action. Let’s connect!
Test before you invest
Product validation testing - Validate before you build. Get real feedback from users early to refine your product, reduce risk, and launch with confidence. Let’s connect!
Uncover why customers choose your product
Customer insights for growth-Using Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) research, I help you refine positioning, prioritize features, and align strategy with real customer needs.
Customer experience and retention-Identify hidden friction and opportunities. Map how customers interact with your product/experiences and remove barriers that cost you users. Let’s connect!
Find and fix what’s costing you users.
Speciality
Early stage UX research
Foundational decisions made without user insights can be challenging to reverse, resulting in wasted time and resources.
I specialize in conducting lean, strategic UX research that informs product direction from the outset. By understanding user needs early, we ensure that your product development is grounded in reality, reducing risks and enhancing product-market fit.
Clarity in the chaos
Cut through internal noise with strategic, focused research that brings real user needs into sharp view—so your team can align, prioritize, and move forward faster.
Customer-led product roadmap
I help you design roadmaps rooted in real user needs—sequenced logically, aligned with your vision, and chunked for momentum. The result? Less friction, smarter delivery, and meaningful business outcomes.
Embedded partnership
I plug into your team like an in-house researcher—collaborative, lean, and outcome-obsessed. Think: less overhead, more insight, no hand-holding required.
Case studies
Real stories of how research reshaped product decisions, improved conversion, and influenced leadership strategy.
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![improving_onboarding]()
Streamlining onboarding to boost conversions
A high exit rate and frequent customer service calls highlighted issues in an online trading platform’s onboarding process. I conducted user research to uncover key pain points and usability barriers. The result? Actionable insights that informed onboarding experience.
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![Driving package bookings]()
How strategic research reversed zero resort bookings
A new product launch saw unexpected user drop-off and zero bookings. I quickly stepped in to diagnose the issue and guide the team to a solution that led to impactful results.
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![relevantdashboard]()
Increase user engagement and retention
Users of an online investment platform struggled to understand their dashboard, leading to low engagement and missed opportunities for deeper interaction. I led a research initiative that uncovered key usability gaps, resulting in improved information architecture.
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![salestool]()
Boosting internal tool adoption by identifying key barriers
Low adoption of an internal sales tool left teams without the support they needed. I led a Jobs-to-be-Done study to uncover key barriers in tracking and client access that were limiting its effectiveness.
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![reframing ryokan meal plans]()
Transforming meal plans into a key driver of engagement
I helped the team turn meal plans from overlooked add-ons into compelling cultural experiences, aligning with travelers' expectations and driving more meaningful engagement.
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![engagement with app]()
Driving app engagement through Curated inspiration
A fashion retailer sought to deepen customer engagement by creating a space for fashion inspiration. Through research, I helped design that seamlessly integrated inspiration with shopping.
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![checkout_expereince]()
Improving checkout speed and staff efficiency
A leading retailer wanted to streamline the checkout process by simplifying how promotions were applied. I tested a new flow, identified key friction points, and ensured improved efficiency and accuracy for frontline staff.
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![family_vacation1]()
Rapid research interventions in fast-paced environments
By facilitating a hands-on heuristic evaluation workshop, I empowered the team to see through the users' eyes. This shift in perspective resulted in dynamic property pages that adapt content based on traveler profiles.
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![research_priority]()
Prioritizing impactful research: A strategic approach
When faced with multiple research requests from cross-functional teams, I developed a data-driven framework to prioritize studies based on impact, team readiness, and business goals.
about me
Hi! I’m Archana—Archie, if you prefer—a fractional UX research/strategy leader with over a decade of experience helping teams make confident product decisions grounded in customer insight.
I’ve worked with companies of all sizes—from startups to Nordstrom and Booking.com—bringing clarity to product direction, reducing risk, and supporting strategies that drive customer and business outcomes.
If you're looking to align your product with what truly matters to your customers, I’d be happy to connect.
Ready to transform your strategy? Let’s connect!
I've helped businesses and startup teams across product, design, engineering, sales, and operations achieve their goals.
Wall of testimonials!
Let’s collaborate!
I specialize in UX research and strategy. If you need clarity on research, product strategy, or user insights—or if you’re looking for a fractional researcher to support your team for a few months without the budget for a full-time hire—you’re in the right place!
Whether you’re ready to get started or just have a few questions, I’m here to help.
Let’s discuss your needs and find the right approach.