01A use case with a real buyer
Define who experiences the problem, who would use the solution and who approves spending. Examine evidence from customer conversations and existing alternatives. Distinguish an interesting technical capability from a reason an organization would change its current workflow. For a small product business coordinating customer requests across working schedules, discuss customer requests and supplier follow-up with the people doing the work. Bring service requirements, requested dates and supplier responses and identify where the team agrees who can make a commitment before a request reaches delivery. Use that evidence to refine the assignment instead of assuming every business in the state needs the same capability.
02From a capability to a customer use
Define a potential use in enough detail to test whether the technology is relevant. For example: Turn messages and attachments into proposed request records with service, contact and timing details. Highlight missing information for staff review and keep the original wording available when intent is ambiguous. Identify the user, buyer, present alternative and limitations. A possible technical solution is a hypothesis to validate, not proof of willingness to pay.
03A delivery model around the technology
A related situation may expose a different requirement for integration or support: Match incoming documents to existing purchase and supplier references. Flag missing item details or conflicting dates rather than guessing, and preserve a record of who approved any downstream update. Decide which responsibilities belong in the product, which require a partner and which remain with the customer. Use the findings to refine a pilot and the first commercial offer.
04Evidence for the next commercial stage
Agree a bounded pilot or customer learning plan with acceptance criteria. Examine implementation effort, actual usage and support needs alongside technical performance. Use the findings to revise the offer, roadmap or delivery approach before assuming a larger launch is justified.
