AI IKEA Agent for Smarter Kitchen Configurations
Helping users choose the right components online
Internal Workshop | Product Development Team | Today
Workshop Objectives
Improve Kitchen Planner
Enhance the usability of our online kitchen planning tool to create smoother user experiences
Reduce Drop-off
Address component uncertainty that causes users to abandon their configurations midway through the process
Explore AI Guidance
Investigate how AI-assisted recommendations can provide the confidence users need to complete purchases
Align on Next Steps
Define feasible, valuable actions that move us forward with clear ownership and timelines
Today's Agenda
1
10:00 - Welcome & Framing
Setting context and workshop goals
2
10:15 - Research & Insights
Understanding our users and their challenges
3
10:45 - How Might We
Reframing challenges as opportunities
4
11:15 - User Journey Mapping
Visualising current experience and pain points
5
11:30 - AI Ideation (Brainwriting)
Generating new ideas with AI assistance
6
11:45 - Affinity Mapping
Clustering and organizing solution concepts
7
12:15 - Impact vs Effort Matrix
Prioritizing ideas based on feasibility and value
8
12:35 - Strategic Planning
Defining actionable steps for implementation
9
12:55 - Wrap-Up & Commitments
Summarizing outcomes and assigning ownership
The Problem We're Solving
When using the IKEA Kitchen planner, Users abandon the flow due to uncertainty about which components they need
Our research shows that many customers start configuring their dream kitchen online but feel overwhelmed when selecting specific components like hinges, handles, and fittings.
Currently, in-store experts fill this knowledge gap by guiding customers through component selection, but this creates dependency on physical visits.
Current drop-off rate: 68% of users abandon their kitchen configuration before completion
User Goal
"I want to be sure I've selected all necessary components so I can complete my kitchen order online, without needing to visit the store."
This represents the core desire of our digital-first customers who value convenience and confidence in their purchasing decisions.
Key Insights from User Research
Lack of Guidance
Online users feel lost without expert advice when choosing between similar components with subtle but important differences.
Fear of Mistakes
Customers worry about making costly errors that could delay their kitchen installation or require expensive corrections.
Need for Reassurance
In-store staff provide confidence and take responsibility for recommendations, something our digital experience currently lacks.
Problem-Led Thinking
Users know their situation (“I have a corner” or “I need ventilation”) but not the technical components required.
How Might We Frame Our Challenge?
How might we help users confidently select the right components for their specific kitchen layout and needs?
How might we replace the reassurance and expertise that in-store staff currently provide?
How might we clearly show what's missing from a configuration and explain why it's needed?
These questions will guide our ideation and help us think beyond obvious solutions to find innovative approaches.
Current User Journey
1
Choose Layout
User selects kitchen shape and dimensions
2
Select Components
Overwhelming choices without clear guidance
3
Confusion & Doubt
Uncertainty about compatibility and completeness
4
Drop-off
User abandons process or books store appointment
Each friction point represents an opportunity for AI assistance to provide guidance and build confidence.
AI Ideation Session: Brainwriting
Let's kickstart our brainstorming for the AI IKEA Agent. We'll use a brainwriting exercise to generate a broad range of ideas efficiently.
01
Individual Brainstorm (5 mins)
Silently generate as many ideas as possible for how AI can help users confidently select kitchen components. Write each idea on a separate sticky note.
02
Focus on User Needs
Consider how AI can guide users, ensure component compatibility, simplify complex choices, and prevent costly mistakes, mimicking an in-store expert.
03
Quantity Over Perfection
Don't filter your ideas. Capture everything that comes to mind, no matter how big, small, or unconventional. We're aiming for volume and diversity.
04
Prepare for Grouping
Once the timer is up, we will move to grouping and discussing these ideas to find common themes and build on each other's creative thoughts.
Affinity Mapping: Clustering Ideas
During our brainwriting session, we generated numerous ideas. Now, we'll group these ideas into actionable themes to identify common patterns and potential solutions.
Smart Suggestions
Leveraging AI to provide proactive, intelligent recommendations for kitchen components based on layout and user preferences.
Confidence Building
Strategies to reassure users about their choices, validating selections and mitigating the fear of making costly mistakes.
Conversational Help
Exploring interactive, chat-based AI assistants that can guide users through the planning process in a natural, supportive way.
Missing Component Detection
Developing mechanisms to automatically identify and prompt users for essential components they might have overlooked.
This clustering will help us streamline our next steps and focus our efforts on the most promising avenues for AI integration.
Impact vs Effort Matrix: Prioritizing Ideas
Now that we have grouped our ideas, let's use the Impact vs. Effort Matrix to prioritize them. This will help us identify which solutions will yield the most value for the least effort, guiding our development roadmap.
01
Review & Select Top Ideas
From our Affinity Mapping, select the top 5-10 clustered ideas that you believe have the most potential for AI integration.
02
Define Impact & Effort
For each selected idea, collaboratively determine its potential impact on user experience and business goals, and the estimated effort (time, resources, complexity) required for implementation.
03
Plot Ideas on the Matrix
Place each idea into one of the four quadrants: Quick Wins (high impact, low effort), Strategic Bets (high impact, high effort), Fill-ins (low impact, low effort), or Thankless Tasks (low impact, high effort).
04
Discuss & Align
Discuss the placement of each idea, ensuring team alignment. Define a preliminary action plan for ideas in the 'Quick Wins' and 'Strategic Bets' quadrants.
Facilitation Notes: Allocate 20 minutes for this activity. Encourage open debate and a shared understanding of what constitutes "high" vs. "low" impact and effort specifically for our IKEA context.
Strategic Planning: Documenting Prioritized Ideas
Now that we've prioritized our ideas using the Impact vs. Effort Matrix, let's document them in a structured way to guide our next steps. This table will capture key details for each high-priority idea.
Instructions for Filling Out the Strategic Planning Table:
- Timing: Allocate 15-20 minutes to collectively fill out this table for your top 3-5 prioritized ideas.
- Idea: Briefly describe the chosen idea from the Impact vs. Effort matrix.
- User Value: Clearly articulate the primary benefit(s) this idea will provide to our IKEA customers.
- Owner: Assign a specific team or individual responsible for championing this idea's development and implementation.
- Feasibility: Assess the technical and operational viability (e.g., High, Medium, Low) considering resources, existing technology, and potential challenges.
- KPI (Key Performance Indicator): Define measurable metrics to track the success and impact of the implemented idea. Examples include:
- Drop-off rate reduction in checkout process
- Increase in product page engagement
- Improvement in customer satisfaction scores (CSAT)
- Percentage of users adopting the new feature
- Complete configuration rate for customized products
Facilitation Notes: Ensure that KPIs are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Encourage discussion around potential interdependencies between ideas and any prerequisites.
Wrap-Up & Commitments
We've reached the end of our strategic planning workshop. Let's summarize our progress, confirm action owners, define next steps, and capture our final reflections on the exciting AI opportunities ahead.
Top Ideas Summary
Our prioritized ideas, along with their user value, assigned owners, feasibility assessments, and KPIs, have been thoroughly documented in the previous strategic planning table.
Action Owners
For each high-priority idea, a clear owner has been identified. These individuals or teams are responsible for driving their respective initiatives forward, ensuring consistent progress and accountability.
Next Steps & Timelines
Detailed Planning & Resource Allocation
Develop comprehensive project plans and secure necessary resources for the top 3 ideas.
Timeline: Next 2 weeks
Initial Prototyping/Proof of Concept
Begin development of a minimum viable prototype or proof of concept for the selected ideas.
Timeline: Within 4 weeks
Stakeholder Alignment Meeting
Present detailed plans and initial findings to key stakeholders for feedback and buy-in.
Timeline: End of month
Pilot Program Launch
Launch pilot programs for the most promising AI solutions to gather real-world data and user feedback.
Timeline: Within 2 months
Final Reflection
What's one word you're leaving with today that captures your feeling about this AI opportunity?
Timing Guidelines: Allocate 10 minutes for this wrap-up section. 5 minutes for reviewing next steps and owners, and 5 minutes for the final reflection activity.
Facilitation Notes: Encourage concise, single-word responses for the reflection. Document these words (e.g., on a whiteboard or virtual sticky notes) to capture the collective sentiment. Reiterate the importance of the documented next steps and individual ownership.