Smartocto will introduce the third edition of its User Needs Labs in 2026. The year-long programme helps news organisations base their strategy on the User Needs model and work towards data-informed decision-making.
The previous two editions laid the foundation for further development of the programme. With User Needs Labs 3.0, smartocto now offers a more extensive, AI-driven structure.
The programme is open to 10 to 15 news brands. Participants receive twelve months of full access to smartocto’s technology suite, including Insights, RealTime, Waves and Tentacles, supplemented by AI features such as automated content tagging, AI-generated headline alternatives and the Decisions decision-support system.
The first six months consist of an intensive training phase with masterclasses from international experts such as Dmitry Shishkin. In addition, more than 5,000 articles are analysed to establish a baseline of current website performance. Newsrooms receive a report outlining growth opportunities, four individual coaching sessions and practical guidance on implementation.