A customer problem refers to a specific issue or pain point that customers experience and seek to resolve. Identifying customer problems is crucial for entrepreneurs because it provides opportunities to develop solutions that address these issues. A customer problem is often characterized by dissatisfaction or inconvenience that affects the customer's experience or efficiency. Entrepreneurs focus on deeply understanding these problems to create products or services that offer effective solutions, thereby adding value to the customer's life.
While a customer problem is a specific obstacle, a [[customer need]] is more about the underlying motivation or goal driving customer behavior. A customer need is a broader concept that encompasses the desires or requirements customers have to achieve a certain outcome or benefit.
For example, Zoom addresses the problem of remote communication by providing a reliable video conferencing platform. It enables virtual meetings, webinars, and collaboration, solving issues related to distance and facilitating effective communication for businesses and individuals. Other examples are Uber, Dropbox, Slack and Airbnb.