Case Study: Global Soft Drink Leader Company achieves rapid German usability insights to refine dispenser design with GutCheck

Concept Usability Insights Guide a Successful Global Investment

GutCheck partnered with a global soft drink leader that was considering a major investment in a redesigned beverage dispenser for fast food chains, including Germany. The client needed fast, reliable German consumer feedback to determine which of two button and lever designs was most intuitive—focusing on overall reactions, perceived ease of use and confusion, and design preference—on a tight two‑week timeline.

GutCheck ran a two‑day German‑language Instant Research Group (67 respondents, 18–55, frequent soft‑drink buyers) using a sequential monadic design and delivered an executive summary within two weeks. The study found a clear preference for word+icon buttons over icons alone, identified confusing wording (e.g., a term translating to “fill up”) and unclear wheelchair icon function, and recommended clearer, universally understood icons and additional accessibility labeling—providing a fast, actionable roadmap for redesign.