Going Multi-Product in the Age of AI: Thoughts from Productboard’s CEO

At SaaStr Annual’s AI Summit, Productboard’s very own Founder and CEO Hubert Palan joined an esteemed panel of product leaders from Zoom, Rubrik, and Webflow. Representing some of the most innovative SaaS companies, they explored how to navigate the rising expectations for AI while successfully scaling multi-product strategies in a high-growth environment.

Hubert shared his unique perspective on how AI is reshaping product management and emphasized the importance of aligning AI capabilities with a company’s core value proposition.

Avoid the “AI-Only” Mindset

“Don't confuse AI-first with AI-only,” Hubert cautioned, highlighting the danger of prioritizing flashy features over sustainable workflows. “We see a lot of people making a mistake where they just build a ton of use cases haphazardly. They go after everything that’s easy, and then they're surprised they don't have a highly differentiated wedge in the market.” 

He shared how Productboard has avoided this pitfall by focusing on AI-powered tools that link customer insights to product roadmaps, enabling product teams to make more informed decisions. By narrowing their focus to impactful use cases aligned with their core mission, Productboard ensures its AI innovations deliver meaningful, long-term value rather than short-term novelty. 

Know When to Decouple for Maximum Impact

To integrate or to innovate separately—that is the question.

Hubert offered a behind-the-scenes look at Productboard’s decision to launch its Insights experience as a standalone product, underscoring the importance of thoughtful packaging and pricing strategies. By decoupling the Insights experience from its broader platform, Productboard can more effectively tailor its offering to organizations that require scalable solutions for managing high volumes of customer insights. This move allows the company to align pricing with the value customers derive from analyzing large datasets, ensuring the product remains accessible and impactful for businesses of varying sizes and needs. 

At the same time, this approach reinforces Productboard’s commitment to delivering customer-centric solutions, as it provides flexibility to meet diverse user requirements without overcomplicating or diluting the core platform. 

Bridge the AI Divide

Ending on a reflective note, Hubert challenged the tech community to consider the societal impact of rapid AI advancements. He emphasized the responsibility of industry leaders to ensure that AI doesn’t widen existing gaps, particularly between those who have access to advanced technology and those who do not. “I do think about what kind of a responsibility we have as the players in this space to make sure that we don’t… create a divide that's going to be very difficult to bridge,” he said.

That is, build solutions that are not only cutting-edge but also inclusive and accessible. This ties back to Hubert’s earlier advice: being AI-first requires thoughtful integration, not an AI-only mindset. True progress comes from ensuring technology benefits society as a whole, fostering understanding and equity across all demographics.

Ready to dive deeper into the insights and strategies shaping the future of AI? Watch the full replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dDzdRGtMQ0 

Or read the SaaStr write-uphere: https://www.saastr.com/going-multi-product-in-the-age-of-ai-with-webflow-rubrik-zoom-and-productboard/