Feature Constraint Optimization: A Smarter Way to Drive User Behavior
In the world of product management, every feature tells a story. Some features empower users, while others evolve to guide them toward a more efficient, scalable, and delightful experience. One concept that captures this evolution is Feature Constraint Optimization — a strategy of introducing intentional limitations to steer user behavior, streamline workflows, and create better outcomes for everyone involved.
At Per Diem, we recently applied this approach to our subscription discount management feature, and the results have been eye-opening. Let me walk you through the why, the how, and the impact of this optimization.
What Is Feature Constraint Optimization?
Feature Constraint Optimization is the practice of introducing deliberate constraints to a product feature to:
1. Simplify user workflows.
2. Align user behavior with the product’s long-term vision.
3. Improve performance, scalability, and usability.
It’s not about taking something away — it’s about giving users a better way to achieve their goals.
Think of it as Marie Kondo-ing your feature set: less clutter, more joy.
Our Challenge: Managing Subscription Discounts at Scale
Initially, our subscription discount feature allowed merchants to apply individual discounts to an unlimited number of items. While this approach worked for smaller stores, it quickly became a pain point for merchants managing dozens — or even hundreds — of products.
Here’s what we noticed:
- Merchants were spending hours manually applying discounts to individual items.
- Adding new products in their POS required reconfiguring the discounts — every single time.
- It wasn’t scalable, and it wasn’t the seamless experience we envisioned for our users.
The Solution: Streamlining Discounts with Constraints
To solve this, we introduced two new options that optimized how discounts are applied:
1. Select All Items for Discount
Merchants can now apply discounts across all products with a single click.
Bonus: New items created in Square automatically inherit the subscription discount.
2. Apply Discounts by Category
Merchants can assign unique discounts to entire categories, and all products in that category will follow suit — no extra work needed.
Why the Constraints?
We intentionally limited merchants to selecting all items or specific categories for discounts, instead of allowing unlimited individual item customization.
Here’s why:
Time-Saving: Merchants can now configure discounts in seconds rather than hours.
Scalability: The system automatically handles new products without manual intervention.
Encouraging Best Practices: By simplifying the workflow, merchants are nudged toward strategies that scale effectively as their product catalog grows.
The Impact: More Than Just Convenience
Since rolling out this update, we’ve seen a significant shift in how our merchants manage discounts:
- 80% reduction in setup time for subscription discounts.
2. Merchants reported a better understanding of how to organize their products (e.g., grouping by categories for strategic pricing).
3. New products are immediately ready for subscription plans, eliminating a common source of frustration.
And the best part? Merchants are happier.
Why I’m Obsessed with Product Metrics
This journey has only deepened my obsession with product metrics and understanding our users — both our merchants and their customers.
Metrics aren’t just numbers — they’re the stories our users are telling us about their challenges, successes, and behaviors. By digging into these metrics, I’ve gained a better understanding of:
• How merchants are interacting with our platform.
• Where they’re facing friction or inefficiencies.
• What drives value for their customers.
It’s this data-driven approach that fuels my passion for creating features that solve real problems while making our product indispensable.
Key Takeaways
1. Constraints Foster Creativity:
By reducing complexity, you empower users to focus on what matters most — running their business.
2. Align Features with the Bigger Picture:
Constraints should push users toward workflows that align with the product’s long-term vision and scalability.
3. Metrics Are Everything:
You can’t optimize what you don’t measure. By diving into the data, you can build products that truly resonate with your users.
Looking Ahead
Feature Constraint Optimization isn’t about taking away freedom — it’s about offering users a smarter, more streamlined path to success. At Per Diem, we’ll continue finding ways to simplify, enhance, and scale our features to better serve our merchants.
If you’ve ever faced a similar challenge in your product, I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences. Drop a comment or share your story — I’m all ears!
About the Author:
Doron Segal is the co-founder of Per Diem, a platform that helps businesses build mobile apps in minutes. When not optimizing features, he’s obsessively analyzing metrics to better understand users and creating products that make a difference.
