Is UX a "must" or "cool" tool?

Is UX a "must" or "cool" tool?

UX is a vital part of the software development process. The speakers had mixed reviews to the question of whether or not UX is a trend or a necessity. The key take away, I got was from the speaker who said it’s vital that UX staff are well trained and I would like to add that it is vital they are good advocates for their field. A solid leader with extensive background in UX, UI, UX management, product/program management, and software development is vital for a department to thrive and move forward.