| HEADSPRING
ENHANCES USER INTERFACE
DESIGN, YIELDING INCREASED
FUNCTIONALITY , USABILITY,
AND REVENUES. |
Summary
Headspring helps Journyx improve its product and usability with a complete redesign and architecture upgrade of its user interface.
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Client
Profile
Journyx, the leader in web-based
time and expense tracking
solutions, is a privately
held company located in
Austin, Texas. In addition
to a cutting-edge software
application, Journyx offers
a full range of professional
services as well as application
hosting. |
Project
Initiative
Journyx was enjoying success
with its product, Journyx
Timesheet, an online time
and expense management tool.
However, Journyx knew the
product could be enhanced
to provide customers more.
There were some features
of the system that were
not fully utilized and other
areas that were buried in
cumbersome architecture.
Journyx wanted to make sure
its customers were getting
the most benefit from their
purchase of the product. |
The
Search for a Solution
Journyx approached Headspring
to perform a full user interface
makeover, including improving
the user interface architecture
and the overall usability
of the product. |
Project
Objectives
Journyx already had a great
product, but the company
wanted to make it even better.
Journyx engaged Headspring
to:
- Evaluate and recommend
changes to the product's
user interface to promote
features and functionality
of the application and
improve overall usability.
- Evaluate and recommend
changes to the system
architecture to create
a more simple configuration
and an improved user
experience.
-
Implement a
development style guide
to preserve the integrity
of the new design throughout
future versions.
-
Develop non-functional prototypes
for portions of the system
for user testing and as
a guide for implementation
of the new user interface.
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The Approach
Headspring first mastered
Journyx's complex software
system and gained insight
and understanding into
its full capabilities.
Then, Headspring performed
an in-depth analysis to
learn the key areas of
the system Journyx could
improve to maximize ROI.
Following this analysis,
Headspring created a new
optimized look and feel
for the product. Headspring's
greatest value and impact
on the project was the
ability to leverage expert
usability and user interface
design skills, as well
as the technical expertise
to provide Journyx a solution
that was feasible with
the current code base.
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The
Headspring Solution
The Headspring team quickly
took to the project focused
on an uncomplicated and
speedy implementation process
for the new user interface
design. Headspring was able
to provide sample code through
a non-integrated prototype
for the Journyx team to
evaluate and gather additional
input from end users. As
well, Headspring was able
to provide an implementation
spring board for the Journyx
development team. At the
end of the project, Headspring
handed the Journyx team
a complete blueprint for
the new look and feel of
the user interface, which
was observant of both the
underlying application structure
and core usability principles.
The project deliverables
included:
A UI Marketing Strategy
to provide the baseline
for the design and approach
including:
- Company background,
motivation for redesign,
branding, and expected
results.
- Product review and
analysis.
- UI GAP analysis.
- Industry analysis.
- Product feature analysis,
cost/benefit analysis,
product innovation.
Implementation Support Tools
including:
- Unified Modeling
Language and Use Case
documentation of existing
product and of the proposed
new product.
- Mock-ups and wireframes
of user interface architecture
and page layouts.
- Creative development
for new look and feel.
- User interface style
guide with usage guidelines
on UI widgets and common
functions.
- Non-backend prototypes
with re-usable code
specific to UI functions.
- Cross browser testing,
analysis, and code development.
- Color usage guide
and CSS skin tools to
easily develop new color
palettes and creative
development for default
set of color schemes.
In addition, the Headspring
team stayed on hand while
the Journyx team implemented
the project. Headspring
conducted development audits
and reviews to track progress
and adherence by the Journyx
development team to the
style guide specifications
and composites. |
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Customer Value
The proof is in the pudding!
The Journyx team knew
it was on the road to
success when it ran initial
user feedback workshops
before the implementation
began. Journyx also received
input from external experts,
such as the Stanford User
Interface team and others
who gave extremely positive
feedback. The new release
of the software helped
Journyx close pending
contracts with new customers
and bolstered loyalty
from existing customers.
If you are interested
in learning more about
Journyx and how we are
working together contact
us. We will arrange
a briefing with either
one of our staff or with
Journyx CEO Curt Finch.
You can also visit Journyx
online at www.journyx.com.
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