Usability Application design: Consistency is essential

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WEBCON Sp. z.o.o

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

While individually tailored applications can be creative, they often compromise user-friendliness. In contrast, a clear, functional approach increases user satisfaction, reduces the effort for support and training, and thus ensures usability.

Philipp Erdkönig works as a consultant at Webcon.

In many companies, the habit has developed over the years that IT always fulfills special requests from users in the GUI design of applications, with the justification of increasing usability. The realization that this approach is fundamentally wrong is still spreading slowly, and applications continue to be created that may look nice, but whose overall usability is far from good.

The fact that individual, unusual designs do not prove successful is also evident in the online presence of companies, which all seem to be based on the same template. Rarely do websites differ significantly from one another, and hardly any designer goes out of their way to give them an individual touch. A missed opportunity to stand out from the crowd? Perhaps, but it is actually more important to provide consistent user navigation. This increases engagement with the website and also visitor satisfaction.

The situation is similar with the use of business applications: Many users prefer applications that have proven themselves in their daily work. Thoughtful designs are efficient and reduce the risk of errors. Additionally, a purposeful structure increases users' trust in a digitalized process. Consistent design is thus essential for internal and external processes.

User-friendly web design

Neither websites nor applications should be artworks. They need to function. It is always advisable to develop not for the eye, but to optimize for functionality. Users must be able to navigate quickly and reliably and achieve their goal. Typically, this involves finding information, filling out forms, or processing data.

The importance of this focus on functionality is also evidenced by the Google algorithm for search engine optimization. It is continuously developed, but its objective remains the same: to evaluate the popularity of a website. Metrics for this include website access and the intensity of its use by visitors. It is no surprise that people spend more time on websites that are easy to use. A consistent design supports this.

Company websites therefore do not look alike because the design is particularly cost-effective or because internal guidelines require it. Designers opt for a certain appearance that is perceived by users as user-friendly, practical, and consistent. And rightly so, as user behavior rewards this approach. Deviating from a proven and consistent design, on the other hand, harms the user experience.

Higher efficiency for business applications

The same applies to enterprise applications, especially since they often face difficulties: they are merely a means to an end. Ideally, they support daily tasks and reduce the associated effort. If software is cumbersome, it tends to be avoided. To ensure that an application does not require additional work, it should behave as users expect. A consistent structure of all applications in the company increases acceptance among employees and thus accelerates the digitization of internal processes.

Consistency in the design of applications also affects their required support. There is a great deal of effort involved when 20 different business applications have been developed by different developers for various departments—often also based on 20 different visual styles and user experiences. On one hand, this means an increased training requirement for employees, and on the other hand, it increases the effort needed for necessary maintenance and adjustments to new requirements, for example, when new compliance regulations are introduced, internal workflows or customer requirements change, or the user base expands due to a merger or acquisition.

This shows: Inconsistency is inefficient and costly. On the other hand, a consistent design can save time and resources. This freed-up potential can then be used to create new applications that would otherwise have to be postponed. This creates the opportunity to develop many more business applications that can be used efficiently and successfully in everyday work.

Best practices for everyday business operations

Numerous experiences from a variety of projects show: An application does not need to be beautiful, but user-friendly. Time is a scarce resource and the most valuable asset in our modern workday. When an application is optimized for a task, its form is usually clear and consistent. Every step in a purpose-oriented application is obvious and easy to execute for the user. In practice, this approach is not as restrictive as it may initially sound. It actually allows room for genuine creativity.

A consistent structure supports the digitized process and still provides a good foundation for innovative solutions. With its help, the presentation logic of applications can be easily improved. However, it is always important to consider that not every company has the same requirements. Logistics, onboarding, customer service, and numerous other areas vary from company to company and from industry to industry. Therefore, the requirements to remain competitive also differ. As a result, individual and creative solutions are in demand.

Understand user needs and optimize processes

Developers need to understand what users want and what they need. Which processes can be simplified in which way? What do the users require, and how can a process be implemented as efficiently as possible? At the same time, it is important not to reinvent the wheel with every application. Consistency in design helps to develop efficient applications. Well-thought-out structures lead to higher user acceptance and better results.

Some tools actively support such an approach by defining a framework for GUI design, but consistency can also be achieved with a set of best practices that everyone must follow. No matter which path you choose for the development of your next application, first strive for a well-thought-out structure. Artistic design is always secondary. The users of your application will benefit from a consistent and functional design in every case.

This post originally appeared on our partner portal Industry of Things.