Usability in Software Development

There are many compelling reasons to suggest that usability is even more critical to successful application design than it is for winning websites. Usable applications are easy to sell, easy to learn, more efficient in deployment and usability saves money in development.

It's Not Just A Web Thing...

Usability does not begin and end with the web. In fact, long before the Internet was a gleam in the Pentagon's eye, computer professionals were already aware of the need for human-computer interaction to be as natural and intuitive as possible. In fact, there are many compelling reasons to suggest that usability is even more critical to successful application design than it is for winning websites:

Usable Applications Are Easy To Sell

The old days of 'locking in' customers to proprietary solutions are over. That means that software purchasers can now pick and choose solutions, often evaluating several before making a final purchase decision. As evaluation processes are often undertaken in house, without any 'hand-holding' from the vendor, it is absolutely essential that products are easy-to-use straight out of the box. A poor user experience during evaluation is almost certain to damage the chances of a successful sale.

Usable Applications Are Easy To Learn

Most software companies invest a significant amount of money in adding features to their product. Unfortunately, poor interface design often means that many of these remain undiscovered by users - and if they are not commonly used, they may as well not be there. A usable product helps the user discover features and learn about the application over time. This in turn means improved perception of the product and repeat sales. Easy to learn products also reduce training costs, whether as part of official training programmes or simply lost productivity through staff leaving their own work to help others with an application.

Usable Applications Are More Efficient in Deployment

Many software products are often deployed in multiple-user environments, where similar tasks are performed regularly by many users. A typical CRM application, for example, may be used by all the staff in a call centre and common tasks may be performed thousands of times a day. In this situation, even small changes in productivity can have large implications for cost-saving. Cutting 30 seconds off a task performed 10,000 times a day means over 80 hours of rescued productivity.

Usability Saves Money In Development

Revisions after launch can be costly enough on the web. In the software industry, they can break the bank. Research consistently indicates that up to 60% of development and maintenance budgets goes toward resolving problems that could have been avoided if user requirement gathering and testing took place early in the project. The earlier a usability issue is identified, the easier it is to fix. And if you leave it for your customers to discover, you pay the price.

There are many other benefits of looking at usability within the software development strategy - some direct, others appreciated by the customer or end-user. Either way, they all work to a companies advantage in the long term.