Easy-To-Use Software
Easy-To-Use Software:
- Respects the intelligence of the user
- Recognizes that users are very busy
- Provides a favorable return on investment
- Helps users achieve their goals.
1. Easy-to-use software respects the intelligence of the user.
It does not insult the user with inane error messages. It remembers the preferences of the user. It provides choices that are simple and straightforward. It takes advantage of the memory and speed of modern technology to help the user get into the flow of the work quickly. When the tools for work are so natural that they become invisible to the worker, the thinking process is not interrupted and high productivity occurs.
2. Easy-to-use software recognizes that users are very busy.
Users don’t have time for hours of training or searching through user guides. Extensive user training is always required when software is not user-friendly. Software that is user-friendly can be learned quickly and allows the user to concentrate on getting work done, not on the tools used to do work.
3. Easy-to-use software provides a favorable return on investment.
Software that increases the quality of work and productivity of users can reduce costs enough to pay for itself within a reasonable time frame. When software helps increase the quality of users’ work, fewer errors occur. The costs of errors can multiply rapidly. Users who can produce high quality work to meet deadlines reduce stress and increase client loyalty.
Conversely, software that is difficult-to-use is a bad investment. It wastes valuable resources. It creates stress and friction within an organization. Deadlines can be missed and errors can occur.
Software that requires a lot of training or support can generate extra income for the software provider. This means that the software may not be designed to be easy to use or free of bugs because the software provider makes money from training and support. The incentives are in wrong. Be cautious of big training and support costs!
If software is designed to be easy-to-use, a significant investment in training is not needed. TBIG designs software that requires minimal training while providing the users with an effective tool to accomplish their goals.
4. Easy-to-use software helps users achieve their goals.
Both organizations and individuals are users of software. Organizations purchase software that helps them realize their business goals. For example, an interior design firm working on a large commercial project creates a spec book. Employees of this design firm must create this document, which can consume much time. Software that helps the design firm create the specifications efficiently and get installation completed on time, without costly errors, increases the profitability of the firm. Easy-to-use software helps the interior design firm achieve organizational goals.
Professional goals are related to the performance and career of the individual user. If the software helps the user create higher quality work, it increases the likelihood that the user will receive excellent performance evaluations, get pay increases, be promoted, and get job offers. For example, a professional interior designer spends valuable time creating specifications for the rooms in a new hotel. If the software used reduces the number of hours required significantly, she has more time to spend on designing. Great designs get recognition and generate referrals. Easy-to-use software helps the interior designer achieve professional goals.
Easy-to-use software helps both organizations and individuals achieve their goals.
