When Enterprise Apps Meet Consumer Charm
Let's dive into the crucial task of designing enterprise apps that don't feel like a trip to the dentist.
Yes, I’m talking about bringing the ease and joy of consumer apps into the often-stodgy world of enterprise software. Because let’s face it, nobody opens their work tools and thinks, “Ah, yes, the highlight of my day!
Remember the last time you used an app for work and thought it was almost as fun as scrolling through Instagram? No? That’s because most enterprise apps have the charm of a tax form. But it doesn’t have to be that way. As we increasingly expect our work tools to not suck the life out of us, the call for designers to draw inspiration from consumer apps has never been louder. This piece explores why blending the worlds of enterprise and consumer apps could be the secret sauce to user satisfaction.
Embracing Familiar Interaction Patterns
Imagine if using an enterprise app felt as intuitive as ordering your favorite taco on Uber Eats. Why can’t adjusting project timelines be as satisfying as swiping right on Tinder? Users today juggle a variety of apps, from the dopamine hits of TikTok to the soul-searching depths of Airbnb’s “Experiences”. Enterprise apps should make actions like navigating through reports or sending feedback as easy as double tapping your friend’s vacation photo.
Real-Life Example
Think about how boring and disliked the job of entering data is. Now, picture this: instead of filling out a boring form, you have a chat-like system that feels like you’re messaging a friend. It would say something friendly like, “Hey there! What sales figures do we have today?” making the boring task seem fun.
The Impact of Design on User Satisfaction
A poorly designed enterprise app is like a bad date; you’re just counting the minutes until it’s over. Users forced to battle unintuitive interfaces might as well be trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. But when an app gets it right, it’s like finding an extra fry at the bottom of your takeout bag. Suddenly, work doesn’t feel like work. Productivity goes up, frustration goes down, and maybe, just maybe, your users start to look forward to logging in 🤩.
Case Study: Slack’s Success Story
Slack didn’t just enter the enterprise communication space; by mirroring the casual, intuitive
nature of our favorite messaging apps, Slack made office communication less “per my last email”
and more “hey, you up?”. Its success is a testament to the power of consumer-inspired design in
the enterprise domain. Slack made talking to your colleagues almost as fun as sending memes to
your friends, proving that work tools can indeed spark joy. Well, we have got Microsoft Teams,
armed with emojis that keep us smiling! even when our days turn into a circus of madness 👻 🥸.
Conclusion
As we wrap up this journey through the land of enterprise app design, it’s clear that the key to user satisfaction lies in the marriage of functionality and fun. By stealing a few tricks from the consumer app playbook, designers can transform the mundane into the magical. After all, if work is where we spend most of our waking hours, shouldn’t the tools we use spark a little bit of joy? So here’s to bridging the gap between enterprise and consumer apps, one delightful user experience at a time.
References
For a deep dive into the importance of user experience, check out:
- Interaction Design — brief intro by Interaction Design Foundation
- Norman, D. A. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition. Basic
Books.
- Tog on
Interface, B.
(2003). Principles, Techniques, and Ethics of Stagecraft for UI Designers. Nielsen Norman
Group.
