The 6 Key Components of User-Friendly Software Development

In software development, products live and die by customer satisfaction. Despite this, many development companies focus their time and resources on product design and little on user experience. 

Neglecting user experience during development could mean your users leave you in the cold at launch. Despite the purest of intentions, rapid turnover, poorly defined goals, and lacking demos could send your software development initiative into a devastating nosedive. To sidestep these worst-case scenarios, read on to discover six key components of user-friendly software development.

Invest in user acceptance testing 

User acceptance testing helps ensure the product meets the needs of your end-users.

A system/software provider or a beta tester will use the product the same way an end-user would during this phase. This process helps your developers pinpoint performance bottlenecks and isolate breakdowns in user experience. 

User acceptance testing is critical for gaining insight into your team’s steps to improve the product. Users detail issues they experience, allowing you to iterate based on actionable feedback. For more details about user acceptance testing, explore providers like XBOSoft.

Research your competitors

Where have you identified the need? What is the market missing right now? How can you improve upon the user experience of the software

Carefully research the industry and take note of what your competition’s successes and failures are. By committing to comprehensive market research, you often pinpoint significant gaps in the industry that your software can fill. 

Create a simple UI

Users might become easily overwhelmed if your product is intuitive enough. Does the user know where to click to get what they want? Can they understand how the app works with little instruction? 

A minimalist design with pictograms helps create clear navigation paths within your software and streamlines the experience for the user. 

Reduce interruptions

Users generally dislike pop-up instructions. Think of it like this: your software is talking to the user, and you don’t want to interrupt. So try to avoid placing disruptions in your software. Even a pop-up help menu can be distracting for the user.

Ensure all menus and settings are easily accessible without the need to interrupt any ongoing executions. 

Avoid creating premium pricing structures

When users pay for software, they want the whole thing. Consumers don’t mind paying a high initial cost for software, as long as they don’t feel tricked into paying more to unlock its full potential.

An all-in pricing model ensures that your users know what they’re getting from the start and promotes transparency in your relationship. 

Monitor user behavior carefully

Front-end development helps you create that perfect software, but you must commit to continual development to keep users happy in the long term. Use an analytics tool to gather data on how your users are interacting with your software. 

Are consumers using one feature more than others? Do they encounter a specific error when using the product on their platform? Analyzing product usage can help you maintain excellent user experience metrics and meet user needs proactively.

Before you go

Remember that the individual user is your sole consideration in product development. Each user concern is valid and requires thought and care in the development phase. 

Software is meant to be used, so make that experience a good one. 

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.