Manage Wise - Streamline Your Business, Simplify Your Day.
Introduction
Manage Wise is a comprehensive desktop software designed to simplify and centralise business management for small to medium-sized business owners. By integrating essential business functions like project management, client interactions, financial tracking, and employee coordination into a single platform, Manage Wise saves time, reduces complexity, and enhances control over all aspects of business operations.
Recognising the need for a tool that could alleviate the stress of business management, Manage Wise automates routine tasks and provides clear, actionable insights, aiming to simplify operations for small to medium-sized business owners.
The problem
Small to medium-sized business owners often face significant challenges in managing the multifaceted aspects of their operations, from handling client relationships and overseeing ongoing projects to managing staff and keeping financial records. The lack of integration among various business tools frequently leads to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and heightened stress. This lack of integration undermines their ability to effectively grow their business and increases the operational overhead involved in managing disparate systems.
"20% of new businesses fail without the right tools, strategies and support."
Project goal
As a product designer, my primary goal with Manage Wise is to deliver a seamless, intuitive platform that enhances business management by integrating critical functions into one comprehensive system. This solution is designed to empower entrepreneurs who face daily challenges in managing their businesses efficiently. By automating and simplifying routine tasks, Manage Wise enables business owners to shift their focus from daily operations to strategic growth, fostering business expansion and enhancing overall satisfaction.
Step 1 - design thinking process
The first step in developing Manage Wise was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the users and their specific needs. To ensure that the challenges identified were not unique to a small group but widely experienced by many, a thorough research phase was initiated. This involved collecting extensive data to assess the scope of the issues faced by small to medium-sized business owners. The insights gained from this research were crucial in shaping solutions that could significantly improve their business management processes.
User Interview - Exploring User Insights
Extensive user interviews have provided critical insights into the specific challenges faced by small to medium-sized business owners in managing their operations. These discussions highlighted three primary themes: the need for centralised management tools, the importance of integrating diverse business functions, and the necessity for automation to save time and reduce errors.
I interviewed five business owners who vary in age, location, and industry, but who all share similar management challenges. These interviews allowed me to gather valuable insights that are instrumental in shaping the platform to be highly responsive to the user's needs. This direct feedback is crucial for developing a platform that not only meets but anticipates and resolves the complexities of daily business management.
The general points that I found :
Difficulty in Streamlining Operations
Lack of Comprehensive Management Tools
Need for Guidance on Effective Management Practices
How Can I Enhance Business Efficiency
Feeling Overwhelmed
Exploring the issue through reading and online research
Exploring the issue through reading and online research One of my main priorities was to get a real understanding of the struggles faced by small business owners, to see things from their point of view. I spent time scrolling through Facebook groups, forums, articles, and blogs dedicated to small business management. I looked for the real moments when business owners expressed their need for support. Here are some interesting quotes I found:
"Even after dedicating considerable effort to streamlining my operations, I sense a critical gap preventing me from maximizing efficiency and reducing operational costs."
"To be honest, while I've put a lot of effort into integrating various management tools, I can't shake the feeling that they might not be providing the comprehensive solution I need."
"I've tried several business management platforms, hoping to find one that could seamlessly handle my business's various needs. But so far, I haven't found the right fit."
Collecting insights from the research
The comprehensive research process provided new and valuable insights, enabling me to view the broader situation from multiple angles and thoughtfully address the most significant pain points experienced by all users effectively.
After gathering and analyzing the information, we will proceed to the next phase of the design thinking process, where we will identify and prioritize our focus areas.
Empathy map
Based on my research, I recognised the importance of addressing the genuine emotions experienced by small to medium-sized business owners. Managing a business comes with its set of challenges and is often overwhelming. Understanding these emotions is crucial for making informed design decisions in the development of the platform.
Creating the empathy map helped me understand how my users feel, think, act, and communicate in the complex world of business management.
User pain points
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They find it difficult to integrate and navigate multiple business management tools effectively, which hampers their ability to oversee operations smoothly.
Inadequate financial management tools and processes can lead to cash flow problems and inaccuracies in financial reporting, significantly impacting the owner's confidence and decision-making capabilities.
Managing client relationships without a unified system can be challenging, leading to missed opportunities and potential revenue losses.
The burden of administrative tasks, such as scheduling, invoicing, and employee management, often overwhelms business owners, leaving them less time to focus on business growth.
User journey map
Creating a user journey map was crucial for understanding the complex actions and emotions of business owners. Moving from manual operations to an integrated management system is a challenging and often overwhelming transition.
Creating the Ideal persona
Step 3 - Ideate
Now that I have a clear grasp of the challenges and user pain points, I can begin to explore various solutions for the project. The goal is to develop a solution that simplifies business management for the user and effectively addresses their needs.
Competitive audit
Brainstorming and HMW
I conducted a brainstorming session with colleagues and business professionals from various industries and age groups to ensure a broad diversity of thought. It was crucial to include participants from different sectors and experience levels within the business community to identify which groups face the greatest challenges. This approach helped generate a wide range of innovative ideas tailored to the project during this brainstorming phase.
I used the "HMW" format from design sprints to keep a consistent format for all my sticky notes and grouped them into three categories for clarity and focus.
Step 4 - prototype
At this point we will take the most successful ideas and start exploring them. As part of the investigation process we will use low fidelity to test quick ideas, and when we move forward to building the system itself we will use high fidelity to test the product.
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Information architecture
Exploring and evaluating the overall framework through testing.
Understanding the flow.
Low fidelity
Following the Information Architecture, I tested screen interactions and workflow using low-fidelity prototypes for the Manage Wise project. This approach enabled me to swiftly evaluate the design concepts and identify any potential issues early in the development process.
This method also facilitated brainstorming sessions, allowing each participant to contribute unique insights to the product. Moreover, it provided an opportunity to collect initial feedback from stakeholders, enhancing the development process.
High fidelity
Dashboard Overview for Instant Insight: The Manage Wise dashboard is structured to give users immediate access to crucial business metrics and tasks, enhancing decision-making and daily management. Users see sections like "Active projects," "Monthly expenses," "Monthly income," and "Cash flow," each offering a snapshot of vital business health indicators.
Task Management for Daily Operations: The logic behind the prominently displayed "Open tasks" section is to keep users focused on immediate priorities. It lists tasks with their status and deadlines, helping users organize their day efficiently and ensure that nothing important is overlooked.
Quick Actions to Enhance Productivity: The "Quick Actions" feature on the dashboard provides direct access to frequent tasks like sending invoices, drafting proposals, and creating contracts. This design reduces the number of steps involved, saving users time and streamlining daily business management processes.
Scheduled Meetings for Better Time Management: The "Upcoming Meetings" section on the dashboard provides a clear view of future appointments, helping users manage their time effectively. This feature ensures users are prepared for engagements by reminding them in advance, allowing for efficient planning of daily tasks and responsibilities.
Task Management for Streamlined Operations: The "Tasks" page is crafted to boost user efficiency by organizing tasks into "To Do," "In Progress," and "Ready for Production" categories. This clear segmentation helps users swiftly evaluate task statuses, set priorities, and monitor progress. Functionalities such as search, filtering, and the option to add new tasks further refine usability, facilitating both daily operations and strategic planning effectively.
Client Management for Streamlined Interaction: The "Clients" page efficiently organizes client information, including contact details, join dates, and status, to streamline client management. Features like search, sort, and the ability to add new clients ensure quick access and easy updates, enhancing operational efficiency and customer relationship management.
Client Information Interface for Detailed Management: The "Add New Client" feature is designed to easily add new clients to the system. Users can quickly enter essential details about a new client, ensuring all relevant information is recorded from the start. This straightforward interface makes it simple to expand the client base and keep records organized from the beginning.
Wrap up
In conclusion of this UX/UI project, I am satisfied with both the process and the outcome. With additional time, I would implement further tests to refine our understanding and accuracy. I would also conduct another round of user interviews to deepen my insights into the needs of business owners, enabling more targeted enhancements to the platform.
A key realization from this project is the importance of not assuming user needs based solely on my own experiences. Comprehensive research and continuous user feedback are essential in evolving the platform. Initially, the integration of business management with technology seemed daunting, but through this project, I've seen firsthand how well-designed tools can significantly improve business efficiency and user satisfaction.