Role
Product Design
Responsibilities
As the lead designer for the WOVN Proxy Manager project, I directed user research, developed personas, and created wireframes and prototypes. I also facilitated design-focused workshops, ensured seamless documentation and coordination with developers, and consistently refined designs based on feedback and metrics.
Team Credits
Torkel B. (PO), Andrew W (Dev), Taiga T. (Dev), Ryota T. (Dev), Brett S. (Dev), Eric F. (SM), Sam S (TS), Joshua K. (QA)
Duration
3 months
WOVN.io offers website localization, but clients faced a challenging, time-consuming integration process often needing expert input.
Our main objective: Streamline the integration for all users, ensuring it's user-friendly, especially for those with limited tech skills.
WOVN PROXY MANAGER
The Challenge
WOVN.io was a leading tool for creating multilingual websites, but its complex setup was a hurdle for many, from individual bloggers to big e-commerce sites. We faced a critical question:
How can we make website localization simple and user-friendly for everyone?
Our aim: Transform and make localization easy for all.
Prioritization &
Decision-Making
We methodically used the Effort-Impact scale to evaluate solutions, weighing the effort of implementation against potential value.
Enhancing documentation would offer clarity but wouldn't alleviate the inherent complexities. It'd also need continuous updates.
A step-by-step tutorial might assist some users but would still be based on the current complex process.
Offering personalized training is effective on an individual basis but isn't scalable, and the existing system's complexity remains.
Creating the WOVN Proxy Manager with a DNS wizard stands out. Though it requires effort, it promises vast impact. It accelerates localization, diminishes the need for specialists, and offers scalability.
This solution is the top choice, mirroring our aim to make the localization process accessible for all users.
Project parameters
We had a unique blend of assumptions, tradeoffs, constraints, and requirements that significantly influenced our design decisions.
Assumptions
Technical Proficiency of Users:
Our users ranged from technically adept e-commerce moguls to individual blog owners with limited technical knowledge. We assumed an average level of technical proficiency amongst our users.
User’s Willingness to Learn:
We assumed our users would be willing to learn how to use a new system if it ultimately simplified their experience.
Trade-offs
Time vs. Quality:
We chose to take a bit more time in the design and testing phase to ensure a high-quality, user-friendly product. While this delayed the roll- out, it ultimately resulted in a better product.
Feature Set vs. Simplicity:
While we initially had a wide range of features in mind, we opted to limit the feature set to keep the tool simple and easy to use.
Constraints
Resource Limitations:
Our team had to work within certain resource constraints, including the development time and cost.
Existing Infrastructure:
The tool had to work seamlessly with the existing WOVN.io infrastructure.
Requirements
User-Friendly Interface:
Given our wide range of users, the design needed to be intuitive and straightforward.
Efficient Process:
The tool needed to significantly reduce the time taken for website localization.
Wireframes
Before diving into the visual design of the WOVN Proxy Manager, I created wireframes to outline the user flow and main functionalities of the tool. These low-fidelity designs allowed us to focus on the basic structure and interactive features of the tool, ensuring that the design was intuitive and user-friendly.
Our specialist tested the new system on-site, acting like a regular user. Their feedback was very positive, showing that the WOVN Proxy Manager successfully made the integration process easier.
Along with our specialist's on-site tests, we used several other user testing techniques. We conducted usability tests where users tried our interface while we observed challenges they faced. A/B tests were run to compare different design elements and see which performed better. Feedback from surveys and questionnaires gave insights into user preferences.
All these results directly influenced our design decisions, ensuring the WOVN Proxy Manager was tailored to users' needs.
User testing
Final design and key features
After positive feedback from user tests, we finalized the design for the WOVN Proxy Manager, aiming for a clear and user-friendly platform based on our user research findings.
The WOVN Proxy Manager focuses on two primary features:
DNS Wizard: This tool simplifies the process of linking a user's website to the WOVN platform. It guides users step by step, gives real-time feedback, offers in-tool guidance, and minimizes technical challenges. This makes it easy for users, regardless of their tech knowledge.
Proxy List: Gives users a clear view of their active website translations. It makes managing and monitoring translations straightforward, showing key details like status, language, and domain.
Identifying opportunities
We evaluated several solutions to streamline the website integration process. Firstly, we considered offering clearer instructions through improved documentation. However, this might not lessen the inherent complexity for some users.
Next, we contemplated providing step-by-step video tutorials. But this approach still requires clients to navigate the process themselves. Another consideration was increasing our support staff, aiming to offer more direct client assistance. Yet, this wouldn't resolve the core issue of integration complexity.
Ultimately, the idea of developing an automated integration wizard emerged as the most promising. This tool has the potential to simplify the process for all users, regardless of their technical expertise.
System Integration: Merging the new tool with the established WOVN.io infrastructure was tricky. To avoid conflicts, we delved deep into the current architecture and frequently coordinated with our tech teams.
Simplicity vs. Features: We aimed for a straightforward tool, yet feature-rich. Achieving this balance took many brainstorming sessions. However, with continuous prototyping and user tests, we crafted a design that was both simple and functional.
Feedback Incorporation: While user feedback was invaluable, sticking to our core vision while incorporating it was a tightrope walk. We prioritized feedback that resonated with our main goals and the wider user community's needs.
Technical Boundaries: Designing a powerful yet user-friendly tool within our tech framework's confines was challenging. But, by tapping into the development team's insights, we iteratively tweaked our design, aligning it with what was technically feasible.
Implementation & challenges
Impact by numbers
Integration time
45%
Post-implementation of the WOVN Proxy Manager, we observed a 45% reduction in the average integration time. This saved our clients substantial hours that could be invested back into their core business operations.
Support requests
30%
The streamlined integration process led to a 30% decrease in support requests related to the integration process, significantly reducing the workload on our support staff and enhancing our customer service response times for other queries.
Client satisfaction
20%
Client satisfaction, as measured by our post-integration survey, increased by 20%. Clients particularly appreciated the reduced complexity and improved efficiency of the integration process.
Customer acquisition
28%
In the quarter following the launch of the new design, we acquired 28% more new clients compared to the previous quarter. This demonstrates that our new user-friendly design is attractive to potential clients.
The development of the WOVN Proxy Manager unveiled the delicate balance between user needs and business goals. Through this project, we notably streamlined the integration process, addressing a fundamental user challenge and aligning with our business ambition. A profound appreciation for both user and company requirements allowed us to mold a product that resonated with both demographics.
Key challenges, such as integrating into the existing WOVN.io framework and achieving the right balance between simplicity and utility, were met through close team collaborations and iterative design practices. This experience emphasized the critical nature of ongoing refinement and the power of blending user-focused design with strategic business insights for a product's enduring success.
Final thoughts and key takeaways
The implementation of the WOVN Proxy Manager significantly improved the user experience during the integration process, as validated by our on-site specialist who played a crucial role in the user testing. This resulted in substantially faster integration times, increased client satisfaction, and a decrease in support requests related to the integration process.
Results
In refining the WOVN Proxy Manager, we're eyeing a 'Single Click Proxy' feature to further simplify integration by automating various steps. While this addition promises value, its execution demands meticulous planning and evaluation. All enhancements will be grounded in user feedback and business goals, as we persistently strive to optimize user experience and meet market demands.