If you think a good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of a bad design. – Dr. Ralf Speth
Internet of Things (IoT) is dominating the globe now – at homes, at offices, at stores, at manufacturing units, at business houses, at supermarkets, and many more. The backbone a successful IoT implementation is the IoT data product that makes it work. Especially during the pandemic that has struck, IoT data systems have proven fruitful for businesses to resume and restart.
IoT data products are an integrated fusion of physical devices, digital components, networks, procedures, data communication, and the software solution that binds them. For it to function effectively, one of the most important phase is the UI and UX designing. If done thoroughly, it works wonders and if not, can lead to severe chaos.
Here are some UI/UX statistics that prove the effectiveness of a good design and the aftereffects of a bad one:
- Research shows that, on average, every $1 invested in UX brings $100 in return. That’s an ROI of a whopping 9,900%
- Intentional and strategic user experience has the potential to raise conversion rates by as much as 400%
- 70% of customers abandon purchases because of bad user experience
- 88% of users are less likely to return to a website after a bad user experience
- 91% of non-complainers just leave and 13% of them tell 15 more people about their bad experience
What Does An Effective UI/UX Design Offer, for IoT Data Products?
Why is a good design so important while creating and implementing any IoT data product? The answer is:
- An effective design – UI and UX culminates into great results for data products, a variety of dashboards/reports, and an intelligent software solution
- It offers the users a personalized experience that facilitates users to feel comfortable and homely with the system, be it any type of application – AI/ML based models, data science, decision support systems, etc.
- It enhances the value of the data product and the usability quotient, creating a great trust factor with high-end adoption
- It enhances the confidence and trust of customers in the data product, encouraging them to use it more effectively and frequently
- It increases the customer engagement ratio, data product adoption ratio, service value quotient, and the pace at which data is being leveraged
Best Practices for Effective UI/UX Design for IoT Data Products
- User Must be Able to Understand the Purpose Behind the Data Product, Very Well
This forms the crux of building a good IoT data product. The design must be such that the users of the system must be able to immediately understand the purpose behind the product so that they can very well relate to it and use it easily. The design must be able to offer actionable and insightful information, perform detailed analysis, offer performance parameters, etc.
- Have Data Visualization Experts on the Taskforce
UI/UX design involves a large amount of data analysis and data visualization for which mere designers may not suffice. A skillset having experience in data visualization is a must. For a design to function perfectly in an IoT setup, it is essential to either hire or recruit a data visualization expert. This level of expertise is a must for the system to showcase the required skills that the user is looking for.
- Collecting Feedback Through User Testing and Onboarding Survey is Essential
However much the team invests in all the phases, it is the user who must be satisfied and pleased with the data product. Hence, involving users in the early stages for different ways of testing is a must. Feedback must be collected while testing the prototype, with actual statistics so that it almost feels like a real product and empowers users to give authentic feedback. Even an onboarding survey must be performed to garner inputs about how the system has been treating its users. The crux lies in garnering the onboarding experience in such a way that the users don’t get bogged by the disturbance and at the same time, data is skilfully extracted. A simple onboarding experience must be simple, effortless, and authenticated with safety and smartness.
- Data Must be Collected Securely and Inertly
There is a wide variety of data that is getting generated while building any IoT data product and while implementing the same. Keeping in mind customer trust and reliability, the data must be extracted and collected in such a discrete manner that its privacy has not tampered with at all. But, at the same time, there can be a value-added to the data product, via this huge bulk of data. Smartphones, GPS data through Google Maps, personalized data through shared data by customers, business information through portals, etc. are some of the mediums through which data can be extracted safely and used in a fruitful way.
- Understand User Behaviour, Needs and Offer Unstated Requirements
The focus of a good UI/UX design is primarily on meeting user requirements but the ideal way it goes a step ahead. Because of the huge bulk of data that is generated, it is viable for the data experts to gather information about what the user would need or is looking for, without even the users telling their need. This is the modern-day concept wherein the IoT data product creators have a knowhow of user’s unstated needs and try to fulfill that right from start. This offers a kind of inbuilt trust to the users, but of course, the needs must be well thought of and analyzed.
- Simplify the Complicated Parts Through Design Elements
In any IoT data product, where there are multiple and diverse elements interacting with each other, there are certain areas that are bound to be complex. Hence, while designing itself, these complicated parts must be taken into consideration and worked upon. Data visualization is the key to read through data elements, but it must be robust enough to read through the complex areas too.
- Design With An Eye For the Future
It is vital that whatever application is being designed is done keeping the mind the perspective towards the future. In today’s modern-day world, technology is moving rapidly and hence the IoT data product must be designed keeping in view the future changes that may crop up. Even the functionalities of the data product may enhance over time. The design must be flexible enough to cater to those changes, without much hassle to the developers and users both.
- Implement Design Models That Are Lightweight and Domain-Specific
There are multiple design elements that are popular and hence must be carefully chosen. These design elements must be lightweight and must synchronize with the project specifications. Doing otherwise may not offer the best of results, in the design aspects and thereby, lead the project in an otherwise manner.
- Cloud-Based Design and Cross-Device Interaction Is A Must
Cloud computing being the leading technology today, must be an integral part of the design strategy for IoT driven data products. Cloud-based apps are instrumental in keeping all system components well connected, secure and fast. Also, a responsive design is needed when they’re such a variety of devices being connected all over. A smooth cross-device interaction is possible only if it is well thought of during the design phase. There must be a secure connection between the physical devices and the software component that connects them together.
- Create a Unified Environment for the IoT Data Product
Being IoT, there are multiple elements that are crucial to a successful implementation – physical devices – mobile phones, sensors, cameras, Bluetooth devices, beacons, laptops, tablets, switches, electrical/electronic appliances, and system software components – cloud-based systems, software solution, database interaction, third party services and more. It is the design that binds all these components together and hence it must be done in such a way that a unified experience is created for all the users.
- Design Must Include Seamless Integration with Newer Technologies
Today’s IoT data products are bound to have the need for integrating with newer trends like voice assistance, chatbots, gesture interface, biometrics, virtual assistance, etc. the design must be strong and flexible enough to incorporate a seamless integration with these cutting-edge technologies and their physical counterparts.
On a Parting Note
IoT has been on a rising curve all around the globe and hence implementing it the best way is essential. IoT app development must be done with the best of UI/UX design and that is what will form the base of a successful data product.
UI/UX app development for the IoT data products is a creative mix of technology and art, software, and hardware. The best way to have it right is to follow the key guidelines to the core. After all, a happy user means your design is perfect!
