Case Study: IDeaS Realizes Results With New User Interface Design Solution

Why does an industry leading service provider with a functionally superior product partner with PixelMEDIA? IDeaS teamed up with PixelMEDIA to improve their global hospitality management program with a robust front end that could keep up with their groundbreaking back end.

Business Challenge

IDeaS Revenue Optimization is a breakthrough Web-based software solution that provides revenue management and forecasting tools to leading luxury hotels around the world. Despite a technologically robust back end, the executives realized the application suffered from usability issues that prevented users from experiencing the full value of the product.

During a new release cycle, IDeaS set out to improve the look and feel and overall marketability of the product. Their business objectives were specific:

• Achieve a more professional appearance
  
• Increase customer conversion rates
  
• Improve the overall user experience

The Solution

Our shared mission was bold: in 12 weeks, develop a completely new user experience for a pacesetting product. Following an initial workshop, PixelMEDIA conducted a focused, detailed user interface assessment. Then we partnered with IDeaS engineering, product management, the marketing teams and real end users to completely change the way people interact with the product and access information.

In this accelerated timeframe, PixelMEDIA worked with customers and IDeaS staff to define, design, test, and fully develop a working prototype of the new application interface. In addition, they collaborated on an implementation style guide for use by the engineering team that documented features of the new application:

• Organized key features and functions into an intuitive navigational hierarchy
  
• Created a clearer menu structure to ease access to key features
  
• Refined screen-level workflows to facilitate common tasks
  
• Created a new look and feel and visual metaphor for the overall user experience
  
• Developed a suite of enhanced content templates
  
• Validated design concepts with real end users via informal usability testing methods
  
• Delivered comprehensive design specifications, including information architecture, wireframes, and a visual style guide

"Through our partnership with PixelMEDIA we were able to quickly design and develop a usable interface that met the needs of our clients and added value to the product."
Linda Hatfield, Vice President of Product Management

The Impact

Together, we improved conversions, added value to the user experience, and enhanced the usability of the application by:

• Improving workflow and strengthening product identity
  
• Increasing customer adoption and prospect conversions
  
• Bridging the divide between sales, marketing, and engineering on product requirements
  
• Maintaining product release schedule

For this initiative, PixelMEDIA provided:

• User interface assessment
  
• User interface guidelines consulting
  
• Visual design and template development
  
• Implementation support and end-product audit
  
• Implementation, design, and style guidelines
  
• Usability testing

Source: PixelMEDIA and IDeaS