Fostering a positive employee experience is a critical piece of running a successful organization. As many companies found in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a poor experience can lead to burnout, lower productivity, and, ultimately, employees quitting. On the other hand, a Gallup study found that employers who improved employee experience saw a 51 percent decrease in absenteeism and a 29 percent increase in quality.
There are many variables involved in improving the employee experience at a company, including employee portals and other HR processes. In an episode of The Distillery Podcast, Ryan Curtis talked about the value of UI/UX and how it can improve the employee experience by creating captivating employee portals that resonate with users. Ryan is the senior UI/UX designer at Cask NX and brings about 20 years of agency and freelance experience to the table. Here’s how he says businesses can use UI/UX to elevate their employee experience.
Solve pain points
UI/UX design is a powerful tool for organizations to solve problems and improve processes. Companies are quickly recognizing its value, with the market for UI/UX expected to grow to more than $26 billion by 2027. Organizations may feel that implementing new UI/UX tools can be complicated.
“You don’t want to boil the ocean,” Ryan says. “You don’t want to try to solve every problem all at once, but focus.” Ryan says understanding client challenges and goals is the first step to making changes. It is not about what he wants to see from a design standpoint, but what the client would like to achieve.
Effective UI/UX design begins with deep dives into client pain points. Working with clients to uncover frustrations through workshops and discussions is crucial to improving employee interactions.
Develop user-centric solutions
As companies try to solve pain points for their employees, it is vital to test solutions for the people who will actually use the systems. Ryan says validation is an important step in the process, ensuring that proposed solutions align with user expectations and operational realities. By involving end-users early and often in the design process, Ryan says that representatives from different areas in the organization provide continuous feedback.
While it can be time-consuming and difficult to find people to test new designs and solutions, getting people from all areas of the company to give feedback will actually speed up the process. The project can be transformed from guessing to validating new tools. This validation loop ensures that the final UI/UX designs not only are technically sound but also work well for end users.
Enhance accessibility
Companies must ensure that every employee feels valued and are treated equally. Not only are processes and tools that are accessible for every employee required by law, but they also show individuals that they are important members of the team.
About one in four people in the United States has some type of disability. Being educated about disabilities that users may face and addressing them greatly improves the user experience. Accessibility is a critical aspect of UI/UX design, and there are many details that make a big difference for users. From color contrasts to screen-reader compatibility, every design decision must consider diverse user needs, making critical information accessible to all employees.
Get executive
buy-in
Despite the improvements UI/UX design can make for a company, achieving buy-in from top to bottom in the business can be difficult. Communicating the value of the changes to everyone involved is vital in order to get everyone on board.
Ryan stresses the importance of organizational change management (OCM), advocating for proactive communication and identifying change champions within organizations. Addressing usability barriers such as inconsistent design and excessive jargon ensures a seamless and engaging user experience across different departments. Showing how a better design, less friction, and continuity across departments can improve usability, which drives better adoption of the employee portal and UI/UX improvements.
UI/UX design has a powerful potential to improve the user experience for employees. As organizations navigate digital landscapes, enhancing UI/UX not only provides better usability but also fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity, ultimately driving organizational success.
We’re with you for what comes next
You're working in a rapidly shifting environment.
Global dynamics, AI advancements, heavy competition–the only certainty is change.
We get it. And we’re here to help you harness the full potential of ServiceNow to simplify transformation.
Let's navigate the future together.
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Discover how ServiceNow can transform your business with HR and IT solutions like UI/UX and Employee Center. Learn more about our partnership and how we can help you succeed.
We’re with you for what comes next
You're working in a rapidly shifting environment.
Global dynamics, AI advancements, heavy competition–the only certainty is change.
We get it. And we’re here to help you harness the full potential of ServiceNow to simplify transformation.
Let's navigate the future together.
LET'S INNOVATE
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