What makes good software? As a software developer, you may have thought about this question before or while working on your desired project. Simply put, good software is efficient, applicable, adaptable, and portable. But above all these, good software must be usable.
When it comes to software development projects, you need to take time and effort to ensure your product has a good user experience. Why? In the first place, what is user experience? And why is it important in software development projects? Not to worry, this article answers these two critical questions.
What is User Experience in Software Development Projects?
User experience is one’s overall satisfaction when making use of software or application. It is how a user views your product in terms of ease of use, navigability, and efficiency.
Since it refers to how your software is viewed, the user experience defines the success of your product. After all, every software is designed to be used by someone. If no one receives it well, it is not inappropriate to say that such software has failed its purpose.
But why does user experience have such significance in software development projects? To further explain this, here are three importance of user experience in software development projects.
3 Importance of User Experience in Software Development Projects
- It increases User Satisfaction
- Enhances efficiency
- It gives you an edge in the market
1. USER SATISFACTION
As mentioned above, the number one quality every good software need is usability. And that’s not surprising. While users love trying out new software, they don’t hesitate to drop it if it’s unnecessarily complex or simply terrible. That’s why you need to keep their experience in mind while working on your software development project.
Keep your visual design simple and aesthetically pleasing. Yes, most times, the most well-received applications are the simplest. Avoid stuffing too many details that make navigating look like a chore. When your software creates a pleasant experience for users, they become satisfied with your services. And this leads to higher user engagement, positive referrals, and more clients.
2. EFFICIENCY
When software is easily navigable, has usable features, and has simple layouts, it makes it easier to work with. Such software can help users simplify complex tasks and increase their overall productivity. But how can you achieve that? Simply, keep your users in mind.
By keeping user experience in mind during software development projects, you’ll, in effect, be developing for your users. This will help you identify your users’ needs and avoid adding unnecessary complexity to your interface. That way, you can create software that your user can feel comfortable working with.
3. IT GIVES YOU AN EDGE
There are competitors in every market. And that’s true for software developers. For any software you design, you’ll have to compete with others over a particular audience. Since you’re new to the market, it’s only natural that you are at a disadvantage. So why increase that gap by releasing software with poor user experience?
Remember, a good user experience increases efficiency. That also adds to the improved customer satisfaction it provides. So, if your software provides higher customer satisfaction than your competitors, it’ll only be a matter of time till you close that gap.
After all, users only want software that they can easily operate. Once they find one, they won’t hesitate to refer that software to others. So, in summary, a good user experience can get you more clients, drive more sales, and promote your brand. That’s just how important usability is.
Conclusion
Are you a developer looking to get started on your software development projects? If so, you’ll want to pay special care to your software’s usability. After all, as seen in this article, that determines how users view your product. The better their experience, the more your software grows, and vice versa.
