The Objective

The goal of the redesign was to streamline and automate this process by providing users with a simple, intuitive interface. The solution aimed to eliminate the need for specialized SQL knowledge, making the process faster, more efficient, and accessible to all users.

Field Comparison for Approval Workflow

To address the challenges of creating an Approval Workflow, a custom solution was developed that seamlessly integrated into the existing UI. This solution automated the process of constructing SQL statements, reducing the need for specialized knowledge.

The prototype was shared with a diverse group of users and stakeholders for hands-on testing. During the sessions, participants were tasked with creating SQL statements using the new interface. Observations and direct feedback were collected to identify pain points, usability issues, and areas for improvement.

Key Insights from Feedback:

• Many users expressed satisfaction with the solution, noting that they could now create SQL statements effortlessly by selecting options within the UI. This streamlined approach significantly reduced the complexity of the process and eliminated reliance on back-end developers.
• Users appreciated the intuitive design, which minimized the learning curve for creating Field Comparisons. This change made the process accessible to a broader range of users, even those without technical expertise.
• Based on the positive response, users suggested additional functionality to further enhance the solution. The most notable request was the ability to create nested queries, a feature that would expand the tool's utility for more complex workflows.

Using the insights gathered from usability testing, the interface was iteratively refined to improve the user experience. Additional enhancements, such as the requested support for nested queries, were incorporated into the next phase of development. Regular collaboration with stakeholders ensured alignment with user needs and business goals throughout the refinement process.

Top Navigation and Global Search

The redesigned top navigation bar underwent iterative usability testing to ensure it effectively addressed user needs. Feedback revealed issues with text readability and efficient use of header space. Adjustments included increasing text size and weight for clarity, optimizing the "Search" function to conserve space, and refining responsive behaviors with tooltips for smaller screens. Each refinement was validated through additional testing, confirming improved usability and accessibility.

Search and Filtering

The data table's search and filtering functionality underwent rigorous usability testing and iterative refinements to address user needs for efficiency, speed, and ease of use. The primary challenge was balancing the complexity of filtering a vast amount of data with the need for an uncluttered, intuitive user interface

The initial solution incorporated search and filtering options within a collapsible accordion-style menu positioned above the data table. This approach kept the interface clean by default, allowing users to focus on the data table contents while offering the option to expand the menu when needed. A "Search" button in the toolbar toggled the menu's visibility, giving users flexibility to keep it open if preferred. Additionally, the menu allowed users to add and remove multiple filter options as needed, providing the flexibility required for more complex searches.

Key Insights from Feedback:

• Users expressed a need to save frequently used filter combinations for quick re-execution, streamlining their workflow.
• Many users often relied on a single filter option for common searches, making the existing multi-filter UI unnecessarily complex for these tasks.
• Users required the ability to view the search results and filter criteria simultaneously to maintain context and easily adjust filters.

Several refinements were implemented to enhance the search and filtering functionality. A saved filters feature was introduced, allowing users to store and reuse common filter combinations for improved efficiency. The accordion-style menu was redesigned to include a simplified UI for single-filter selection, addressing the need for quick and straightforward searches. An "Advanced Search Options" checkbox was added, enabling users to toggle between a simplified interface and a more complex UI for managing multiple filters. Additionally, the design ensured that filter criteria remained visible alongside search results, providing users with essential context and facilitating quick adjustments.

Responsive Tabs

The tabbed container navigation was carefully evaluated and improved to address user frustrations with efficiently accessing multiple tabs, particularly on smaller screens. Early testing revealed issues with horizontal scrolling when the number of tabs exceeded the browser's viewport width, disrupting the seamless and rapid navigation users expected.

Challenges and Refinements

The initial integration of a third-party library to dynamically adjust visible tabs introduced delays due to excessive reliance on slider buttons and animations, prompting a need for a more user-friendly solution. I developed a custom implementation to optimize the experience. This solution dynamically adjusted the tab navigation bar's width in real-time based on the browser's viewport. When the number of tabs exceeded the available width, the right-most tabs were hidden and relocated to a dropdown menu labeled “More…,” accessible from the navigation bar itself. This ensured all categories remained easily accessible without excessive navigation or waiting.

The refined design addressed user pain points by delivering a faster, more intuitive navigation experience across devices of varying screen sizes. Users expressed high satisfaction with the new functionality, as it allowed them to effortlessly view and access all available tabs, even on smaller screens such as laptops, improving task efficiency and overall usability.