End to end product development
The problem
The problem which many professionals and service providers face in terms of networking has been the inefficiency and inconvenience of exchanging contact information through traditional paper business cards.
Market research showed that over 85% of paper business cards were misplaced or thrown away within one week of receiving them. Thus, resulting in missed opportunities to connect with potential clients, colleagues or partners.
Ideation
The idea for NFC Pro was born out of a common pain point - the hassle of exchanging contact information. I wanted to create a solution that was quick and easy, eliminating the need for traditional business cards or manual contact entry; a pain point I had experienced myself especially following networking events.
After researching the market, I discovered that there was a gap in the market for a simple, yet effective social sharing app in the UK. Thus, began ideating how I could fill that gap.
User research summary
The initial research began with a thorough analysis using a survey to understand the use of physical business cards for networking. Since paper business cards was the predominant manner of sharing contact details I wanted to understand the main pain points of this practice to be able to optimise the user experience with a digital business card. Here are some of the feedback I received on paper business cards which I believe could be addressed with the use of a mobile alternative.
of business cards get thrown out in less than a week
found updating the business cards frustrating
did not have a business card when needed
Market research summary
The market for digital business card apps and software is rapidly expanding, driven by the need for convenient and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional paper business cards. The existing applications allow individuals and businesses to create, store, and share digital business cards with ease.
Firstly, looking into the digital options already in the market, there were two types:
Web based solution
Users create a profile on the company website when they order their business card. When the user wants to amend their details, they can login to their profile on the company website
App based solution
Popl and Linq were only available in America, not in the UK. These solutions did not address the issue of updating the changes made by the user to already shared contacts
Some key findings from market research on digital business card apps and software include:
Overall, the best applications offer a range of features and customisation options, as well as integration with other tools for more efficient contact management.
User persona
In order to get a more tangible grasp on who our user is and how I can make networking more user friendly, I created a user persona based on the data collected.
To guide me through the design process, I wanted to ensure that this persona accurately portrayed an entrepreneur to emphasise the importance of networking to their career development.
Key insights: Problems raised & Solutions
Aside from the main idea of building an app and a process to easily exchange contact information, there were a few pain points which came to light with market research and talking to people regarding their experience with the use of business cards. I wanted my app to provide a solution to these common pain points to ensure that I built an all in one, intuitive product.
MoSCoW method: Understanding the essentials
The MoSCoW method helps to identify the absolutely essential features needed to solve our problem, before adding other features that would support the main features but are not necessary for solving the problem at hand. Thus, I utilised this method to prioritise and make informed decisions about what needs to be included in the mobile application
Minimal Viable Product
Based on research of current products in the market, the above MoSCoW analysis, a minimal viable product (MVP) for an app designed to create and share a digital business card was developed to include the following features:
1. User Registration and Profiles: The app should allow users to create an account and set up their profiles. Users can input their basic contact information, such as name, phone number, email address, and website as well as social links.
2. Contact Information Management: The app should offer a user-friendly interface for users to easily input, edit, and manage their contact information. Users can update their details whenever necessary, ensuring their cards always reflect the most up-to-date information.
3. Sharing and Distribution: The app should provide convenient sharing options to enable users to distribute their digital business cards. This can include generating QR codes, allowing card recipients to scan and save the contact information directly. Sharing via email, messaging apps, or social media platforms can also be supported.
4. Platform Compatibility: The app should be available on major mobile platforms (iOS and Android) to reach a wider user base.
By focusing on these essential features, the MVP allows users to create, manage, and share their digital business cards effectively. As the product gains traction and user feedback is gathered, additional features and enhancements can be considered for future iterations.
Mid- Fidelity Prototype
After the initial round of Lo- Fi Sketches and one round of usability testing, I moved onto my mid-fidelity prototype, made in wireframepro, which brings more structure and clarity to the app.
After testing this prototype with users, I got a much better usability rating. Users also expressed that the app structure felt more intuitive to them.
Hi- Fidelity Prototype
After collecting user feedback from the mid-fi prototype, I made changes mostly related to refining information architecture of the onboarding pages, placement of buttons, restructuring the activation page.
From there, I filled in the mid-fi prototypes with a neutral color scheme with one accent colour, professional font, and photos to bring the final design to life.
The decision to change the information architecture on the onboarding pages to highlight just one button (eg: Sign up/ Log in) was driven by the desire to simplify the user experience and enhance the clarity of the desired action. By streamlining the interface and reducing visual distractions, the new design aims to guide users more effectively towards a specific and prominent button.
By highlighting just one button, the new design eliminates decision fatigue and provides a clear and focused path for users to follow. This approach enhances usability, particularly for individuals who are new to the platform or those who prefer a more straightforward user interface.
The change in the information architecture also aligns with current design trends that emphasise minimalism and clarity. By removing extraneous elements and concentrating on a single button, the new design created a visually appealing and uncluttered interface that can enhance overall user satisfaction and engagement.
Finally the activation page was redesigned to include a simple illustration to showcase how to encode the NFC tag with profile URL. By incorporating a simple graphic, the new design addresses the visual aspect of UI, making the screen more visually appealing and intuitive.
Furthermore, by providing just one line of instruction, the design follows the principle of simplicity in UX. Users often prefer concise and straightforward instructions that are easy to comprehend and follow. By reducing the amount of text, the new design minimises cognitive load, making it easier for users to understand how to interact with the NFC writer. This approach significantly improved the onboarding experience for both new and existing users.
Final Design
In conclusion, the emphasis on minimalism in the design ensures a clean and uncluttered interface, reducing cognitive load and promoting user satisfaction. By streamlining the user experience and focusing on essential elements, the NFC Pro app provides a seamless onboarding process and guides users towards their desired actions more efficiently.
Through the iterative design process and user testing, the final design of the app has been refined to optimize usability and address user needs. Feedback from users has played a crucial role in shaping the app's interface, ensuring that it aligns with user expectations and preferences.