UX practices for SaaS Product Design

July 22, 2019 | Read Time : 3 mins

What is a SaaS Product?

SaaS or Software as a Service product is an internet software that you can use from anywhere. It’s licensed on subscription-based service and accessible through your device with an Internet connection, like mobile phones and laptops.

Hosting providers host these applications which are used by customers in different ways depending upon what they want out of it; common examples being Dropbox (a file storage site), Adobe Creative Cloud(design program) Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium plus other services such as video conferencing etc…

The company hosting these products does so using what’s called cloud delivery: instead of storing all data within your network boundaries where it may get lost due in case if ever compromised by hackers/attacks, there would only exist one version made available from anywhere around the world as long as someone has subscribed into paying monthly fees – making this distribution method inherently safer than others since chances aren’t nearly.

The Cloud delivery model works because there will always be one version made available at any given time – this means if something goes wrong then fixing bugs would not take long compared to making several new releases every week!

Examples of a few SaaS companies: Mailchimp, Adobe Creative Suite and Dropbox.

What are the advantages of using a SaaS product?

By directly subscribing to the software, automatically leads to the success of your business. Some plus points of using SaaS products are listed below:

Scalability

SaaS products allow flexibility to change/renew subscriptions as and when required. Owners have the freedom to scale their products up and down based on specific needs.

Lower Market cost

Since SaaS is a subscription-based service it does not require a license fee that reduces initial costs. Maintenance costs also get reduced as the SaaS provider owns the environment. Subscription-based feature rules out financial risk.

Easy upgrades

SaaS providers release updates instead of customers having to purchase new software. Due to this costs related to upgrades are also reduced compared to a traditional model.

Accessibility

SaaS products are easy to use and require only an internet connection and a browser to be accessed. It is something which is available on a wide range of devices.

What is User Experience (UX) ?

UX design includes various aspects including interaction design, visual design, information architecture and usability. The user experience strategy decides how easy to use and accessible your product is.

Designing for User first experience means designing products that are useful and easy to interact with. UX is about enhancing customers’ experience with your product. A unique and favourable experience is what users are looking for, and as designers and brand owners it is essential to make that happen. User Experience should be enhanced to make sure that users will stick around.

What role does UX play in SaaS product design?

UX plays an equally important role in SaaS product design as it does in any other type of design. A positive UX design enhances the usability, accessibility and pleasure that users associate with your brand.

Following are some myths about UI/UX design for SaaS companies:

  • It is a common myth that SaaS companies don’t require UI/UX design that is only required for the beautification of the application but that is as stated, a myth. Users will never be okay with an ‘okay’ interface.
  • And for starters, mistakenly many orgs believe that SaaS companies do not require designers to design for UI/UX and that it is simply done by developers. While the developer looks after the technical aspects of the company, a designer is still required for the company to function.

SaaS UI design should be focused on the users who use the product later on. Because SaaS companies are often start-ups it is crucial that your product is favourable to the users and that users see how your brand stands out in terms of its UX. Your UX will help users see your brand for more than what it is. Making it easier for the user to interact with your app will help them achieve success more quickly and for a long-lasting term.

Simplified Signup

Allowing easy and quick signup or login will help gain more customers. The more information they are asked for, the more likely it is to lose those customers. An email and password should be enough and provide an option to use Gmail directly.

Example : Slack offers users to log in using Gmail or try the free option. It is good to avoid credit card details in the sign up itself.

Consistent and Efficient Interface Design

UI components like buttons, forms, and customizations should appeal to the users. When patterns are consistent and efficient, it makes customers want to come back and keep exploring.

Reclaim here is a good example of s simple yet effective and efficient UI.

Clear Onboarding

A positive onboarding experience gathers more customers and it is ensured that customers won’t exit the site. It also gives a positive first impression to the user.

Canva provides a clear-cut onboarding without asking for too many details making it easy to understand and keeping it straight to the point.

Focus on the Target Audience

Design keeping your target audience in mind and thinking of the kind of UI and different features that they would pertain to.

Spotify, targeted at millennials allows users to see friend activity. Something that makes it more interactive and makes users engage. The aspect of social activity and engaging with friends is what keeps users entertained.

AI Chatbots

Using chatbots helps understand customers on a more personal level. It provides insight into customers’ requirements individually and helps engage with customers right then and there.

Having the chatbot feature allows each customer to individually engage with the site and enquire about anything if required.

Customize feedback messaging

When customers interact with a brand through social media like Twitter or Facebook, they expect a quick response and a personalized response to their query. They expect it to be the same as it would be through email or customer service options.

Celebrate your users’ success

Make your user feel happy through simple success screens showing a high five or a thumbs up or congratulating them.

Habit-forming UX design principles.

The above blog article outlines some best practices in design that will make your future products stand above their competitors.

It is important for SaaS companies, especially those with monthly subscriptions or other recurring charges like e-commerce sites do have higher retention rates when they improve customer support services – so make sure these updates happen! In addition, trying new things can be risky but this doesn’t mean we should all stay stuck on one idea forever either; there could come an opportunity where our creativity pays off if done right enough times (or maybe just once).

Do you have a design or two in mind for your next SaaS product?

If so, we can help. With our assistance and expertise in designing products that will appeal to customers of all types (especially those who are new), it is easy to see how rising subscription-based businesses succeed by providing enhanced customer service at every opportunity possible!

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OriginUX Studio

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Team OriginUX

OriginUX Studio is a CoE for User Experience providing UI & UX across Product, Service and Customer Experience Design. We are a cross-disciplinary design team that loves to create great experiences and make meaningful connections for businesses and their users through UI & UX.

Founded in 2016, our larger purpose is to help brands understand what they want to do and where they want to go. To do that we have to make understanding customer experience simple, effortless, and affordable for everyone.

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