Enterprise Apps That Don’t Suck

Jeremy Debatejdebate@apperian.com

Transformative?

• What makes an enterprise app transformative?

• It simplifies an existing business process

• It enables a completely new business process

• It helps your mobile workforce stay mobile

• ...people actually use it

Ways to drive adoption

• “We’ll make it mandatory!”

• “It’s an app – people love apps, right?”

• “If we build it, they will come”

• Jedi mind trick

the short version

Build an insanely great app that

your users will actually want to use!

the Slightly longer version

• Know your target audience

• Know your target device(s)

• Know your use case

• Know when to ask for help!

Know your audience

user

BUSINESS IT

• Users do like apps that live up to the hype

- Does the app make their part of the process easier?

• Users do like to multitask

• Very unlikely that your app is the only one in use

• Users don’t like to lose their work

• Try to automatically save user input in case X happens

• Users don’t like repeatedly entering long passwords

• Depends on use case – security must be appropriate

KNOW your audience

know your device

• Smartphone ≠ Tablet ≠ Desktop

• Different user input devices

• Different amount of screen real estate

• Mobile devices generally offer enhanced capabilities

• Your smartphone is the device you always have with you

• Make it fast and easy to access key functionality

• The platform matters!

know your device

know your use case

know your use case

• What is this app designed to accomplish?

• Helps you stay focused, avoid scope creep

• Helps you convey the value proposition to users

• Make your user interface simple and intuitive

• Where possible, use real-world metaphors

• If ‘modernizing’, make experience feel familiar

EXAMPLE: EPICENTER

OLD CORPORATE DIRECTORY

NEW CORPORATE DIRECTORY

EPICENTER• Information is always up to date

• Users can easily add detail to their profile

• Changes propagate to devices instantly

• Find people in ways not possible with a spreadsheet

• Allows you to interactively browse org chart

• Each user profile helps convey their personality

• Go from finding to collaborating with a single tap

ASK THE EXPERTS

TL; DR

Build an insanely great app that

your users will actually want to use!