Too many intranets and portals are created using a technology first, business communications second and user needs third approach. At Aspenware, we know that the value in an intranet or portal is in how often it is used so we start with people who will be using the software. Only once we understand the needs of the people using the software and the goals of the business do we start to explore the technology options available.
Our approach to implementing the solution we design is to start small, engage the people early and measure the results. This process enables us to build effective software that drives user engagement in a way that is measurable.
The intranets and portals we create deliver a high level of participation and a strong feeling of ownership among users. This in turn increases engagement that results in higher employee or customer retention.
Polkadot JAM Slides - Token2049 - By Dr. Gavin Wood
User Experience Driven Corporate Intranets
1. 300 Bases. 48 States.
All in one spot.
Air Methods has people and locations all throughout the United States.
Creating a singular resource for everyone to easily access was essential to their work–flow.
For Air Methods their industry is constantly moving. Medical
emergencies don’t follow a schedule, so Air Methods’ pilots,
medical teams, mechanics, and operations teams, and staff
constantly have to be at the ready. The front lines connect
locally to care for their patients, but at the same time there
are also several back-office staff operations constantly
working to support their needs as employees. There needed
to be one, simple place to go to find information to resolve
questions and get help.
2. Air Methods
Mega-Menu Custom Icons System Relevant Content Feed
After realizing the depth of the navigation, we
decided to implement a mega menu to allow the The Air Methods Corporate Communications
Air Methods’ users a fast and easy way to get to Department wanted one place to be able to
content without having to go through multiple easily communicate current events to all of their
levels of navigation. employees. We proposed an events feed that
included imagery, a headline, the article, and an
Air Methods had previously been using icons option to read more info. We also wanted the
as a means to quickly scan sections. Since user to be able to view the upcoming article by
this precedent had already been established, showing the upcoming headline and imagery.
Aspenware wanted to uphold this convention.
But what we did was make it more refined
and manageable by creating a pixel dimension
standard and color consistency.
3. A Unified Customer
Experience
Creating a useful, cohesive space for customers
and self–service.
COPIC’s collective public web presence (website, secured
customer functions and sign-on application) was disjointed
and made customers feel like they were interacting with
different companies on different sites. The original website’s
navigation was confusing and content was not organized in
an intuitive structure that allowed users to quickly and easily
find the information they wanted.
4. COPIC
Enabling Self–Service Content & Navigation Increased User Engagement
Page Views
115,685 2012
78,287
2011
Pages per Visit
5.41
2.89
Bounce Rate
34.30%
47.18%
The site launched in April 2012 and has received
positive feedback from both internal and external
audiences about the site‘s new look and the
ease in which people can navigate and find the
information they are looking for.
As the world of health care progresses into the A key focus of the project was to promote We saw significant improvements in Pageviews,
world of online access and self service, a company’s simplicity and usefulness of COPIC’s content Pages per Visit, Bounce Rate (lower). When users
website is the key source that people use to get for users. By reorganizing content on the site come to the site, they explore the content.
information and access their customer accounts. into more task-based groupings and
COPIC recognizes that medicine is a 24-hour integrating navigation that simulates users’ Since the redesign, COPIC customers are
environment and physicians, their staff, and thought processes, the site felt easier and performing more transactions online, e.g.,
organizations that support them need to connect more pleasant to use. submitting inquires through an automated email
easily at times that best fit their schedules and form that routes questions to the appropriate
needs, not just the traditional 8–to–5 day. person. More users have added essential contact
info (such as email and additional contact info)
Customers now have 24/7 access to to support our efforts to clean-up customer data
• Review key account information Renew coverage and make sure we have full profiles available.
• Submit changes to account information
• Get contact information for assigned Underwriter
• See authorized third-party certificate holders
• Pay premiums online
5. We’re Better
Together.
First Western’s culture was fragmented by multiple acquisition and branches. Building a portal
to share processes, strategies and the vision was a great start to pulling it all together.
After updating their brand and identity, First Western wanted
to apply that same brand upgrade to their intranet.
They called on Aspenware not only make their portal intuitive
and easy to use, they also knew that we had the chops to
implement it while honoring their company’s personality.
6. First Western Trust
Brand Consistency Building Community Right Info, Right Away
VOLLKORN
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Vollkorn is currently the serif font being used on the the FWT website that is being developed.
LATO
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Bringing together many different geographies Aspenware worked with First Western employees
Lato is currently the san serif font being used on the the FWT website that is being developed.
and job functions to establish a sense of and management to understand how information,
community was key for this project. Aspenware relationships, and daily tasks are all connected
Having gone through a recent brand refresh, applied simple tools and processes that in their minds. The portal navigation structure
First Western needed a portal design that was aligned with First Western’s communications and interconnectivity reflect the way employees
consistent with other marketing efforts. We strategy to allow executives to influence naturally think and go about their day.
applied brand guidelines and style guides to culture and attitude.
make sure this portal stayed true to the message.
7. Aspenware
At Aspenware we don’t just fling code, we create amazing experiences. If you have questions
about our human centered design processes or creating engaging software that people want
to use please contact us.
Shelby Huckabay Waughn Hughes
Design Collaboration
s.huckabay@aspenware.com w.hughes@aspenware.com
Kelley Poturalski Jeremiah Fellows
User Experience Service Innovation
@activeUXdenver @JWFellows
k.poturalski@aspenware.com j.fellows@aspenware.com