Best-in-class Automation

Revolutionizing workflow efficiency with super-easy automation configuration.

Context

Design the new automations management mechanism with conditional logic for creating and maintaining efficient workflows.

My role

Product Designer - UX research, user flows, rapid prototyping, visual design

Timeline & Status

4 moths, Launched in October 2023

Outcomes

Business impact

  • Great reception and fast adoption of the new design by the customers
  • In the first month, 20% of customers used new branching mechanism in workflows
  • A large number of suggestions for further enhancements were received from the customers

The challenge

The existing automation flow suffers from a lack of conditional logic,
creating a few issues:

  • Too many similar workflows, leading to tedious management and error-prone maintenance.
  • Conditional tasks like approval follow-ups or branching based on success/failure become impossible.

Research

Data Analysis

According to the data the solution should accommodate workflows with:

  • Complexity:
    Many branching paths to handle variations in processes. These branches can be nested up to two or three levels deep
  • Variable Length:
    While most workflows will be concise, some, like onboarding and offboarding, can be lengthy. The UI should prioritize clear navigation and user orientation within these extended workflows

Hypothesis

  • Implementing an open canvas solution that supports unlimited number of conditions will Increase the workflow adopters’ satisfaction, as the workflow management will be more effective
  • Implementing an open canvas will eliminate blockers around additional use cases and increase the automation adoption

Solution

Proposed solution

  • Replace the current workflow configuration UI with flexible canvas
  • Add out-of-the-box building block If / Else branch that has 2 branches by default and allows adding more

KPIs

  • Number of active workflows with conditional logic
  • Number of valid branching actions in active workflows
  • Customer feedback and sentiment

User journey

Enhanced automation flow

  • Defines workflow type
  • Chooses the trigger type
  • Adds actions/ conditions
  • Activates the workflow when done

UI design

Designing powerful workflows

To empower users with maximum flexibility, I opted for an open canvas workflow builder. This enables the creation of complex workflows with numerous steps (nodes) within a single view.

Maintaining user focus during editing was crucial. I achieved this by utilizing a drawer panel component for action editing tasks. This keeps the broader automation flow visible while users concentrate on the details of a specific step.

For efficient navigation in workflows of varying complexity, I implemented zooming functionality. Users can seamlessly switch between a detailed view of individual steps and a high-level overview of the entire workflow.