Good software usability performance contributes to increased productivity, reduces training and course costs, and eliminates the complexity of many processes.
In this text, you will learn a little more about usability and software performance evaluation techniques. Check it out!
Functional testing and software usability evaluation
A functional test serves to evaluate whether a software fulfills the functions for which it was designed. The evaluation of usability, on the other hand, focuses on the user experience and their interaction with the system.
In a software usability test, factors such as ease of use, memorization of shortcuts and commands, location of folders and directories, self-explanatory capacity of the system, among others, are analyzed. All this helps to prevent errors and indicate solutions so that the interface is clean, intuitive, and pleasant to use.
What factors should be analyzed in a software usability test?
One of the most used methods for software usability evaluation is the heuristic test. It is based on problem-solving starting from practical experiences, which can be acquired through research and recruitment, for example.
Below you will learn about the main factors for developing a heuristic evaluation. Follow along!
What is the user profile?
Since software usability evaluation focuses on improving the experience for the user, the first factor to be analyzed should be the target audience that regularly works with the system.
After defining the target audience, it is necessary to identify professional objectives and the main problems faced daily when using the system. This identification allows the establishment of fundamental factors that will be used as a starting point for usability tests.
Does the interface dialogue with the user?
The user is not concerned with code complexity; they seek functionality. The system must be accessible, easy to understand, and use simplified language — which is why highly technical expressions should be avoided.
Does the system have good feedback?
In addition to an intuitive and accessible interface, the system must “educate” the user during use, with easily accessible feedback.
Error messages
There is nothing more frustrating for a user than an error message accompanied by an undecipherable code. That is, the message only warns that there is an error, without identifying it or presenting a solution, forcing the professional to stop what they are doing to look for a resolution.
The error message must, in addition to explaining the reason for the error, present the solution in the same message.
What is an experience evaluation?
Evaluating the experience consists of using the system from the user’s point of view — meaning it will gather all the items mentioned in the topics above and put them into practice. At this point, you will already have the target audience, their main objectives and problems, and you can start from there.
During the experience evaluation, it is important to record all possible bottlenecks and problems that arise, taking notes and capturing screens to facilitate the implementation of improvements. It is also interesting to organize problems according to severity to ensure a priority hierarchy when making repairs.
Report results
After evaluating the experience and identifying problems and intervention points, it is time to report the results. That is, deliver the reports to those responsible for software development and their team, clearly explaining the criteria used during the analysis.
As we have seen, software usability evaluation aims, in addition to user experience, at good productive fluidity for the company. The goal is to remove the main obstacles and bottlenecks of the system to seek a better result in the ROI of IT projects.
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