Workforce: Empowering Employees on the Go
The Challenge
The goal was to extend the functionality of our core desktop ERP to the entire workforce. A key part of the challenge was to move away from the clunky interfaces common in traditional enterprise software. We aimed to deliver a user experience on par with best in class consumer apps like Xero Me and Employment Hero, while still having it powered by a complex ERP system. This meant creating an intuitive, mobile first solution for employees and managers in any environment, regardless of their technical skill level.
My Process & Role
As the lead designer, my process was grounded in a deep understanding of both business goals and user needs. I began with stakeholder workshops to define key objectives, followed by competitor analysis and in depth user research, including on site contextual interviews with frontline workers to understand their real world pain points.
The insights from this discovery phase were synthesised into user personas and journey maps, which guided the design direction. From there, I led an iterative process of wireframing, prototyping, and conducting remote usability testing to validate design decisions with real users before handing off production ready designs to the development team.
The Solution
From this research, I led the design of Workforce, a self service mobile app that empowers employees to manage their onboarding, leave, rosters, and payslips. The app also includes a full suite of tools for managers to handle approvals and scheduling on the go and within the main ERP.
The underlying design framework was built to be flexible and scalable and crucially, the components and patterns created for the Workforce app became the foundation of our first official mobile design system. This system was then adopted across other key products, including the Stores and Operations apps, ensuring a consistent user experience and accelerating future development.
The Outcome
The release of the Workforce app had a significant and immediate impact on business efficiency and user satisfaction:
Clients reported an average reduction of over 60% in direct payroll and HR support requests, leading to significant cost savings.
Managers reported improved remote team management and greater scheduling flexibility.
Employees provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, embracing the app for its convenience and ease of use.