Unified Policy Management for Optimized Deployment
How did the streamlined template deployment process impact user satisfaction and productivity?
Cisco
Interaction Designer
UX Research
Product Manager
Marketing Team
Developers
QA Team
2 weeks
Challenge
Users are encountering persistent and frustrating deployment failures due to intricate template dependencies. These dependency-related errors are significantly impeding the deployment process, leading to increased time-to-market, decreased user productivity, and a general erosion of confidence in the system's reliability. The complexity of managing these dependencies has created a significant barrier to efficient and successful template deployment.
Goal
User Goal: Effortlessly deploy templates with a clear understanding of all dependencies
Business Goal: Boost user adoption and streamline deployment processes for increased efficiency
Solution
To address the persistent challenge of dependency-related deployment failures, we implemented a comprehensive solution that provides users with a clear visualization of template dependencies and their optimal deployment order.
This enhanced visibility empowers users to confidently deploy templates without encountering dependency errors, streamlining the process and minimizing deployment time. By eliminating the frustration and uncertainty associated with previous deployment methods, we have significantly improved user experience and increased overall system efficiency.
This solution has resulted in a 65% increase in usability and a 75% positive business impact.
Research
We conducted usability testing on the current deployment flow to figure out how our customers are tackling the twists and turns of template configuration and deployment.
This helped us understand user pain points in template deployment (confusing steps, hidden dependencies) and optimize the process for a smoother experience.
Key Findings
Hidden Dependencies
60%
Users are not able to figure out the dependent policies from other templates
Deployment Inefficiency
58%
Users find it confusing to go back and forth between templates to deploy them
Un-sequenced Template
70%
Users are confused about the deployment order of dependent templates
Design Principles
Visibility of System Status: Users deserve clear and ongoing updates on system status and any running processes
Match between System and Real World: Leverage familiar elements like icons and layouts to make your design intuitive and minimize training
Recognize rather than Recall: Minimize user memory load by offering clear options, actions, and labels for recognition over recall
Explorations
After soaking in all the feedback and diving into the user flow, we put on our thinking caps. We sketched up some nifty ideas to make it a breeze for users to deploy dependent templates without doing the navigation cha-cha and losing track of the current template.
Improved Error Message with Dependency Navigation: Provides a user-friendly explanation alongside a visual dependency flow with links, eliminating hidden issues and maintaining context
One-Click, Dependency-Aware Deployment: Simplifies deployment with a single click while clearly listing dependencies to prevent errors and maintain context
Designs
Context Clarity
Now, when users hit the "deploy" button on a template, they'll stay right in the template's world and deploy its dependencies without any extra hassle.
Template Summary
Now, we've got a quick guide for the current template – it tells you how it's feeling, where it's jetting off to (hint: loads of sites!), and even shares how its dependent templates are doing. It's basically a VIP pass to the template's world!
Order of Deployment
Now, with the card view, template dependencies are neatly arranged in the necessary order for seamless deployment of the current template. No more puzzling over the correct deployment sequence for users!
Testing and Impact
After multiple rounds of discussions with everyone involved (yes, even the office plant had a say), our product manager and tech-savvy marketing team put our final designs to the test. We blitzed through a rapid usability test to gauge the impact of our designs.
Clear Dependencies
86%
Users can now easily identify and understand the dependencies between templates, eliminating confusion and streamlining the deployment process
Deployment Efficiency
90%
Users can now efficiently deploy templates in a logical order without the need for back-and-forth navigation, significantly improving the overall deployment experience
Sequenced Template
93%
Users can now confidently deploy templates in the correct order, thanks to clear visual guidance and automated sequencing
Conclusion
By providing a clear view of template dependencies and their deployment order, we've empowered users to deploy their templates smoothly. This eliminates dependency errors, streamlines the process, and ensures users retain key details throughout deployment. No more lost context, just successful deployments!