Insight / The journal | 110s — Page 2

Practical ideas for software, websites, mobile apps and the work they make possible. Find a clearer way forward.

File upload workflows need more than a button

Define acceptable files, processing states and access rules so uploads become dependable parts of the workflow.

Package operational knowledge so another responsible person can deploy, investigate and maintain the application.

Choose a practical browser support policy and test critical journeys where differences can block real work.

Make optional choices understandable in the interface and preserve the meaning of a person's recorded preference.

Distinguish queued, sent, delivered and failed messages so important customer communications can be followed up.

Keep quoted scope, internal approval and customer acceptance attached to an identifiable version.

Distinguish stock on hand, committed stock and sellable stock before connecting inventory to orders.

Agree what each operational measure includes before building reports that different teams will compare.

Design search around the clues staff actually have, and keep active filters visible when results appear to be missing.

Use clear labels, useful instructions and recoverable validation to make business forms easier to complete.

Make common business tasks possible with a keyboard, including dialogs, menus and multi-step workflows.

Set performance expectations around searching, loading and saving the work that staff repeat every day.