This page details how a simple customization to a mobile expense reporting system solved a common user frustration.
(a) Challenges:
- Clunky Expense Reports: Many users find expense reporting to be frustrating, particularly when using mobile devices. This can be especially difficult when on the go or with a client.
- Missing Tip Field: A significant problem identified within Acumatica’s mobile expense reporting was the absence of a dedicated field for tips. This is a common issue that users face when expensing meals, for instance.
- Manual Adjustments: The missing tip field required employees to manually adjust tip amounts outside of the Acumatica system. This resulted in a waste of time and increased the potential for errors.
- User Frustration: Users were often left wondering where to input tip amounts, leading to confusion and workarounds. The lack of a specific field for tips created a major headache for users trying to submit accurate expense reports.
(b) Solution & Benefits
- Customized Mobile Interface: A solution was developed by Norah, an associate software engineer at Tayana Solutions, who customized the mobile interface of Acumatica.
- Dedicated Tip Field: Norah added a dedicated tip field directly into the expense receipt screen on the mobile app. This made the entire expense process smoother and facilitated the flow of data directly into Acumatica.
- Elimination of Workarounds: By adding the tip field, the need for manual adjustments and other workarounds was eliminated, which greatly reduced data entry headaches.
- User-Friendly Tool Tips: Tool tips were added to the mobile app which are pop-up descriptions that appear when hovering over a field. This provides a quick explanation of what each field is for, right on the screen.
- Reduced Confusion and Errors: The tool tips helped to reduce user confusion and errors, ensuring that users are not left wondering what information goes where.
- Improved User Experience: The simple customization highlights how even the smallest details can significantly improve user experience.
- Time Savings: The solution has saved a lot of time and frustration, and serves as an example of the impact that small but strategic tweaks can have on complex systems.
- Highlighting Customization: The Acumatica example shows the power and importance of customizing software to meet specific user needs.