This page explores a real-world example of how a software engineer, Noor, addressed a common business challenge, highlighting the importance of empathy, analysis, and creative problem-solving.
Challenges:
Businesses often face the tedious task of reconciling invoices with bank deposits, a process that can be both time-consuming and prone to errors. This involves:
- Constant Screen Switching: Users have to jump between different screens, verifying each deposit against the corresponding invoice.
- Manual Cross-Checking: The process requires manual cross-checking and searching through bank records separately.
- Inefficiency: This manual process is highly inefficient and increases the chance of errors and oversights.
- Time Waste: The whole process wastes a significant amount of time.
The client of Noor experienced these frustrations, expressing a desire to see deposit information directly on the invoice without needing to click around or dig for it. This problem was a significant pain point for the client.
Solutions and Benefits
Noor, an associate software engineer, tackled this challenge by implementing a clever and innovative solution that leveraged existing features. The key was to transform the deposit number field on the invoice into a clickable link:
- Clickable Deposit Link: The deposit number on the invoice was made a clickable link that directly takes the user to the corresponding bank deposit record.
- Dynamic Updates: When a deposit is made, the information is instantly reflected on the invoice.
- No Major Software Changes: This solution did not require any huge changes to the existing software and was achieved through some custom coding.
This approach resulted in several significant advantages:
- Time Savings: The solution significantly reduces the time spent on invoice reconciliation by eliminating the need for manual cross-checking and searching.
- Error Reduction: By providing direct access to the deposit record, it reduces the chances of errors slipping through the cracks.
- Cost Savings: The time saved directly translates to cost savings, allowing the team to focus on other important tasks.
- Enhanced User Experience: The user interface was simplified with a small change that had a big impact.
The Problem Solving Approach
Noor’s approach to problem-solving was a critical factor in her success and can be applied to a variety of challenges:
- Empathy: The team started by deeply understanding the client’s frustration and why this was a pain point for them. They did not dismiss the client’s concern, emphasizing the importance of considering the human side of the problem.
- Analysis: They performed a deep dive into the existing workflow, mapping out each step to identify the root cause of the inefficiency. The focus was on the process of accessing data, not just the data itself.
- Creativity: By recognizing the problem was in accessing the data rather than the data itself, they could develop an innovative solution.
- Testing: The solution was thoroughly tested to ensure its reliability and that it didn’t create new problems.
These principles can be used to address any problem, regardless of size or technical nature. By understanding the problem, analyzing the workflow, and finding creative solutions, one can streamline business processes and make work more efficient.