Maximilian Feurer
Preparis
Maximilian Feurer
Preparis
From a complex luxury to an
accessible program.
From a complex luxury to an
accessible program.
Continuity Planning made easy.
Continuity Planning made easy.
80%
80%
Time reduction
updating plans
Time reduction
updating plans
50%
50%
Time reduction
creating plans
Time reduction
creating plans
85%
85%
System Usability
Scale score
System Usability
Scale score
6%
6%
New additional
growth
New additional
growth
Project Goal
Project Goal
How might we create a software for non-experts that simplify the setup, maintenance, and execution of continuity planning while meeting all regulatory standards.
How might we create a software for non-experts that simplify the setup, maintenance, and execution of continuity planning while meeting all regulatory standards.
Gathering my questions
Gathering my questions
Before conducting any research, I first identify the key questions that I aim to address. I list all my initial questions, then refine them to focus on key themes.
Before conducting any research, I first identify the key questions that I aim to address. I list all my initial questions, then refine them to focus on key themes.
What does their current process look like?
Are they driven by any regulations?
What would be our differentiator?
What’s their biggest obstacles?
How are other products handling these issues?
Where's our market?
Gleaning from the masters.
Gleaning from the masters.
It was crucial for me to grasp how these programs operate and identify key requirements, what better way than talk with the experts.
It was crucial for me to grasp how these programs operate and identify key requirements, what better way than talk with the experts.
Understanding the nonexperts.
Understanding the nonexperts.
Understanding the pain points of individuals tasked with completing this assignment, especially those who are not experts in the field.
Understanding the pain points of individuals tasked with completing this assignment, especially those who are not experts in the field.
Analyzing our competitors.
Analyzing our competitors.
I wanted to analyzing how other companies were solving these problems and find where our competitive edge could be.
I wanted to analyzing how other companies were solving these problems and find where our competitive edge could be.
What Were My
Findings
What Were My
Findings
After weeks of conversations with 14 customers, experts, and stakeholders, and thorough competitor analysis, I created a FigJam board for the team. I presented my findings, and together we discussed prioritization. Below are examples of insights I uncovered—some validated our assumptions, while others emerged from these discussions.
After weeks of conversations with 14 customers, experts, and stakeholders, and thorough competitor analysis, I created a FigJam board for the team. I presented my findings, and together we discussed prioritization. Below are examples of insights I uncovered—some validated our assumptions, while others emerged from these discussions.
Things I validated.
Things I validated.
Often has other responsibilities
Regulations that differ depending on industry
Bigger companies have a dedicated role for continuity planning
There is a need to pass down the work
The need to communicate to upper management
Yearly review cycle
Things I learned.
Things I learned.
More information gathering which causes delays and confusion
Customers that require regulations to be meet by their own customers
Not understanding exactly what needs to be included in a continuity plan
Approval process varied more by industry than expected
Customers needing to have multiple sources of truth for their data
Being able to test early and often throughout the process allowed me to adjust and make corrections where needed while also keeping to the timeline of the initiative. Understanding the users and how they needed a simple yet comprehensive way of creating these plans was a great challenge.
Being able to test early and often throughout the process allowed me to adjust and make corrections where needed while also keeping to the timeline of the initiative. Understanding the users and how they needed a simple yet comprehensive way of creating these plans was a great challenge.
My Learnings
Discovering our
Use Cases
Discovering our
Use Cases
Another item that I was able to present to the team were these 3 use cases.
Another item that I was able to present to the team were these 3 use cases.
Overwhelming & Regulated
As a user that is required by the Department of Financial Services to have a bc plan I need help with what's required.
As a user that is required by the Department of Financial Services to have a bc plan I need help with what's required.
Complex & Unorganized
As a user that keeps my plan in Word and Excel documents, my current process is hard to fully understand, implement, and update.
As a user that keeps my plan in Word and Excel documents, my current process is hard to fully understand, implement, and update.
Funding & Approval
As a user I need a way to effectively communicate to obtain leadership approval and funding for disaster response planning.
As a user I need a way to effectively communicate to obtain leadership approval and funding for disaster response planning.
Guided Workflow
Guided Workflow
Tailored Flows
Initial versions lacked tailored flows, but we quickly identified this gap and developed them to address specific use cases effectively.
Initial versions lacked tailored flows, but we quickly identified this gap and developed them to address specific use cases effectively.
Intro Section
This was also something we added after our initial feedback. Letting users understand what is ahead not only with the sidebar but with some brief descriptions.
This was also something we added after our initial feedback. Letting users understand what is ahead not only with the sidebar but with some brief descriptions.
Status by Section
Creating these status indicators allowed our users to understand their progress while also keeping seamless process with multiple sessions.
Creating these status indicators allowed our users to understand their progress while also keeping seamless process with multiple sessions.
Creating tailored flows was an iterative process for my team and me, involving extensive conversations with our customer base and partners to pinpoint exactly what to display and where. Once we identified the key elements of these flows, the other pieces were then able to fall into place.
Creating tailored flows was an iterative process for my team and me, involving extensive conversations with our customer base and partners to pinpoint exactly what to display and where. Once we identified the key elements of these flows, the other pieces were then able to fall into place.
No Blank Slates
No Blank Slates
Pre-populate Data
Through the research phase we identified that providing our customers with pre-populate data was going to be a critical part to driving our differentiator as a product.
Through the research phase we identified that providing our customers with pre-populate data was going to be a critical part to driving our differentiator as a product.
Experts & Current Customers
In order to set up this pre-populated data we needed to talk with experts and also look at the data from our current customer base.
In order to set up this pre-populated data we needed to talk with experts and also look at the data from our current customer base.
Ability to Create New
While creating the pre-populated data was important we also needed to focus on the "creating new" experience as well. Giving suggestions along the way was well received in our tests.
While creating the pre-populated data was important we also needed to focus on the "creating new" experience as well. Giving suggestions along the way was well received in our tests.
Finding out that the pre-populated data was going to be critical was one piece of the puzzle but understanding and getting that data was a great learning experience for me. Watching webinars, talking with experts, trying to find ways to get all the data that our current customer base had in a easy way. These were all things that took deep dives into so that I would be able to best serve future users.
Finding out that the pre-populated data was going to be critical was one piece of the puzzle but understanding and getting that data was a great learning experience for me. Watching webinars, talking with experts, trying to find ways to get all the data that our current customer base had in a easy way. These were all things that took deep dives into so that I would be able to best serve future users.
Slide Out Help
Slide Out Help
Suggestions
Another way to help simplify the complexity of continuity planning was adding a slide out with further suggestions proved to be a huge selling point to some customers.
Another way to help simplify the complexity of continuity planning was adding a slide out with further suggestions proved to be a huge selling point to some customers.
Further Explanations
Recognizing that many of our customers juggle multiple roles, we saw the value in using a slide-out feature to provide additional explanations without overwhelming the main page for those who already understand.
Recognizing that many of our customers juggle multiple roles, we saw the value in using a slide-out feature to provide additional explanations without overwhelming the main page for those who already understand.
Regulation Advice
I faced a steep learning curve in understanding the regulations specific to each of our verticals. Beyond that, I worked to provide guidance that helped our customers meet all the necessary standards.
I faced a steep learning curve in understanding the regulations specific to each of our verticals. Beyond that, I worked to provide guidance that helped our customers meet all the necessary standards.
This was the biggest challenge and most time consuming part of the initiative. Learning how to best assist those busy, non-expert customers that are thrown this daunting task was a great challenge. This is were building relationships with our customers and partners really paid off.
This was the biggest challenge and most time consuming part of the initiative. Learning how to best assist those busy, non-expert customers that are thrown this daunting task was a great challenge. This is were building relationships with our customers and partners really paid off.
Testing our Solutions
Testing our Solutions
Prototype to give users full immersion
Prototype to give users full immersion
5 Users, real data points, SUS Score
5 Users, real data points, SUS Score
Concept testing in different stages
Concept testing in different stages