Design experience for Skimpl, a resource management platform for SMEs. Created for CebUxD meetup, April 28, 2015.

1. DESIGNING SKIMPL:
EXPERIENCE DESIGN FOR AN EARLY-
STAGE SAAS
Christine Rom, Founder/CEO
April 28, 2015
www.skimpl.com

2. INTRO1

3. based in Estonia, with R&D in the
Philippines
a team of 8 + 1 tech advisor
in early startup stage
About Skimpl Ltd.

4. The product…
Scheduling made simple.

5. Target users:
• Basecamp users
• SMEs
• IT and creative companies whose
success depends on the
efficient and effective
utilization of resources
via: movie.15review.com

6. Quick and inexpensive tool for scheduling
resources

7. Provides quick visibility into utilization and productivity

8. Benefits
Intuitive dashboards
Quick and easy scheduling
Basecamp integration
Schedule resources in minutes.
Quickly integrate Basecamp data into Skimpl.
Know what’s going on in the company anytime, anywhere.

9. Benefits
Intuitive dashboards
Quick and easy scheduling
Basecamp integration
Schedule resources in minutes.
Quickly integrate Basecamp data into
Skimpl.
Know what’s going on in the company anytime,
anywhere.

10. Benefits
Insightful reports
Company holidays
Alerts and reminders
Enter holidays and instantly deduct these from
total available hours
View and download various utilization and
productivity reports
Be alerted of assignments and updates on any
resource and project

11. CHALLENGES2

12. tight development window
tight budget
need to build relationships with
investors early
via: blog.aircall.io

13. SKIMPL APPROACH TO UX DESIGN3

14. • More functionality
• Faster
• Cheaper
MODULAR APPROACH

15. Define the product’s purpose
clearly
Why are we making this product?

16. Why are we developing this product again?
• Because there’s too much time wasted on
misalignment
• Because management doesn’t have any way of
knowing what’s going on with utilization.
• There are other existing tools, but they are
too complicated
are not addressing the common needs of HR, Top
Management, and Production
• Because keeping things in Excel will kill people’s brain
cells.

17. Understand the users
Validate along the way.

18. TOP MANAGEMENT
Monitoring organizational
performance
General
managemen
t
A simple way to keep everyone aligned
PRODUCTION/OPERATIONS
Resource scheduling
Productivity monitoring
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Leave/attendance management
Performance management
INDIVIDUALS/WORKING
TEAMS
Task management
Schedule management

19. Think benefits.
Not features.

21. Plan the product’s roadmap

22. Product Roadmap
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
July 2015
Public launch
(with Basecamp integration)
May 2016
Feature W
August 2016
Feature Y
November 2015
Feature X
May 2017
Feature Z
2014
Quarterly upgrades and releases
April 2015
Soft launch - Free app
Marketing launch
Onboard pilot

23. Evaluate what we have currently
and compare with others.
Study competitors.

24. Competition
(QUALITY, RICHNESS IN FEATURES)
PRICE

25. Unique selling proposition
Addresses the common needs of HR,
Production/Operations, and Top Management
Designed to promote alignment among
various aspects of the organization
Has stronger, more powerful reports
For Basecamp users: UI complements
Basecamp's design, making people feel that
they are using one and the same tool

26. Launch early, learn,
iterate, repeat.
via: startupquote.com

27. LESSONS LEARNED2

28. If possible, complete user flows and wireframes
before designing
via: UX Design for Startups by Richard Fang

29. Pay attention to visual hierarchy
via: UX Design for Startups by Richard Fang

30. Proximity and contrast
via: UX Design for Startups by Richard Fang

31. Prioritize user onboarding

32. via: http://www.sodastudio.nl/

34. Typography.
Create a design guide.

35. Delivering the best UX is
the ultimate value we can give to our
users.

36. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can contact me at:
christine@skimpl.com
ph.linkedin.com/in/christinerom