1. Usability in OpenERP
Fabien Pinckaers, Founder & CEO
Fabien Pinckaers, Founder & CEO
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2. Usability is what makes the difference
between this...
Hmmm, it looks
interesting !
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3. and this...
Wow ! This is
so cool !
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4. Usability is about...
Usability helps to:
 Make the product looks sexy, cool and simple
 Decrease training and implementation time
 Make self-implementation become easier for small businesses
It concerns:
 Ease of use
 Ease of configuration & deployment
 Ease of installation
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5. It's all about a strong process...
It's all about a strong process...
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6. A continuous improvement process...
Innovative ideas come from a
continuous learning process
The key is to learn:
 Test scenarios with lambda users
 Online tests with UserTesting.com
 Contact with community: feedback, launchpad, online customers
 Test all competitors and organize lambda users tests on them
Involvment in the development process:
 Sprint Planning: participate to specs
 Sprint Review: validate developments
A sensibilisation process:
 Train and sensibilize all developers
 Write the useability book
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7. Example: A user test
Example: A user test
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8. We gave this task to a lambda user:
We gave this task to a lambda user:

 Create a new product which is a “White T-Shirt”,
Create a new product which is a “White T-Shirt”,
stockable product and costs 5€ with the supplier
stockable product and costs 5€ with the supplier
Corleone.
Corleone.
→ Here is what he did in 2 minutes.
→ Here is what he did in 2 minutes.
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9. Our vision since 2005...
Display the screencast.
Display the screencast.
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10. The problem
He tried to create the product in the search
He tried to create the product in the search
view thinking it was a search view.
view thinking it was a search view.
This error has been noticed on 6 users on 10 !
This error has been noticed on 6 users on 10 !
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11. What we did
Clearly explain it's a search view
When he clicked on search, tell him he did the wrong operation.
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12. The 4 biggest usability issues
The 4 biggest usability issues
to be fixed in v6.1
to be fixed in v6.1
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13. 4 main usability issues
 Use of many2one fields: 70% difficulties
 CSV Importation: 60% failed
 Status of documents: 30% don't understand
 Configuration Steps: 30%
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14. Issue 1: Many2one relation fields
Issue 1: Many2one relation fields
Are too complex
Are too complex
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15. Many2One in V6.1
 Use intelligent selection box instead
• With “more...”: search window
• And “create...”: quick create
Cust Cust
- Customer 1
- Customer 2
Name Cus
- Customer 3
More... Create Details Create
 On Create: Pop-Up are too complex:
• Quick-create with just the name
• Possibility to edit in full form view
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16. Issue 2: CSV importation
Issue 2: CSV importation
is too complex
is too complex
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17. Old Importation Wizard
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18. Easier import process
Better Process
Better Process
1. Select a file
1. Select a file
2. Check the preview
2. Check the preview
3. Review Column Header
3. Review Column Header
4. Press Done !
4. Press Done !
Extras:
Extras:
-- Better error messages
Better error messages
-- Auto-match columns
Auto-match columns
-- Everything in one screen
Everything in one screen
-- Preview to check charset
Preview to check charset
-- No requirement on the
No requirement on the
CSV file (header, ...)
CSV file (header, ...)
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19. Issue 3: Status of the documents
Issue 3: Status of the documents
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20. Status of documents
What does this means ?
Internal or supplier approval ?
What was the step before ?
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21. E-commerce bar
OpenERP Solution:
OpenERP Solution:
-- Display a dynamic progress bar instead of selection box
Display a dynamic progress bar instead of selection box
-- Make it clear what are the previous and next steps
Make it clear what are the previous and next steps
-- Improve tooltips
Improve tooltips
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22. Issue 4: Configuration of the system
Issue 4: Configuration of the system
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23. Configuration Troubles
Current Troubles:
 You have to configure before using
 Configuration wizards can be long
 Complex to understand without demo data
 You don't want to configure at the installation:
• Example 1: upload your company logo
• Example 2: Configuration of Payroll
 You don't know what and how to configure
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24. Click 1: Subscription/ DB Creation
 The user fill the form on openerp.com
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25. Click 2: select an application
No Wizard: directly in the application.
No Wizard: directly in the application.
You can use directly.
You can use directly.
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26. Click 3 : Create a document
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27. Click 4: Create your invoice
Cust Cust No need to configure
No need to configure
- Customer 1 products & partners
products & partners
- Customer 2
Name Cus
Create on the fly with the
Create on the fly with the
- Customer 3 new many2one fields
new many2one fields
More... Create Create No complex pop-up for
No complex pop-up for
search or product form
search or product form
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28. Click 5: Configure when you need it
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29. Conclusion
We did a great work to make OpenERP easy to use
in V6.0. We should make it easy to configure and
start with in V6.1.
I showed some examples, but they are hundreds of
small details to improve. We need your help;
feedback is welcome on Launchpad !
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