SAP has promoted SAP Fiori UX as their new UX paradigm by SAP towards a better User Experience of SAP solutions. SAPUI5 is the UI technology which will be used to build the user interfaces. In the past 1 year of projects built using SAPUI5, I have noticed one important aspect. I observed that, even though there is major shift in the technology adoption of Javascript and HTML5 by SAP there is very little change in the solutions and mindset of implemented solutions. Most of the solutions still follow a set paradigm towards user requirements. One factor which has contributed towards this lethargy in UX design is the SAPUI5 patterns.
SAPUI5 patterns are UI templates which propose a design for common set of issues. These UI design templates simplify the UI design. They also ensure that there is consistency in UI design for enterprises. These patterns also help in customer confidence in addressing the UI requirements. However, in the process of standardizing we compromise on the improtant aspect of UX design, which is the User experience. We totally ignore the need to research the expectations of the actual users. To any set of user requirements we restrict the screens to matser-detail or full screen detail layout. UI innovation is only in terms of having used SAPUI5. Apart from the technology itself, there is hardly any strategy/innovation in the UI design.
In all my projects on SAPUI5 so far, the requirements are wire-framed keeping these templates in perspective. due to a lack of structued approach towards UX, we are stuck with SAPUI5 templates running on SAP Portal with in-coherent CSS designs. It all looks like a bad mashup of technologies.
User research is an important factor missing in our proposal and requirement document. Instead of few customers/managers determining the business need, we need to arrive at the broad set of requirements of the intended audience. We are yet to follow a standard methodology to capture the user requirements and that in my view is the lacunae in the UX design. If we are not sure of the actual user's expectation, how can one say that UX design fulfills its purpose.
Design experience is lacking in UI designers. The evolution and exposure to UI designs and graphic technologies is a necessity in having creative and exciting User interfaces. The emphasis should be on skill to beautify the screens would greatly help is modelling the screens.
In all, we have been hearing a lot, talking a lot and feel like implementing a lot of aspects of UX but we are still scratching the surface. Its time to dig our heels and get into the detail of the UX design.
Look forward to your response and opinions.
Thank you.
Regards,
Sharath
The comments in this blog are purely personal.
