Usability Analysis and Redesign Suggestions for a SaaS ERP Invoice System

Abstract: 24SevenOffice is a business software application delivered through an on-line rental computing approach called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Since its launch in 1996 the application has had a steady growth of functionality and, as a side effect, increased significantly in its complexity. That the application has turned out complex was arguably inevitable considering the varied and complex problems it is addressing. But as a result this led to some parts of the business software being complicated to learn and use. Fortunately, good interaction design can manage complexity by providing organization, structure and an underlying logic that once mastered makes everything fall into place. This thesis is analyzing one of the systems core components, the invoice system, and provides redesign suggestions for increasing its usability. The used methods are modeled on Cooper's Goal-Directed Design Methodology, which includes: Personas, Scenarios, Design Principles and Design Patterns. Suggested solutions address both tweaking the existing solution and presenting a vision for a major rework.