Interactive user onboarding and its effect on activation rates : A statistical study of feature introductions in applications with complex interfaces

Abstract: User onboarding procedures and digital feature introductions are still in their infancy. Consequently, hard data on its impli-cations and its effects on user behavior is scarce and difficult to come by. To contribute to this field of research, within the context of HCI, this study was conducted. It studies the implementation of a contextually sensitive step-by-step feature in-troduction on a digital platform, presented by a complex and composite interface, providing access to a large number of features. It then proceeds to statistically evaluate the effects of the onboarding implementation on activation rates for which the onboarding was designed to improve.  The study’s findings were that users that received the step-by-step feature introduction were associated with statistically significantly lower mean times spent completing the activation requirements, compared to users that did not. Additionally, users partaking in the feature introduction had higher overall activation rates. The study also provides insight into how user time spent completing the different steps leading up to a successful activation was divided among the steps and discusses its significance for the design of user onboarding experiences in the future.