REDESIGNING EXACQVISION DESKTOP CLIENT
Enhanced the configuration experience of the Video Surveillance Management System (VMS) and boosted usability by 54% for 1+ million users globally.
MY ROLE
UX Designer
PROJECT TYPE
Security Industry, Redesign Project, Enterprise
MY CONTRIBUTION
UX & Interaction Design
UX Research
Managing Design System
Usability Testing
DURATION
8 Months
PROJECT OVERVIEW
About ExacqVision
ExacqVision is video management system (VMS) software used by ~400k organizations with about 1M+ users. It allows users to manage and monitor video feeds from multiple cameras, typically used in security and surveillance applications. Exacq's VMS software offers features such as live monitoring, video recording, playback, and integration with other security systems.
My Work
I led the redesign of the ExacqVision Desktop Client, specifically focusing on enhancing the configuration experience from researching the problems to designing for implementation. By delivering three redesigned flows, I successfully simplified the complex process, making it faster and more efficient for integrators to set up surveillance systems.
BUSINESS PROBLEM
In 2023, Exacq received only a 4% net favourability score, which is a steep decline over the past decade.
ExacqVision is one of the oldest and most trusted Video Management Systems, but with more competitors entering the market, Exacq is lagging behind due to its old appearance, making it look like a product from the early 2000s in the age of modern and sleek design.
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Even though Exacq has a great USP- that it is compatible with almost every camera brand in the market, making it very appealing, it still does not make the cut in the top 10 VMSs.
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Though Exacq products have a loyal user base, it is crucial for them to grow their customer base by providing the best VMS software, and the first step to that is redesigning the current Exacqvision.
Opportunity
A redesigned ExacqVision offers Johnson Controls the opportunity to attract more customers and increase their market value. By simplifying configuration flows, the modernized system will appeal to new users and enhance satisfaction among existing customers, solidifying Johnson Controls' position as a leader in video management.
BEFORE
Features, cameras, and servers are all crammed into this sidebar leading to information overload and difficult managing the devices and servers.
No proper system status after adding IP cameras.
Only way to access the cameras from the server is by going on Add IP Cameras on the sidebar.
AFTER
Clear CTA for Camera List for viewing the cameras.
Features categorized based on client features and server features
Clear CTA for managing the devices in the VMS, making it scalable when there are hundreds of devices.
REDESIGN IMPACT
54%
Increase in system usability
2.7X
Faster task completion time
RESEARCH
Five major usability concerns were identified in the research
I conducted thorough research to identify the pressing issues of the current version of ExacqVision. This involved 5+ interviews, field visits, competitive analysis, and a thorough UX audit that revealed 5 key problems.
1
Complex user flows
Adding servers, and cameras and configuring the devices have complex, inefficient, and time-consuming workflows.
4
Only for experts
Configurations flows are designed only for integrators who are tech-savvy, but it is seen that even non-tech savvy users use the configuration features.
2
Feature discoverability
Integrators do not use most of the features offered by the VMS because they are not discoverable or understood.
5
Non scalable
Though Exacq is used for large-scale organizations, managing servers and devices becomes impossible as they can only be configured through the navigation tree.
3
Outdated interface
Exacq's biggest weakness is its outdated interface, which makes it less appealing to customers.
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Design Goal
In my research, I found that the current users have developed strong mental models to complete their regular tasks on the ExacqVision Desktop Client. Hence, I have to ensure the new version of ExacqVision follows similar mental models but with improved and efficient user flows and a modern look so the new users can use ExacqVision efficiently without having any prior experience using It.
Problem Statement
How might we redesign the configuration flows to accommodate both novice and expert users, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively for users of all experience levels?
FIRST STEP OF THE REDESIGN
Optimizing the user flow
Most of the issues that were discovered were due to the inefficient user flow of the configuration experience. Hence, updating the user flow had to be the first step towards solving the challenges the user faced. The major change that was done in the user flow was introducing two dashboards, which were, the Client Dashboard and the Server Dashboard. These two dashboards play a significant role in making the flow simpler for even novice users.
Old User Flow
The Client Configuration landing page is unclear, creating significant difficulties for inexperienced users, who struggle to complete tasks and find necessary information.
The System Information page is hard to understand because the data isn't presented in a user-friendly way.
There is no clear list to see connected devices/servers, making it inefficient to find the list of connected devices/servers
Updated User Flow
The Client Dashboard enables users of all technical levels to understand the VMS features.
The Server Dashboard provides comprehensive insights into server health and makes managing devices and server easy.
Breaking the content into two screens to make the flow efficient and unclutter the screen.
DESIGN DECISIONS
#1 Dashboards
The design decision to implement the dashboards was a crucial part of this redesign, as the new flow revolved around the dashboard. The current version of Exacq lacked a starting point in the configurations workflows, leading to frustratingly long workflows and confusion. I designed an improved user flow with the client dashboards acting as the starting point to access all the client features, and the server dashboard to manage the server and devices.
Global search bar for easy navigation
Feature descriptors for more context
Prioritizing features with more screen space
Grouping similar features together
Client Dashboard
#2 New Features with Data Visualization
Currently, data is not visualized in a digestible form, making it difficult for the user to understand what the data wants to communicate. I proposed two new features, "Server Storage Details" and "Device Monitor", from the findings of my user research, where the users expressed their frustration about not being able to efficiently manage and monitor their server storage and devices.
Server Dashboard
Easy navigation using breadcrumbs
Data storage and Device Monitoing features were added as it was a user need.
#3 Separation of Functionality
Currently, the "Add IP Camera" screen or "Add Server" screen has lists of cameras/servers and adding camera/server on the same page, making the interface cluttered and confusing for the users. I separated them by splitting the "Camera list" and "Adding camera" functionalities into two different screens. I separated the tasks related to managing cameras/servers, which can improve the clarity and usability of the interface.
"Add Camera" CTA will take the users to add camera page that has two modes to add cameras
Manage Devices
List of devices in the server can be viewed here
Clear "Configuration" icon that will allow users to configure the camera, improving the discoverability of camera configuration features
#4 AI Help
Camera configuration features are among the least used due to their lack of discoverability and understanding. The users who make personalized customizations with these configuration features are either property owners or security personnel, as these users are not VMS tech-savvy like integrators; the addition of the "AI help" feature will improve the understandability of these features.
Alerts to inform users about System status
Camera Configuration
As every camera brand has its own set of configuration features, users find it difficult to use these features to their maximum capacity.
#5 Navigation Sidebar
A considerable amount of effort was dedicated to refining the sidebar, a crucial element of the Exacq configuration workflow and core navigation feature. Through numerous iterations, the sidebar was meticulously redesigned to enhance user experience and ensure scalability. This process involved evaluating and optimizing the layout to deliver an intuitive and efficient navigation structure.
Sidebar Design Progression
FINAL DESIGNS
Optimized Dashboard for Streamlining the Configuration Tasks
Integrators and non-tech-savvy end users now have a holistic understanding of the client features through the dashboard. This allows them to perform priority actions like setting up the servers/NVRs efficiently.
Effortless Server Management
Integrators and non-technical end users now possess a comprehensive understanding of client features via the dashboard, enabling them to efficiently execute critical tasks such as server/NVR setup. This streamlined approach facilitates smoother operations and enhances the overall user experience.
Enhanced Understanding of Camera Configuration
The camera configuration process is streamlined with clearly organized configuration features, informative tooltips, and AI-assisted configuration. These enhancements not only simplify the setup but also present users with a breathable and modern interface.
USABILITY TESTING
7 usability testing sessions were conducted & 3 key insights were found
1
Users liked the dashboards; it helped them streamline the tasks they had to complete efficiently.
2
Two users suggested that the dashboards can be personalized based on diverse user needs.
3
All the users found the redesigned system very intuitive and seamless.
TAKEAWAYS
Prioritizing Features
Working on a large, feature-rich product helped me gain valuable insights into better feature prioritization. I learned to prioritize features based on user needs and impact, focusing on the most critical functionalities to enhance the user experience. This experience taught me the importance of balancing stakeholder requirements with user-centered design principles to create more effective and user-friendly products.
Taking Ownership
I learned that taking ownership means not only understanding the users' needs and business goals but also advocating for the best design solutions. By owning the product, I was able to drive the design direction, ensure consistency across the product, and ultimately deliver a more cohesive and user-friendly experience.
Project Planning
As this was a two-semester-long capstone project with an industry partner, professionalism was at its peak. Handing off a successful project for a real-world business problem needed a timeline and planning that allowed for flexibility, challenges, and adjustments as needed.
Designing for Flexibility and Scalability
By creating a scalable and flexible design, we were able to accommodate future growth and changes in user needs more effectively. This approach not only improved the long-term viability of the product but also contributed to cost efficiency by reducing the need for frequent redesigns or overhauls. It allowed us to adapt to new requirements and scale the system without incurring significant additional costs.
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