Mandar Bhagwat, CTO & Director, Products & Services, SpadeWorx Software Services, explains the benefits of UCSE (User Centered Software Engineering), a methodology focusing on developing adaptable and usable software.
Could you give us an overview of SpadeWorx Software Services?
SpadeWorx Software Services was founded in 2006 by three people, Anil Pagar who is the MD & CEO, Jitendra Wase who is the Director of operations & delivery and me. It is headquartered in Pune, India, with operations at 6 locations worldwide. SpadeWorx is a trend setter emerged from our collective observation. Three of us have worked together at HP and this is when we noticed that the IT industry, over the years, has been developing software and applications which has simplified many complexities and has helped enterprises become more productive, efficient and create futuristic products but lack optimum utilization by the end users. We observed that there exists a gap which is stopping a user to work efficiently.
This inspired us to conceptualize UCSE - User Centered Software Engineering (Trademarked by SpadeWorx), which is our USP. This concept/methodology focuses on developing adaptable and usable software/applications which are designed keeping the needs of the end-user in mind. We incorporate this concept in every solution that we design for our customers.
What is UCSE and how does it help in taking software development to the next level?
UCSE - 'User Centered Software Engineering ' is a methodology focusing on developing adaptable and usable software. This new style encompasses contextual experience, usability and rich interactivity. UCSE outlines the user's demands, challenges, patterns and perceptions. The output matches user expectations and it also helps in business process adoption by end users. Additionally, it reduces re-work, total cost of development, which is the case when users are not comfortable using a particular software/application.
This concept breaks down a problem and works from front to back to develop a solution. It revamps the existing software and makes it easier for the user and enhances contextual experience. E.g. it makes websites & Intranet portals more attractive so more people stick to a particular site or use the portal more frequently and efficiently.
How does UCSE enable in the design and development of effective Intranet portals?
Many organizations attempt to use Intranet Portals to help their employees collaborate and share knowledge more effectively, but few achieve a level of success that matches their initial expectations. Poor user experience due to complex interfaces and tedious navigation results in lower user adoption, hence less collaboration and little knowledge sharing. UCSE enables us to develop Rich Interactive Intranet Solutions that allows an organization to unleash the full potential of its Intranet.
The focus on usability leads to compelling user experiences and higher adoption levels. The Intuitive and Expressive Document Exchange Interface, Integration of Rich Components and Addition of Web 2.0 features lead to enhanced branding and higher levels of employee collaboration and productivity.
In India, how has the rate of adoption of UCSE been so far and how will it be in future?
The enterprise user exposed to the rich and interactive experiences on the web now expects the same even with the business applications. Indian organizations have realized that focusing on usability and user experience provides rich business returns in terms of higher efficiencies and productivity. These factors are driving the growth of UCSE in the Indian enterprise.
In the software products space, User experience is increasingly emerging as a strategic differentiator and a key competitive advantage for organizations. Indian companies are increasing their focus on enhancing the usability and user experience of their software products.
Which business verticals are set to benefit the most from UCSE?
UCSE approach is business vertical agnostic, in essence UCSE helps craft systems and solutions those touch peoples' lives, then, they may be of part of any demographics. We would rather state that UCSE is a journey enhancer or should I say it's a life-cycle of any product or service that helps increase the utility of the product and/or service and hence the productivity of the users.
For e.g. BFSI businesses can employ UCSE to bring around the secured, intuitive, simpler, easier and cognitive solutions and user interfaces, whereas the manufacturing businesses can employ UCSE to fill the gaps such as need of specialized skills to handle and manage computer aided machinery, Sports, Media and Entertainment industry can employ UCSE to render rich experiences with utmost control with the end-users, Enterprises can employ UCSE to increase the productivity of their employees who use IT solutions to enable businesses.
In essence UCSE would help any solutions, products and/or services which experience high user traffic interfacing and/or interacting with these solutions, products and/or services.
Could you give few examples of how SpadeWorx's Indian clients have benefited from UCSE?
SpadeWorx has implemented UCSE focused solution across different industry segments.
The Mahindra Group was facing a challenge in terms of the usability and popularity of their existing corporate Intranet. The adoption levels were low and the users had to spend a high amount of time finding the relevant information. The rich, interactive and user friendly portal developed by SpadeWorx using its UCSE methodology resulted in increased adoption and usage, higher business productivity as well as helped foster a culture of innovation and oneness within the organization.
SpadeWorx has transformed College of Agricultural Banking (CAB) existing static website into a rich, interactive and user friendly portal. The Portal Modernization has enabled CAB to achieve its effective knowledge dissemination vision.
SpadeWorx has also enabled Motilal Oswal to launch its User Centric portal. The website is enabling the organization to transform user experience and boost business growth.
Using the UCSE approach we have also developed compelling solutions for leading global organizations such as Microsoft and HP.
