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UX Case Study
UX Case Study

Automation Builder

Automation Builder

Streamline your marketing efforts with Learnyst's automation builder
Streamline your marketing efforts with Learnyst's automation builder

Context

Context

Okay so Picture This:

Okay So Picture This:

I'm a teacher, and I want to send an offer email to my students who scored above 75 marks on a mock test.
I'm a teacher, and I want to send an offer email to my students who scored above 75 marks on a mock test.

🧑🏼‍💻

I logged into the Learnyst platform, checked the mock test results, and filtered the report for students who scored above 75 marks.
I logged into the Learnyst platform, checked the mock test results, and filtered the report for students who scored above 75 marks.

🙍🏼

I noticed there were over 500 students who scored above 75. I didn’t want to spend all my time sending emails to each one, so I decided to drop the idea of emailing them individually.

💭

I thought, 'If only there was a feature that could automatically send emails to learners who scored above 75.
I thought, 'If only there was a feature that could automatically send emails to learners who scored above 75.
There comes our learnyst automation builder.
There comes our learnyst automation builder.

Problem

Problem

Why Are We Doing This?

Why Are We Doing This?

Users with a large learner base didn’t want to spend too much time on marketing tasks like sending emails, promoting offers, or recommending courses. They preferred to focus on teaching and delegate their marketing efforts. Some hired marketing professionals, while others stopped marketing altogether.
Users with a large learner base didn’t want to spend too much time on marketing tasks like sending emails, promoting offers, or recommending courses. They preferred to focus on teaching and delegate their marketing efforts. Some hired marketing professionals, while others stopped marketing altogether.

Goals

Goals

Setting Our Sights

Setting Our Sights

We checked out what our competitors are up to and noticed none of them have this feature. That means, if we nail this, we’ll have a huge edge! Our goal was simple: build a feature that automates all those marketing tasks.

We checked out what our competitors are up to and noticed none of them have this feature. That means, if we nail this, we’ll have a huge edge! Our goal was simple: build a feature that automates all those marketing tasks.

In a hurry? Click here to see the final outcome of how we built the automation builder.

Exploring The Problem

Workflow Research

Workflow Research

Since our competitors don’t offer a workflow automation feature, I researched products with strong UX and workflow capabilities. You can find the research details on the Miro board below. Some data has been removed for confidentiality reasons.

Since our competitors don’t offer a workflow automation feature, I researched products with strong UX and workflow capabilities. You can find the research details on the Miro board below. Some data has been removed for confidentiality reasons.

Research Summary

Research Summary

After exploring five products, I gained a clear understanding of how automation works, its purpose, and why it's essential. Using these insights, I compiled a research summary, which you can find below.

After exploring five products, I gained a clear understanding of how automation works, its purpose, and why it's essential. Using these insights, I compiled a research summary, which you can find below.

  1. Most products follow a similar process for creating workflows: users begin by either selecting a template or starting from scratch, then proceed to build their workflow.

  2. Every workflow starts with a trigger.

  3. The automation builder should include "Save" and "Publish" options, similar to what you'd find in a website builder.

  4. Icons play a key role in enhancing clarity. Using both icons and descriptions can help users easily understand each step of the process.

  5. Providing templates will not only guide users but also make it easier for them to create workflows quickly.

  6. A checkbox option should be available to determine whether the end user can re-enter the workflow.

  7. If any steps are left unconfigured, the automation won't execute, so we should include clear error messages.

  8. All step configurations, like composing emails or selecting triggers, should be handled in a side sheet for a streamlined user experience.

  1. Most products follow a similar process for creating workflows: users begin by either selecting a template or starting from scratch, then proceed to build their workflow.

  2. Every workflow starts with a trigger.

  3. The automation builder should include "Save" and "Publish" options, similar to what you'd find in a website builder.

  4. Icons play a key role in enhancing clarity. Using both icons and descriptions can help users easily understand each step of the process.

  5. Providing templates will not only guide users but also make it easier for them to create workflows quickly.

  6. A checkbox option should be available to determine whether the end user can re-enter the workflow.

  7. If any steps are left unconfigured, the automation won't execute, so we should include clear error messages.

  8. All step configurations, like composing emails or selecting triggers, should be handled in a side sheet for a streamlined user experience.

  1. Most products follow a similar process for creating workflows: users begin by either selecting a template or starting from scratch, then proceed to build their workflow.

  2. Every workflow starts with a trigger.

  3. The automation builder should include "Save" and "Publish" options, similar to what you'd find in a website builder.

  4. Icons play a key role in enhancing clarity. Using both icons and descriptions can help users easily understand each step of the process.

  5. Providing templates will not only guide users but also make it easier for them to create workflows quickly.

  6. A checkbox option should be available to determine whether the end user can re-enter the workflow.

  7. If any steps are left unconfigured, the automation won't execute, so we should include clear error messages.

  8. All step configurations, like composing emails or selecting triggers, should be handled in a side sheet for a streamlined user experience.

Aww! I know this research might seem a bit confusing—trust me, I felt the same. But don’t worry, that’s exactly why I reached out to experts to clear up my doubts and confusion.

Talking With Experts

Expert Interview

Expert Interview

Our stakeholder had prior experience working on automation features, making it easier for us to clarify our doubts and establish a clear direction. I prepared a list of questions to guide our discussion, and you can find both the questions and the valuable insights I gained from the interview below.

Our stakeholder had prior experience working on automation features, making it easier for us to clarify our doubts and establish a clear direction. I prepared a list of questions to guide our discussion, and you can find both the questions and the valuable insights I gained from the interview below.

Interview Questions:

  1. What should the ideal automation workflow builder include to improve user experience?

  2. Do most users prefer starting from scratch or using pre-designed templates for their workflows?

  3. What common roadblocks do users face while creating automation workflows?

  4. How can we provide clear feedback or warnings when something goes wrong in the automation process?

  5. Can you share examples of automation builders with a smooth, intuitive user interface?

Interview Questions:

  1. What should the ideal automation workflow builder include to improve user experience?

  2. Do most users prefer starting from scratch or using pre-designed templates for their workflows?

  3. What common roadblocks do users face while creating automation workflows?

  4. How can we provide clear feedback or warnings when something goes wrong in the automation process?

  5. Can you share examples of automation builders with a smooth, intuitive user interface?

Key Insights from the Experts:

  • User-friendly templates: Experts strongly recommended offering pre-built templates, allowing users to quickly start, while also giving them flexibility to build workflows from scratch.

  • Trigger-based workflow: Each automation should begin with an easily identifiable trigger, and users need clear, visual cues (icons and descriptions) for each action in the workflow.

  • Guiding users: Experts stressed the importance of guiding users with error messages or validation prompts, ensuring they correctly configure each step.

  • Save and continue later: Like modern website builders, automation builders need a save-and-publish feature, giving users the ability to work on and review their workflows in stages.

  • In-line configuration: Instead of moving between multiple screens, experts suggested keeping the step configurations, like selecting triggers or composing messages, on the same page or in a side panel, allowing for a more seamless experience.

Key Insights from the Experts:

  • User-friendly templates: Experts strongly recommended offering pre-built templates, allowing users to quickly start, while also giving them flexibility to build workflows from scratch.

  • Trigger-based workflow: Each automation should begin with an easily identifiable trigger, and users need clear, visual cues (icons and descriptions) for each action in the workflow.

  • Guiding users: Experts stressed the importance of guiding users with error messages or validation prompts, ensuring they correctly configure each step.

  • Save and continue later: Like modern website builders, automation builders need a save-and-publish feature, giving users the ability to work on and review their workflows in stages.

  • In-line configuration: Instead of moving between multiple screens, experts suggested keeping the step configurations, like selecting triggers or composing messages, on the same page or in a side panel, allowing for a more seamless experience.

User Stories

User Stories

Let's Make Stories

Let's Make Stories

Using the research data and expert interview insights, I created user stories to capture the user's perspective on how the builder should function. Below, you can find the user stories.

Using the research data and expert interview insights, I created user stories to capture the user's perspective on how the builder should function. Below, you can find the user stories.

  1. As an admin, I want to create automation by specifying a name and title, and confirm whether my learner can re-enroll in the automation.

  2. As an admin, I would find it helpful to have pre-made templates available for selection.

  3. As an admin, I want to understand the steps and descriptions that follow when I click the "Add" button.

  4. As an admin, I want to save my automation and publish it at a later time.

  5. As an admin, I want the ability to duplicate my automation.

  6. As an admin, I want to view all published automation data in one centralized location.

  7. As an admin, I want to add emails, push notifications, and WhatsApp messages within the action settings.

  8. As an admin, I want to add delays to triggers and conditions within the workflow.

  1. As an admin, I want to create automation by specifying a name and title, and confirm whether my learner can re-enroll in the automation.

  2. As an admin, I would find it helpful to have pre-made templates available for selection.

  3. As an admin, I want to understand the steps and descriptions that follow when I click the "Add" button.

  4. As an admin, I want to save my automation and publish it at a later time.

  5. As an admin, I want the ability to duplicate my automation.

  6. As an admin, I want to view all published automation data in one centralized location.

  7. As an admin, I want to add emails, push notifications, and WhatsApp messages within the action settings.

  8. As an admin, I want to add delays to triggers and conditions within the workflow.

Userflow

Userflow

After completing the research, I moved on to creating a user flow for adding and managing templates. I also organized the templates library into categories based on the research data for easier navigation.

After completing the research, I moved on to creating a user flow for adding and managing templates. I also organized the templates library into categories based on the research data for easier navigation.

Final Designs

Final Designs

Learnyst Automation Builder

Learnyst Automation Builder

After finalizing the user flow and stories, I moved on to the design phase. Using both research data and my own creativity, I designed the automation builder. You can find the screenshots below.

After finalizing the user flow and stories, I moved on to the design phase. Using both research data and my own creativity, I designed the automation builder. You can find the screenshots below.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Sweet Ending

Sweet Ending

This project took about a week and a half to complete (one sprint). Along the way, I gained valuable insights into how automation functions, the underlying technology, its real-world applications, and the benefits of speaking with industry experts to streamline the design process. On to the next project—bye for now.

This project took about a week and a half to complete (one sprint). Along the way, I gained valuable insights into how automation functions, the underlying technology, its real-world applications, and the benefits of speaking with industry experts to streamline the design process. On to the next project—bye for now.

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