Markus Reithwiesner: For more than a year, developers and design teams worked with more than 800 friendly users on a new online complete solution for freelancers, self-employed and small businesses. With the methodology to integrate the customers at an early stage, the quality, user friendliness and user experience of a solution are significantly increased.
Business & IT: Mr. Reithwiesner, what's new to lexoffice?
One of the most important findings in the crowd sourcing process for us was that the users did not want to be often praised "totally new" or "unprecedented" operating concepts. On the contrary: the user would like to use the solution quickly and without manual. Together with the users, we have always found analogies that simplify their operation. For example, the search for the function and appearance of a large search engine is modeled on the web. Or the collection of incoming invoices: these are as simple as photos.
What role does lexoffice play in the Haufe Group portfolio?
The intuitive design and the user-friendly interface are just two of the many advantages offered by lexoffice users. The dashboard provides an overview of the financial situation at any time - which is, by the way, reconciled in real time with the current account balances of the bank accounts - even from the road. Sales, incoming payments, offers and order confirmations, credit notes and delivery notes: Everything that is of importance to the business can be displayed graphically with just a few clicks. The integrated online banking system compares invoices automatically and assigns the appropriate receipts to all banking transactions. Input documents are automatically recorded and archived - reliable text recognition included.
How were the users involved in the development?
This all works as a pure cloud solution, which means: without installation and with the usual browsers from any PC, notebook or iPad. Ultimately, the price and the completely transparent offer model are also unique. Lexoffice is available for 4,90 Euro (net) per month, as an introductory offer for three months free of charge. This without further obligations and without a minimum contract term.
How realistic were the user desires?
Markus Reithwiesner: lexoffice is an offer for the customers, for which it was previously easier to work with Word, Excel or a slipcase and leave the booking to the tax consultant. Among the self-employed, small businesses and freelancers, this is the majority. Lexoffice offers many advantages, from a faster overview and better organization to integrated banking - and, of course, works perfectly with the tax consultant.
Markus Reithwiesner: We started with an intensive needfinding phase. The needs and requirements of the target group were determined here. We conducted interviews and were "leased" to small companies for a period of time, according to the "Follow me home" principle, in order to learn more about their way of working through observation. During the development, we presented the users with countless prototypes, which were discussed and then constantly improved.
As of March of this year, I was able to apply for the Crowd Sourcing project. For the first time, the solution could be used during workdays. The response was very good: a community of over 800 small entrepreneurs, self-employed, entrepreneurs and freelancers emerged. And the integration of the user is by no means completed even after the live performance of the solution. Users also have the opportunity to contribute their own ideas and vote on suggestions from other customers.
Markus Reithwiesner: The user wishes were very realistic and were treated accordingly. Obviously, we had to prioritize this as well: individual opinion versus general opinion. Additional functionality can add value to a small part of customers. In return, however, it is quite likely that this function will take the greater part of the users to the desired ease and simplicity of the product. In addition, we were able to derive a clear opinion through the user's agreement.
Markus Reithwiesner: Yes, but these are released for voting among all users. That is, if the majority of users vote for a particular function, these decisions are incorporated into the development.
Markus Reithwiesner: Due to the fact that we always actively involve the users, it does not quite meet the word improvement. If the desire of the data export is preferred by all users, this is implemented.
Are there any wishes that remain unfulfilled?
Functions such as data export are still missing at this time. When is improvement made?
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