Leading Research to Design: IBM Cognos Analytics for Mobile
Overview
Cognos Analytics is a web-based integrated business intelligence tool that provides a toolset for reporting, analytics, and monitoring of events and metrics. From the beginning of 2018, I had an opportunity to lead a team of research, offering management, information architect and business strategist to create a thorough proof of concept of a new mobile application including validated user personas, pain points, competitive analysis, and wedding cake experiences of the product.
As a next step, a seamless InVision design prototype presented at IBM Business Analytics University 2018 in Miami and IBM THINK 2019 in San Francisco to gather further customer feedback to define the product roadmap and timeline. Feedback and praises were received from 300+ internal stakeholders, IBM’s existing and new customers, and Gartner. Subsequently, the project successfully secured a dedicated design and development team, including two additional designers, front end and back end developers, project manager, and quality control. Beta and MVP release of the mobile application is to take place in Q2 2020.
Initial Research
At THINK in Las Vegas 2018, the broader Design Team led a design thinking session focused on re-imagining what a mobile experience for Cognos Analytics might look like. The activities explored customers’ favourite mobile applications and why, need statements for analytics, and a fun mashup activity that joined the two ideas together. The data was taken back to the mobile team to be synthesized and soon to be turned into a working InVision prototype.
IBM Think in Las Vegas, 2018
Product Proposal and Feedback
Business Analytics University in Miami, 2018
With the support from Marketing and Digital Group, I had an opportunity to plan and showcase the mobile prototype on display at Analytics University. Customers could interact with the prototype on smart phones and a large touchscreen TV, ask questions about the design, and provide feedback on the application directly to the Design Team.
Design Prototype for Cognos Analytics for Mobile
There was much excitement for the prototype with many customers excited at what the future holds for IBM Business Analytics. Several customers who had participated in the initial Design Thinking session at THINK were very happy to see the evolution of the mobile app and expressed their satisfaction of seeing how their input was valued and utilized by the Design Team.
Business Analytics University in Miami, 2018.
The mobile design team received a tremendous feedback from our customers on social media platforms regarding the prototype:
You can read more about what our IBM Design VP Arin Bhowmick had to say about Business Analytics University here.
IBM THINK Conference in San Francisco, 2019
Two activities were planned around gaining more insights from our customers regarding the mobile application. One activity focused around the roadmap items to define a MVP, and another was similar to Business Analytics University: showcasing a design prototype for the larger THINK audience.
The first session started by providing our clients with a deep dive into our next generation mobile designs and answering any burning questions they had. The primary research goal was for us to understand our users priorities by having them rank from 1 to 10 specific epics from our current roadmap. A secondary goal was to help validate our assumptions which were framed in statements which we asked users to Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree. In conclusion, it was very clear that we had a strong direction for MVP. Comments such as “This session made my day” and “I completely agree with your current direction” continued to build our confidence.
The second activity was showcasing the design prototype to existing and new customers.
Teaming up with the Planning Analytics mobile design team, this large touch screen allowed us to engage with clients, showcasing what our current direction for the mobile apps are. There was strong support from our clients as well as affirmation that we are on the right track. “When will it be released” was the most common question. Multiple clients mentioned that they have investment decisions to make, and the lack of mobile experience is prime reason to not go with IBM solution. Great teamwork with developers and offering managers to generate traffic and stimulate conversation with clients.
Design, Research, and Implementation Phase
The mobile application is moving at its full force with research, design, offering management, and development teams using various tools including Mural, Sketch, Keynote, Illustrator, IBM Carbon Design Language, Jira, and Github. Beta and MVP will be released Q2 2020.
IBM Business Analytics VP Award for “Driving Change”
After a successful exploration and delivery of the POC to hundreds of clients, I received an IBM Business Analytics VP Award under “Driving Change” category. This project and its eminence inspired many design teams to keep focusing on users and user needs. Below is a snippet of IBM’s internal blog publication regarding the interview with VP Greg Adams:
Featured on the first episode of Business Analytics Team Talks, where VP Greg Adams interviewed regarding the mobile project.
IBM Cognos Analytics for Mobile was a great opportunity for me to grow as a designer and to guide a team as a leader. I am thankful for this experience and to be working with the brightest individuals including Marc-James Abi-Jaoude, Cale Vardy, Jennie Heo, Eric Chung, Lisa Chen and Natalia Bagan.
