Bug Blog

When designing for the mobile experience it is important to remember that we human beings aren't really good at focusing our attention. We are generally better at scanning our environment because that was how our ancestors survived and kept out of reach of tigers. Mobile devices such as iPhones and tablets are actually a bit harder to use because smaller screens require greater focus, which can actually shorten attention span. Yet, Google's latest study indicates that use of mobile platforms is on the rise, do to the need for quick and convenient interface. Here are seven ways you can improve your visitors mobile user experience.

User acceptance testing is vital because, ultimately, the quality of any software is determined by the user. This is why it is important to develop realistic and useful test cases. These cases should be based on both careful interviews with users of the system and monitoring of the environment in which the application will be used.

Ideally, UAT testing should provide the opportunity to uncover any remaining bugs, and to test usability directly in the operational environment. These tests should generate a confident certainty that the software will function as designed when it goes live. However, this isn't always the case.

Customer interest and successful conversion depends on how easy it is to move through your site. A well designed customer journey is vital if you want to increase your conversion rate.

The importance of user testing cannot be overestimated. Ultimately, it is the end user who will determine the quality of an application or the usability of a website, and opinions are critical in this age of rapid and unfettered mass communication. A poor user interface may lead to complaints that go viral and a poorly designed website reflects badly on the organisation it represents.

The new digital landscape has changed how business is done. Whether contracting with suppliers or working with other businesses, the keyword is no longer competition, but coordination. Part of the reason is that digital technology is driving prices down, especially in IT. This means that value is sometimes decoupled from cost.

We all get too close to our own projects and it's totally human to do so. In fact, it’s called groupthink and it basically means that when you are too close to a team or a project, it can be difficult to see beyond you and your team’s view of the world.

The the latest trends in digital evolution have made it necessary for digital products to travel two separate but interrelated roads if they are to succeed. The first road is complexity. The application of digital technology has spread so far and so fast that it is now called upon to support countless activities that only a few years ago were done manually. This leads to the second road, which is interoperability.

The consistently rising cost of doing business means that outsourcing is here to stay. Many companies today, large and small, outsource everything from accounting to website design. Some companies even outsource entire departments in order to cut costs, and in America one city (Maywood) has even gone so far as to outsource its entire management and maintenance.

Today a significant portion of testing is task-based and instruction driven where an organisation will utilise an in-house or outsourced team who are familiar with an application. They will work with the business to understand their requirements and the person which owns testing, or delivery will formulate a set of task- based tests for the team to follow.

Australia Post receives as many as 10 million digital customer visits per month, from Australia and around the world, to access its products and services. Australia Post wanted to find a way to increase the speed of testing cycles, release apps bug free, and reduce the spike in help desk volumes, all while ensuring a seamless customer experience across multiple devices and web platforms.

Bugwolf has been working with NAB (National Australia Bank) confidentially for a number of months now, but today they announced our relationship to the world. The relationship has really gone from strength to strength and it’s been really exciting working with such a respected and highly professional organisation. The full release and links to the coverage are below.