Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 15:57
From: Paul Simpson
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
Again, I'm in total agreement with you. I hear you about them using it for internal PM, however I regularly see references / links to Ideas that I don't have the security privilege to view, so I reckon it shouldn't be a stretch for them to similarly "hide" their "internal" ideas.
As you point out, however, communication is key. If they truly do use it as their primary planning tool, then they should have it open and be actively accessing it almost all day. If that's the case, then there is even less excuse for allowing Ideas to go months (or in some cases, years) without an update. You mention cake, well in this case they can't have it both ways! Regular updates are key (see various other posts for a discussion THAT one) as well as explanations as to why something "will not be implemented" or is for "Future Consideration." If it's waiting on another update / idea, then reference it so we can see how the blockers are progressing and get a feel for when the feature of interest may be available.
I agree that as an IT person, I'm more about function than form (as long as the form doesn't interfere with the function - see Architect and "Dark Theme" for an example) I also appreciate that not everyone agrees with us on that, and form becomes more important. BUT, without function, form is useless. Do potential customers judge the platform based on how modern the pretty icons appear, or what color the login page is, or do they judge it on it's features and ability to do what they need it to do? What makes all this even more bizarre is that many of these "prettification" updates are to interfaces which are used primarily by IT / Admin people who, as you say, are not impressed by such things.
As always, however, I fear we are screaming into the void.
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Paul Simpson
Views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 14:48
From: Anton Vroon
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
For sure :)
I have been giving it some thought, and I think there is a few compounding factors to keep in mind to keep sane.
<Rant>
One is people like us and I feel like IT / Admin people in general prefer function over form, and when we see 'pretty' UI updates happening in areas that have had little to no updates to features/function that can be really frustrating.
The other, and this is purely my impression, is that Ideas is used for a dual purpose. One is for us the customers / providers to vote on ideas that are important to us to get those prioritized. The other is as a project management tool for Genesys PMs. This is why a feature they need to implement as part of some overall work will go on there with 1 vote from the PM and get delivered while something with 100 votes waits. It's about how they manage their work and those features might be pre-requisites for other items we have voted on. But of course its just not communicated well.
UI updates do need to happen, they attract customers and I don't begrudge them for being a business, but if they make UI changes that impact that experience negatively too much they might finding it has the opposite outcome and that is avoidable, they can have their cake and eat it too, just engage with their customer's the same way they tell us to and get that balance right.
Ultimately it comes down to communication and customer engagement, which is a thing Genesys should, and does know a lot about, they just need to follow their own advice and expertise in that area to new features and the Ideas portal.
</Rant>
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Anton Vroon
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 14:18
From: Paul Simpson
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
Anton,
You already know you and I are very much of one mind when it comes to this.
Added to what you say, I just cannot fathom why stuff nobody asked for, and which has either little to no effect, or a detrimental one gets prioritized over all the dozens of things we are all crying out for. Makes no sense!
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Paul Simpson
Views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 13:58
From: Anton Vroon
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
I don't mind change in general, and I'm ok that sometimes that change doesn't work out, I'd rater the attempt be made. However yes in this case the initial view is fine, the add / change rows is not. For me its the amount of white space, the padding and margins is massive, the framing is excessive minimizing the amount of useful information on screen.
A focus group or even just putting it in Beta first would be ideal so these things can be ironed out there before general release, a toggle button would be nice too for initial UI releases.
Since its a change that doesn't impact staff or customers, ie Admin or Supervisor only, and that it UI only if feels like Genesys doesn't think it matters, or that it needs a Beta. The Architect UI change and this should hopefully show that is not the case. We administrators are passionate about the product which is a great thing but it does mean changes impacted us are just as important as agent facing ones just for different reasons.
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Anton Vroon
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 10:33
From: Paul Simpson
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
+1 for a focus group.
It seems as though they have engaged some kind of UI guru to advise on what a "Modern" interface should look like and are hell-bent on following their advice, regardless of how that impacts actual usability! We keep seeing these kinds of comments on here, yet we rarely see any response from Genesys themselves. (See the disastrous Architect UI downgrade, and the resulting firestorm of protest, for an example of this pursuit of form over function.)
Not only are folks not crying out for this stuff, but they ARE crying out for numerous other updates, that seem to go ignored. (A casual glance through the Ideas site will turn up dozens of example.) What gives?
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Paul Simpson
Views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 06:49
From: Jan Heinonen
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
I'm all for modernizing the UI, but I think that most of the recent UI changes (and some of the upcoming ones I've seen) are actually less user-friendly than before.
Honestly it's not all bad, some of the changes and additions are good but a lot of small things have been overlooked and it doesn't seem they will be changed.
As for the Data Table UI update
Somehow font is smaller but less information is available on screen.
Earlier if a information from a column didn't fit on one row it would continue on the next row, now it just shows what fits in one row and adds dots.
This means I now need to "edit" each row to see what they contain, which brings up the next point
The modals for input is a bad idea and makes it less user-friendly to add data than earlier.
They fit less information and requires you to scroll a lot within the modal.
Have customers been in focus groups or involved in the design of the UI or is this something all decided internally?
It feels like the design decisions made aren't done by people who work every day in Genesys Cloud with the parts they are changing.
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Jan Heinonen
Contact Center Specialist
GlobalConnect AB
Original Message:
Sent: 01-09-2024 10:57
From: Amelie Wisniak
Subject: Architect data tables user interface updates
Hello everyone,
We wanted to inform you about upcoming changes to the Architect data tables user interface in Genesys Cloud. These enhancements aim to improve your experience by making the interface more visually intuitive and user-friendly.
What can you expect? The changes will bring a modernized look and feel, making it easier to create data tables. Additionally, you'll now have access to data table names while viewing them, along with improved visualization of long labels within columns.
Data Tables list
Data Table view
Data Table creation
We'll kick off this enhancement on Wednesday and anticipate completing the rollout across all regions by the end of the day on Friday. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make these improvements.
Thank you for being a valuable part of our community. Your input is essential as we strive to create a more user-friendly experience for everyone.
#ArchitectureandDesign
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Amelie Wisniak
Genesys - Employees
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