UI Matters!

UI Matters!

Almost since I began consulting over 20 years, I've noted how important the user interface (UI) of a system is, in terms of user adoption and ease-of-use.

On the staff side, the UI matters because the more "pleasant" a user interface is, the more likely staff is to actually use the system. (I define "pleasant" as easy to navigate, with very little screen noise; the data I need is right where I need it to be.)

On the customer side, UI matters because the more difficult the interface is, the less likely the customer is to use it, which means lower sales, lower engagement, and increased workload on staff.

The good news is, with more modern systems, you have more control over both of these UIs. On the staff side, your system should allow staff to rearrange data into a manner that is most fitting for their needs. On the customer side, your system should allow you to arrange the "flow" as you need it (e.g., membership joins, event registrations).

So take a look at the systems you have in place now. Do they allow staff to arrange their screens as they need them? Do they allow you to adjust how your customers experience joining, renewing, or registering for an event? Because they should.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

Perfection is expensive (in fact, it’s not possible!)

April 22, 2026

Perfection is expensive (in fact, it’s not possible!) “Perfection is expensive. The last 5 percent […]

AI is a journey, not a destination

April 15, 2026

AI is a journey, not a destination Lately I’ve noticed a lot of associations talking […]

Action produces information

April 8, 2026

Action produces information “Action produces information. If you’re unsure of what to do, just do […]

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial…

March 25, 2026

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial… The holy grail of data management is […]

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

March 18, 2026

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should I’ve worked in and with associations for well […]

Data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful

March 4, 2026

Data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful “Your data doesn’t have to be […]

Don’t just clean data, clean reports and queries

February 25, 2026

Don’t just clean data, clean reports and queries One of the reasons I exhort my […]

Don’t forget, your staff have day jobs…

February 18, 2026

Don’t forget, your staff have day jobs… The vast majority of my work is finite […]

Beware the automated “How did we do?” trap!

February 11, 2026

Beware the automated “How did we do?” trap! One of the downsides of technology is […]

Hindsight is 20/20

February 4, 2026

Hindsight is 20/20 I’m currently working with a client that is moving from their legacy […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top