Cision - Dashboards 2.0

Problem

Users of the Cision PR tracking software were able to see media hits based on boolean searches, however, the data displayed in the dashboard needed to constantly refreshed and the end-user was locked into a grid system of widgets and placement. This meant that users were able to move around widgets but for the purposes of presentations and custom dashboards they were limited in how they could present the data provided.

We developed a new dashboard system that provided real-time analytics on the results of their boolean searches as well as customization for each widget to fit their needs. Users are now able to build custom dashboards with only the information they want to see, in the format they want to see it, and with the most accurate and up-to-date data possible.

Process

  • Research and understanding of needs

  • Clarification on current tech stack and limitations

  • Brainstorming and sketching of wire frames

  • Communicating ideas to all departments involved to make sure we're solving all the needs we can and generating the correct business use-case

  • Prototyping and user testing with user focus groups

  • Create final mockups and designs based off user and business feedback

  • Hand-off to development teams and creating milestones and tasks in JIRA

  • Lead development and design teams in daily scrum meetings

  • Ongoing testing of new features as they roll out into staging environment

  • Deploy to production and continue to improve and test


Tools

  • Project and People Management

  • User feedback gathering with in-app tools (Fullstory, Pendo) and user interviews

  • Sketching and wire framing using InVision

  • Task tracking using JIRA

  • Organization of internal documentation using Confluence and LucidChart

  • Presentation and dissemination of information using PowerPoint, Excel, and Public Speaking


Outcome

Successful launch of the Dashboards 2.0 feature and pushed to all 7500 customers across the globe. We received positive and negative feedback from users and were able to address individual concerns on a case-by-case basis. The launch resulted in a increase in usability across all of our user markets and drove engagement up 62% in the months following deployment. We also saw an increase in presentation builds using the platform which shows to us that members were adopting the new format not only for their individual dashboards but for their presentations to team members as well.

In the months following the release we continued to collect feedback and usage data and optimized performance on lesser used web browsers (Opera and Internet Explorer). We also launched a mobile version of the dashboards in tandem with the web-based version which worked on both iOS and Android devices.

Our product team was presented with an award at the yearly company outing for excellence in design, development, and value added to the business for the Dashboards 2.0 project.