GIGACRM
ROLE
UI/UX Design | Data Visualization
ABOUT
In the ever-competitive business landscape, effective customer relationship management (CRM) is critical. I had the opportunity to design a CRM system named GIGACRM, aimed at simplifying tasks for sales and marketing teams, and ensuring a seamless user experience.
FEATURES
Dashboard with data visualizations, Contacts, Accounts, Deals, Tasks, Calendar with multiple views, Reports with sub-tabs, User Settings, Integrations.
TOOLS
Tableau, DataWrapper, Sketch, Figma, InVision, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
DURATION
3 Months
PRODUCT FEATURES
GIGACRM boasts a range of features designed to optimize your business operations. Experience real-time insights with a visually engaging dashboard, manage Contacts and Accounts effortlessly, and stay on track with Deals and Tasks. Additionally, the platform offers a versatile Calendar with week, month, and year views, along with powerful Reporting tools for deep data analysis. Customizable User Settings and seamless Integrations complete the package, making GIGACRM a comprehensive solution for all your CRM needs
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Real Challenge
You know how most CRM tools make you feel like you're piloting a spaceship with too many buttons? Yeah, I felt that too. The main headache was to design something that my grandma could use but would also make a Fortune 500 CEO nod in approval.
The Goal
So, the dream was to make a CRM that would be your go-to tool for everything customer-related: from a quick glance at how well your products are doing to keeping tabs on those super important meetings. All without making you want to pull your hair out.
What I Actually Did
I started by talking to people — from sales reps frustrated with complicated dashboards to small business owners juggling multiple apps. I sketched, designed, and tore it all up a few times before landing on something that felt right.
First up was the dashboard. It had to be love-at-first-sight, offering essential info without feeling like a data dump. Then came the Contacts and Deals pages — I wanted them to be your trusty sidekicks, easy to navigate and update.
I even tackled the Calendar and Reporting features. I wanted you to see your week, month, or year at a glance and be able to dive deep into your numbers without needing a PhD in data science.
How I'd Gauge My Success
-
When users spend more time closing deals and less time clicking around lost.
-
If the support team isn't bombarded with "How do I do this?" questions.
-
When I see that users are engaging with the tool daily, not just letting it collect digital dust.
I've got my eyes on user feedback and engagement metrics to see if this solution really hits the mark. So far, it's looking good, and I'm excited to keep refining GIGACRM based on what users like you really need.
REAL-WORLD APPROACH
The Down-to-Earth Challenge
Ever tried using a CRM that felt like you needed a decoder ring just to understand it? Me too. I didn't want to design another overblown platform that needed a 500-page manual. The challenge was creating something straightforward yet powerful enough to not let you down when you're racing against a deadline.
Let's Get Into It
Alright, here's how I tackled it:
Eavesdropping on Users
Okay, not literally! But I did listen to people who use CRMs every day, like the super-busy sales folks and small business owners trying to juggle everything from customer calls to inventory. What's bothering them? What can make their lives simpler? I had to get the lowdown first.
Scribbles and Scraps
Armed with what I'd heard, I began doodling. Yep, just old-fashioned pencil and paper. Ideas began to take shape—what the dashboard could look like, how to make the Contacts page less like a dreaded chore, and so on.
Digital Makeover
Once the ideas felt solid, it was time to bring them into the digital world. I created prototypes so people could actually click around and tell me what they thought. And let me tell you, they did not hold back!
Tweak, Tweak, and More Tweak
Feedback is gold. I used what I heard to polish the design—making buttons bigger here, adding a shortcut there, simplifying the navigation—you get the drift.
Does it Pass the Grandma Test?
Last but not least, I shared it with non-techy folks in my life to see if they could make sense of it without a bunch of explaining. If my grandma could figure out how to track a deal, then I knew I was onto something.
So, Did I Nail It?
You'll be the judge, but here's what I'm watching for:
-
If I start hearing that people are getting their jobs done quicker, then boom—I've hit my mark.
-
If customer support is getting crickets because everything is so easy to find, that's another win.
-
And if you're logging in every day, not because you have to but because it actually helps you—that's the home run.
Hey, so you might be bummed to hear I lost my original pencil sketches from 2019—yeah, the dog-ate-my-homework kind of moment. But don't sweat it! Even without those low-fi beginnings, I'll make sure the rest of this journey is as engaging as a Netflix thriller. Stick around!
THE MAKE OR BREAK CHOICES
The Real Challenge
So here's the thing: CRMs usually feel like they're stuck in a time warp, right? Like something you’d expect to boot up with a floppy disk. My challenge? To make a CRM that’s not just another piece of software you have to use but something you actually want to use.
KEY DESIGN DECISIONS:
The Dashboard: Love at First Sight?
Most dashboards are like a bad first date: overwhelming and awkward. I wanted ours to be more like a second date, where you’re already vibing. So I put only the juiciest stuff front and center—sales, customer engagement, all the good stuff.
Contacts Page: Your Digital Rolodex
Who has the time to scroll through endless lists? That’s why I designed the Contacts page to be clean and quick to navigate, almost like flipping through a well-organized notebook. I added a quick search and filter options, too.
One Calendar to Rule Them All
Calendars can be a mess. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a jumble of meetings, tasks, and reminders! I simplified that chaos into a clean, easy-to-read calendar where you can see your life in week, month, or year views.
Reports You Won't Dread
Admit it, most of us only look at reports when we absolutely have to. I wanted to change that. So I designed reports to look less like a tax form and more like something you’d actually want to dive into. Think colorful graphs and easy-to-understand numbers.
Customization Because You’re Special
One-size-fits-all? Nah, that's boring. I made it so you can tweak settings to make the platform feel like it's truly yours. You can even plug in third-party tools you’re already pals with.
So, Are We Good?
This is where you come in. I'm keeping my eyes peeled on how you guys use these features. The fewer questions you have about using the platform, the better I've done my job. But hey, I want to know it all—the good, the bad, and the “what were you thinking?” So, hit me up with your thoughts!
WRAPPING IT UP: WHAT I LEARNED AND WHATS NEXT
What I Picked Up Along the Way
-
Listening is Key: Seriously, your rants about other CRMs? Goldmine.
-
Less is More: Turns out you don't need a million features, just the right ones.
-
Flexibility Rules: Every business is different, so a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution? Nah, not gonna cut it.
Takeaways for You and Me
-
For You: I hope GIGACRM feels like that handy tool you didn't know you needed but now can't live without.
-
For Me: I'm not done here. Your feedback is my next design phase. So if there’s something that’s bugging you or a cool idea you think we should try, I'm all ears!
That's it, folks! This ride isn't over, and I’m stoked to see where we go from here. Got thoughts? Don't be a stranger—let’s make this thing even better together!
