Why redesigning a software product is a risk – and why we do it anyway
Our CEO Johannes Widmann talks about the risks involved in redesigning our scanner solution and how we deal with them.
Question: You recently started rolling out the redesign of the autoscan scanner solution step by step – and you’ve admitted to being a bit nervous about it. Why?
Johannes: We didn’t just improve the design; we also expanded the functionality. That’s a major change, and changes like that always come with risks. A bit of nervousness is only natural.
Why is it a risk to improve a software solution?
Well, you can never be completely sure whether users will accept the changes. Just because we think something is better doesn’t necessarily mean users will feel the same way.
And let’s face it: we’re all creatures of habit. Who hasn’t cursed at least once after a major Windows update changed everything? It also explains why a company like Amazon is extremely cautious when making changes – because even a small, unpopular adjustment can cost a lot of money.
And let’s face it: we’re all creatures of habit. Who hasn’t cursed at least once after a major Windows update changed everything?
How do you deal with this risk?
One of our core principles is that the interfaces of our two products autoscan and autosign should be as simple as possible and require virtually no training. That was also the guideline for the autoscan redesign.
Sounds good – but who says users will actually cope well with the changes?
The users themselves. We tested all our changes in advance with selected customers. We deliberately selected customers who use autoscan heavily and are known for giving detailed feedback.
The feedback from these tests was very positive – which was definitely reassuring.
In addition, we have around 20 years of experience developing apps. So we have a very good understanding of what real-world usability looks like – and how to deal with technical risks.
What kind of technical risks come with such a major update?
With a major update, you change a lot of the technical foundation. Sometimes a bug slips in, an interface stops working, or issues suddenly appear with one of the many ERP systems we integrate with.
Our advantage is that we have a lot of experience releasing new versions. We publish a release almost every week, which means we have a very mature process.
In addition, we run a large number of automated tests that ensure almost no errors slip through before release.
We also make sure our software architecture stays clean and our technology stack remains modern. A lot of that is thanks to our “mastermind” Bernhard, who constantly explores new technologies – currently, of course, also taking a close look at developments in AI.
“Making time” is exactly the right way to put it. It was a conscious decision to give this major update top priority.
How do you make time for such major changes to the product?
“Making time” is exactly the right way to put it. It was a conscious decision to give this major update top priority. That doesn’t mean we stopped everything else – but some topics simply had to take a back seat to this project.
What helps a lot is that we simplify and automate wherever possible: tests, deployments, releases, internal processes, how we handle support, and much more. That saves a lot of time.
Why did you give the autoscan scanner solution a facelift in the first place?
We introduced lot tracking as a major new feature. That required us to make deep changes to the app anyway.
So we thought: if we’re already rebuilding parts of the app, we might as well use the opportunity to improve things that have been on our minds for a while.
It clearly wasn’t one of the usual typical reasons.
What are typical reasons for a redesign?
Typical reasons include outdated technology, security incidents, excessively high maintenance costs, unhappy customers, or a competitor overtaking you with a more modern solution.
None of that was the case with autoscan.
If it ain’t broke, it can still be improved!
So what was the real reason for the redesign?
We want to keep improving our products for our customers – and to be proud of them ourselves. That’s simply our idea of quality.
Or to slightly adapt a well-known saying: If it ain’t broke, it can still be improved!
What is autoscan?
autoscan is a mobile scanning solution designed to simplify everyday warehouse operations. With a quick scan of a barcode or QR code, processes become faster, more reliable, and easier to handle.
The Android app, built for modern devices, supports a wide range of workflows along the entire process chain – from goods receipt and picking to inventory management and beyond.
Seamlessly integrated into your ERP, warehouse, or dealer management system, autoscan helps streamline operations and reduces manual effort across the board.
Talking about seamless integration: with our e-signature solution autosign, customers can sign documents directly on-site using a tablet or remotely via email – wherever it’s most convenient.
