Domains and Technologies

We Make E-Commerce Sites Usable

If the site isn't usable, the customer is gone.

A recent study evaluated success factors for 50 popular e-commerce sites. The study (released in February, 1999 by Shelley Taylor Associates) included a sampling of technology, entertainment, books, music, apparel, sports goods, travel and leisure retail sites. Usability problems were everywhere.

Why can't I get in?	Going after the latest browser sizzle, designers ignored users' technology limitations – only two sites offered a reduced bandwidth or text-only option.
Where am I?	Only 8% had any form of "contextual navigation," the Internet equivalent of a mall's "you are here" sign – users got "lost" in these sites.
Global navigation	24% had no easy way for customers to move between major sections.
Help me please	24% had no pre-sale assistance.
How many did I order?	Only two sites showed the current shopping cart contents on each page.
How good is the product?	Only four sites offered third-party product reviews and just one offered a features-and-benefits comparison.
Is it available?	Only 30% gave product availability information before submitting the order.
How do I buy it?	32% did not define the buying procedures.

The Spring, 1998 GVU 9th WWW User Survey canvassed over 10,000 Web users.

The three top reasons for abandoning a Web site during personal shopping:

• Could not find the item
• Site disorganized or confusing
• Pages downloaded too slowly

Human Factors Solutions

HFI uses its knowledge of proven usability principles to:

• Develop easy-to-understand site navigation
• Lower response time and speed up task completion
• Provide seamless error handling and user feedback
• Reduce customer workload, frustration, and confusion
• Provide a look and feel that promotes corporate branding

Some of our clients:

Call 1-800-242-4480, or Request more information