On 21.01.2022 the WDR published the app “Stolpersteine NRW” . If you look in the "Information" section under "Project Participants and Cooperations", you can find the entry "Technical Consulting (Testing and Usability): Appmatics" - But what does that actually mean?
We are not only very proud to have been involved in such an important project, but would also like to thank WDR for their trust and the opportunity to be part of the app development process since July 2021. We would like to tell you here what we have supported the project team with:
Scrolling through the list of project participants and collaborations, it is easy to see how complex the challenge was to bring an app and website from the idea to implementation and to get everyone involved under one roof. The preparatory work by the WDR core team on the idea and concept as well as database maintenance had already been immense when we were brought on board. There were already important findings from an extended user research phase and results from a first usability test of an early prototype - all developed by the WDR User Lab.
Using digital whiteboards as a power tool in the iterative process
During the conception phase, my main task was to prepare impulsive expert reviews with the help of digital whiteboards. The procedure offered a quick approach to give the team further ideas for iterations in the design and wordings. I also conducted an impulse workshop with the editorial team from WDR remote to guide them through an effective coordination process for the labels and wording for call-to-action buttons.
Through our broad wealth of experience from agile projects as a sparring partner in implementing
After intensive refinements of the prototype, it was time for the technical implementation. Here too, as an agency for QA (Quality Assurance), we were able to profitably contribute our knowledge thanks to our broad experience in accompanying digital development processes and our expertise in the quality assurance of digital products.
In this phase, it was mainly the advice on agile processes and the support in selecting suitable methods for digital project management that we provided. Throughout the entire project, I also saw myself as a sparring partner for the project leaders in order to efficiently solve the complex requirements and challenges that arose due to the number of cooperation partners and stakeholders and the work in a remote environment.
When the beta version of the app was available in October, the testing phase began. I set up qualitative feedback forms that a group of voluntary testers from the WDR environment could use to submit their impressions and assessments of the user-friendliness. Divided according to content areas, they had the opportunity to give us feedback at this early stage of programming on what was already working well and where they had encountered problems in handling the app. Afterwards, the project team worked together to derive sensible measures for improvement.
Functional technical testing as an integral part of product development
With the technical implementation, the project management became faster and more agile. The focus of our collaboration also shifted from questions about the design of the user experience to technical questions about the functionality of apps. We at Appmatics therefore set up an effective ticket system for entering bug and improvement tickets as a suitable communication tool between technical service providers, the WDR team and other project managers. In addition, my colleague Benedikt Broich and his department of functional testing and quality analysis (QA) became a further contact person for the programmers and project management and thus an integral part of the further development cycle.
Through technical functional testing with a wide range of end devices and software systems, we were able to contribute significantly to quality assurance in the context of sprint-accompanying regression tests and quick tests, as well as re-tests. We were also able to help in this phase by assisting with the prioritisation of bug and improvement tickets and the development of solutions for conceptual improvements.
Outstanding ratings from users after the release
With the combination of (UX) consulting and functional testing of the app, we accompanied the WDR project team over the last six months from conception to beta version to release. Thanks to our technical acceptance, nothing stood in the way of the release in January 2022.
We are proud that the app has received a rating of 4.9 in the App Store and 4.7 out of a possible 5 stars in the Play Store in the first week after its release and congratulate all those involved in the project on this achievement. We look forward to further cooperation and our involvement in the continuous development of the app
Would you like to learn more about our collaboration with WDR in this project or get an insight into the methods used? Then make an appointment with us.
