Smart UX design in machine building increases profitability, thanks to user-centricity

Smart UX design pays for itself

Increased profitability, thanks to user-centricity in machine building
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User-centric design

Why investing in UX design pays for itself

A user interface’s design isn’t a visual gimmick. A user-oriented design in machine building is an effective tool for prevailing over ever-fiercer competition based on unique selling points.
Our free report provides detailed information on the benefits of smart UX design in machine building

Five practical examples of how smart UX design can increase profitability

Based on five sample cases, we’ll demonstrate how improvements to UX design can pay off and be turned into convincing arguments for your Sales and Marketing staff. You’ll find details in the free report, “Smart UX design pays for itself.” When calculating the overall return on investments, we work with key performance indicators like a machine’s added value per hour, the number of shifts, and work hours.

 

Best of all, our tool enables you to reproduce these sample calculations based on your own figures.

Sample calculator

Our calculation, your calculation

Here are some sample calculations based on typical figures taken from our industrial project experience. A bonus: You can use them to perform your own cost-benefit analyses. Start calculating with us!
Smart UX design in machine building helps you fully exploit the potential of smaller features

Take advantage of the potential for smaller features

In many cases, it’s possible to optimize material replenishment. Seemingly simple notifications of a pending replenishment can reduce downtime, and add up to significant annual savings. For example, a packaging machine that wraps individual products in film must be replenished every 24 minutes. Assuming two shifts per day, notifications make it possible to gain 20 minutes of productivity per day. Over the course of a year, this amounts to well over €16,000, because our machine creates value at a rate of €4 per minute.

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Investment in a great UX design pays for itself, thanks to reduced outlay for training and support

A great HMI design pays for itself

A moderately well-designed user interface can reduce development expenditures, which in turn reduces machine costs. However, training expenditures are generally increased and more time has to be invested in customer support. In our example, we estimate an additional cost of €400 per machine delivered. In addition, we calculate four hours of downtime during training. If a good HMI designer is commissioned to reduce these expenditures using smart UX design, the investment will be paid back after 74 machines.

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UX design in machine building: Useful error messages reduce support effort.

Reduced effort for customer support

No one likes error messages, but they’re more important than many people think. Badly formulated error messages cost valuable troubleshooting time and contribute to customer frustration. The resulting downtime has a negative impact on your image, and your support team’s workload is increased. Example: Six badly formulated error messages per year result in calls to customer support lasting an average of six minutes each. Useful error messages that are self-explanatory can cut the number of inquiries in half, because customers can solve problems themselves.

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Innovative operating concepts positively impact your machine sales

All-around impressive machines

A clearly organized, self-explanatory, and modern visualization of your machine has a positive impact on sales figures. One of our customers reported that the number of leads and sales negotiations rose by more than 20 percent after their HMI design was thoroughly revised. Assuming a profit margin of €4,000 and sales of 250 machines per year, an investment in UX design always pays for itself.

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Enlist your customers in the development process

Take advantage of the potential of co-creation

Instead of developing products for your customers, develop products with your customers. This requires some initial preparatory work: Appropriate customers need to be selected, contacted, and invited to workshops or videoconferences to discuss design ideas and give feedback. But these efforts are quickly rewarded, as our own customers have confirmed. Requests for new machines grew, and within a year sales increased significantly compared with the previous model.

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UX design pays for itself

Take the next step

The path to user-centricity in machine building starts with an investment that pays for itself. Your HMI is your calling-card as a machine builder that not only supports your marketing staff but also your development, support, and sales colleagues.
More leads, More closed deals, New opportunities for markups, Less customer support expenses, Higher customer satisfaction

An investment in smart UX design pays for itself quickly

Our five examples show how user-centric visualization in machine building can pay for itself.

 

Unique selling points are becoming increasingly important, especially in the global competition with new providers, making the interface between your customers and your machines more important than ever.

Your successful introduction to smart UX design

In order to get you started as quickly as possible, we provide your engineers and developers with the appropriate tools. Below you’ll find information on the HMI Design Master Class and the free HMI Design Workbook. Share these links with your colleagues!

HMI design in machine building: Our UX Expert Oliver Gerstheimer explains what makes a great HMI design and how you and your users can benefit – right at your own computer and completely free of charge with our HMI Design Master Class.

HMI Design Masterclass

In the HMI Design Master Class, you’ll learn what makes great UX design

Learn more
Learn HMI design: The HMI Design Workbook guides you step by step to the optimal HMI.

HMI Design Workbook

The HMI Design Workbook guides you step by step to the optimal UX design

Learn more
References

Practical examples of UX design in machine building

Find out how our customers are already benefiting from smart, user-focused HMI design – and be inspired by their example.
Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik
Germany
Timber processing

Visualization provides the finishing touch

  • An operator station for wood sanding machines with touch panel, pushbuttons, and switches as key components of the machine concept

  • Graphical user interface based on a 3D model of the machine

  • Innovative operating concepts offering customers genuine added value

Learn more
Flottweg SE
Flottweg SE
Germany
Machine building

A clear winner: A great design

  • 20 percent less engineering effort and 20 percent more customer inquiries

  • Standardized system solution and simplified, customer-specific configuration of series machines

  • Efficient, intuitive operation, even when lighting is poor

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Contact

Let our experts advise you

Contact us with your questions about HMI design and the benefits of user-centricity in machine building. Our experts will be happy to help.

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