Streamlining the HR agenda for thousands of people with Humanet

Analysis and research as the basis for design decisions

At the start of the project we focused on thoroughly understanding the problem from the perspective of the market, the product and the user. We carried out a competitive analysis focused on similar HR apps, in which we examined navigation solutions, content naming and how they work with roles. Based on that, we identified current UX trends and opportunities to simplify orientation within the app even with complex content. In parallel, we analysed the existing information architecture of Humanet, where we uncovered several issues.

From these findings we defined research hypotheses and questions. We focused mainly on which features users use most often, how frequently they visit them, and how this behaviour differs between managers and employees. By combining quantitative data (a questionnaire) with qualitative insights from feedback, we gained a clear foundation for designing the new architecture.

Designing the new architecture and navigation

In the next phase we mapped all existing and planned features. This comprehensive map gave us a clear picture of the system's scope and allowed us to design an information architecture that corresponds to real user scenarios.

We focused mainly on making key features accessible, such as the attendance overview, calendar or requests, while ensuring a consistent experience across different roles. We paid special attention to the manager mode, which has extended capabilities in areas such as approving requests and managing the team.

We therefore designed the navigation so that it can scale without losing clarity. The result is a simplified main navigation that reflects UX trends such as widgets and contextually available actions, while supporting quick access to the most frequently used features. We iterated on the design continuously in close collaboration with the client, constantly seeking a balance between user needs, business priorities and technological possibilities.

Simplify, clarify, make accessible

From the very beginning we had a clear brief – to create a modern and intuitive mobile app that would be not only functional but also user-friendly. We undertook a full redesign, including a complete change of navigation, visual style and user flows.

In the design we drew on the principles of mobile design, while also respecting the specifics of clients who had long been used to the behaviour of the existing web application. This meant that in some cases we had to make compromises between the native behaviour of the platforms and the expected flow that the user already knew.

We also created an interactive prototype that allowed us to test the logic and flow of individual features even before development itself. The final UI design reflects a clean, clear and functional style – exactly what everyday HR tasks require. Although some interactions were non-standard for mobile platforms, we knew that for existing users it was important that the app's behaviour did not differ. It was precisely this consistency that made it possible to maintain user trust while increasing satisfaction with the mobile solution.

Development under time pressure

The biggest challenge was time. The client required delivery of the new version of the app within a single month. At the start we had the designs largely approved by the client. This allowed us to skip some initial decision-making phases, but at the same time it created pressure on the technical execution. Development, design and analysis thus ran in parallel, with a large team where the individual parts had to work like a well-tuned orchestra.

Alongside this, we dealt with:

• missing edge cases that were not covered in the original designs,
• challenges in tuning the API interface and streamlining the back-end logic,
• technological limitations between platforms that affected component design and app behaviour.

Despite this, we managed not only to deliver the app on time, but also to keep its quality at a high level. Thanks to rigorous organisation, clearly divided responsibilities and the team's high commitment, we handled what would normally take several months.

Lessons learned and next steps

The Humanet project showed us that even a smaller app is not simple once a demanding deadline and several participating teams come into play. It turned out that parallel processes – development, design and analysis – can work if the communication between teams is open and constructive.

A crucial role was played by the analyst, who held the whole project together – both in terms of information and organisation. We also realised that quality coordination is not a matter only for large projects – on the contrary, it is even more important for smaller and fast projects.

The work does not end with a successful launch, however. Together with the client, we are preparing further extensions of the app – for example, the ability to bulk-approve requests, home-screen widgets, or dynamic display of features according to the subscription type.