Userfriendly calibration software
Intuitive Industrial Calibration Software – Global UX Redesign
How can industrial calibration software be designed to remain intuitive and efficient for diverse user groups worldwide?
In this case study, IMT demonstrates how a legacy Calbench application was not only functionally enhanced but fundamentally reengineered for usability and user experience. The focus was on clear user guidance, scalable interface design, and robust UX for embedded systems.
Our client had been using Calbenches for several years, but new requirements regarding application scope and user profiles demanded a complete realignment of the software. The goal was to make it suitable for international deployment while supporting both domain experts and advanced generalists. At the same time, the calibration process needed to become more intuitive and robust through optimized workflows and new features.”
Approach and Methodology
We began with a structured UX research phase: together with stakeholders, we analyzed the existing software and mapped the current user flow. Complementary shadowing sessions allowed us to observe real users interacting with the Calbench in their daily work.
A heuristic evaluation completed the analysis, revealing not only technical but also contextual usability challenges—such as unclear workflows or inefficient navigation patterns. Based on these findings, we developed an optimized process as the foundation for the new interaction design.
Using Figma, the team created a high-fidelity prototype representing the updated UI layout and key user flows. In parallel, the design and development teams worked closely together to ensure continuous technical feasibility.
Framework constraints were taken into account, and a component-based implementation was prepared for scalability.
Usability testing played a crucial role in the development process, as new designs and workflows were regularly validated on the target hardware both on the actual display and directly at the Calbench, which allowed us to identify and eliminate usability issues before implementation.
A key outcome of the redesign was the integration of a context-sensitive knowledge base. This embedded wiki explains functions and workflows, reduces global support efforts, and empowers users to work more independently.
Findings and Results
The redesigned calibration software now delivers a significantly improved user experience. Consistent user guidance supports both experts and new users, increasing efficiency and reducing human error. Visual feedback, structured layouts, and contextual help improve process reliability and usability in industrial environments.
Early involvement of the development team ensured a seamless transition from prototype to production code.
The tested designs were implemented efficiently, and new features such as the knowledge base and modular UI components were easily integrated. The result is a scalable, intuitive UX for embedded calibration systems, ready to support diverse user groups worldwide.
Conclusion
This project highlights how close collaboration between UX design, UI development, and engineering can transform complex industrial tools into intuitive products. Through early user research, iterative prototyping, and real-hardware testing, IMT created a solution that is both technically robust and easy to use.
In a global context with heterogeneous user groups, such usability engineering becomes a clear competitive advantage.
From Monolith to Scalability:
A Comprehensive Overview of Our Transformation
End-to-End Evolution Across All Layers
|
Area (Result) |
Before (Initial Situation) |
Now (Achieved Result) |
|
Software Architecture |
Monolithic structure, difficult to extend |
Component-based architecture for scalability and maintainability |
|
Usability |
Unclear user guidance, high error rate |
Consistent workflows, visual feedback, context-sensitive help |
|
User Groups |
Focus on experts, little support for beginners |
Optimized UX for experts and beginners worldwide] |
|
Process Quality |
Inefficient navigation patterns, uncertainty in workflows |
Reduced errors, increased efficiency through clear process guidance |
|
Testing |
Poorly structured tests |
Iterative prototyping, usability tests on target hardware, automated UI validations |
|
International Deployment |
Not optimized for heterogeneous user groups |
Global usability through scalable interface and integrated help |