
Site UI and Usability
HONEYBEEBASE
The purpose of this study was to determine if the honeybeeBase website and onboarding process is performing the way users would expect it to while uncovering design flaws keeping users from accomplishing their desired tasks while navigating the site.
Research Methods
An expert review was performed on the site to gain initial insights into the site structure and task performance. Once complete, three small business owners were recruited to participate in an interview followed by a usability test session lasting approximately 30-60 minutes. Users were observed performing tasks in an effort to identify areas of frustration. These observations aided in the development of suggestions for site improvements that will allow for a more friendly experience for the user. The actions and thoughts of the users were recorded and studied as they were taken through a moderated testing session where they were asked to complete the following tasks:
-
Navigate to honeybeebase.com
-
Navigate to the sign up page, and sign up for a free trial utilizing the email address of your choice.
-
Sign in and navigate through the account set up process.
-
Once in your account, add the remaining positions based on the organizational chart.
-
Send a beeMail message to Tim Weyer with subject “Testing complete” and Body “I have finished this portion of the testing”
Findings and Recommendations
A number of findings were discovered during the site evaluation and usability testing. Utilizing the knowledge gained, a findings list was created to aid in the determination of what functionality on the site should addressed first. Findings were prioritized from high to low based on the difficulty they caused the user, and the importance the function has on the user’s ability to interact with the software without frustration.

Follow Up Testing Recommendations
While we were able to gain many insights from the review and testing of the onboarding process, and simple tasks within the software, additional software review is recommended for the other functionality within the software. It is recommended that honeybeeBase reach out to their users with a survey or questionnaire to elicit any thoughts on current frustrations and areas of needed focus. In addition, expert review of those areas is recommended.