News
18.06.26
UX Audit in B2B: Systematically Optimising User Experiences
In the B2B sector, professionals work with complex software systems such as PLM solutions, CAD tools and simulation software on a daily basis. The quality of the user interface has a direct impact on productivity, error rates and staff satisfaction. A UX audit uncovers hidden weaknesses and highlights exactly where optimisations will deliver benefits.
What is a UX audit and why is it important for your business?
A UX audit is a systematic analysis of an application’s user-friendliness. We assess usability, interface design, navigation logic and consistency against recognised standards and best practices. The aim is to understand how your users perceive the software and what obstacles they face.
In an industrial setting, we regularly encounter similar problems. Complex hierarchies in PLM systems such as Teamcenter make navigation difficult. Workflows are spread across multiple screens. Icons and labels are unclear. Such friction losses add up: a design engineer loses minutes every day on routine tasks. Over the course of a year, this results in significant productivity losses.
A UX audit puts a stop to these hidden costs. We identify what works and where users stumble. On this basis, you can plan targeted improvements.
Components of a professional UX audit
A comprehensive audit covers several aspects. Firstly, the heuristic evaluation: our UX experts methodically work through the application and compare it with established usability principles. In doing so, we note down every issue – from a lack of feedback on user actions to inconsistent colour coding.
Secondly, we carry out usability tests with real users. We observe how your designers, planners or approvers actually work. Problems that are overlooked in static analyses often only become apparent in practice. A test may reveal that a supposedly logical button layout actually causes confusion in reality.
Thirdly, we assess consistency. A UX audit checks whether control elements look and behave the same throughout the system. In established system landscapes with multiple applications, inconsistency is a common weak point. Users are constantly having to relearn things instead of being able to navigate quickly.
Finally, we analyse performance and accessibility. How quickly does the interface load? Can users with visual impairments or mobility restrictions work efficiently? These questions are integral to modern design.
Typical vulnerabilities in industrial systems
Complex PLM interfaces are prone to certain problems. The item structure in Teamcenter is powerful, but the display can seem overwhelming. Users are presented with too much information at once and lose focus. Often, structured, wizard-guided navigation would be more helpful than a large form.
CAD workflows follow a different pattern. Engineers have to switch between NX, Teamcenter and, possibly, simulation software. Each application has its own paradigms. Switching between them incurs mental switching costs. An audit identifies such cross-system friction points.
Approval processes are often perceived as cumbersome. The approver has to open several windows, compare documents and check criteria. Would it be possible to create an approval dashboard that displays all relevant information at a glance? Often, yes – it just hasn’t been built yet.
Other classic pain points include: a lack of contextual help, unclear error messages, hidden filters and search functions, and no option to save favourites or workflows. All these issues cost time every day and cause frustration.
Added value and economic benefits
The benefit of a UX audit lies in avoiding costs. A design engineer who wastes 20 minutes a day due to poor usability costs their company around 15,000 to 20,000 euros a year in lost productivity. Multiply that by the size of your team, and the figure becomes substantial.
We’ll help you prioritise improvements. Some problems can be solved quickly – for example, through better labelling or tutorials. Others require development work. An audit shows where you’ll get the greatest return on every euro invested.
Another aspect is staff satisfaction. I often hear from specialists that they find the system interface outdated or unintuitive. This puts a strain on the working atmosphere. If you make a visible investment in better design, motivation will increase. New staff will find it easier to get started.
From a strategic perspective, a UX audit also provides certainty when selecting a system. Are you currently evaluating a new PLM system? An audit of the candidate solutions objectively shows which one best suits your users.
When is a UX audit worthwhile?
A UX audit is worthwhile as soon as you start using a complex application in production. Are you using Teamcenter and have several users reported navigation issues? That’s a clear sign. Are you expanding your Mendix applications and want to ensure that the new interface is designed correctly from the outset? An audit is worthwhile in this case too.
An audit is also valuable during migrations. Are you switching from an old system to NX or modernising your PLM structure? Take this opportunity seriously and design the new interface to be user-friendly right from the start. This is cheaper than fixing problems later on.
An audit is also recommended if you find that adoption of a new feature is not going well. Often, this is not down to the idea itself, but to the implementation. A targeted audit of the relevant interface can quickly reveal where the problem lies.
d.u.h.Group supports you with UX optimisation
Our team has many years’ experience in UX/UI design for PLM and engineering systems. We have carried out audits for companies across a wide range of industries – from mechanical engineering to automotive suppliers. We understand the specific requirements of complex workflows.
We support you from the audit phase through prioritisation to the implementation of improvements. We use Mendix to implement system extensions or optimisations quickly and cost-effectively. Dashboards, new approval workflows or mobile features – many of these can be implemented elegantly without traditional programming.
Our approach is based on partnership. We consider your users just as much as your business objectives. The aim is not the most spectacular user interface, but the best balance between intuitiveness, functionality and cost-effectiveness.
Whether you’re currently starting with an audit, optimising an existing application or designing UX correctly from the outset when building new system landscapes – we provide expert, practical support. Contact us to discuss how a UX audit can benefit your business.
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