Identification of user needs in visualisation tools

Abstract

The successful integration of digital tools in complex product development is highly dependent on understanding the diverse needs of users. As organisations adopt advanced visualisation systems within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments, it is essential to understand how such tools are used across various roles and areas of work to support efficiency, collaboration, and daily work. This study has investigated the user needs associated with three-dimensional (3D) visualisation tools in a complex product development context. By conducting 17 semi-formal interviews, insight was gained into processes, current issues, and potential areas of improvement. A comprehensive user need list, containing approximately 250 identified needs, has been created to summarise the needs across all roles. The results highlight several recurring themes, including limited knowledge of existing tool capabilities, instances where the same tasks are performed in multiple teams, and varying expectations regarding usability and performance. Despite differences in tasks, many needs were found to be shared between different roles and areas of work; hence a common solution, with possible minor adaptations, will be possible. Based on the findings, several recommendations are provided that address both functionality and implementation. These include tailoring education based on roles and encouraging skill-sharing to improve user competence, incorporating user feedback continuously to guide development and rollout, and addressing inefficiencies such as duplicated work, manual data handling, and lack of trust in information accuracy. Furthermore, the importance of intuitive design, adaptable tools, and transparent communication was emphasised to ensure smooth adoption and to maximise longterm effectiveness of the new visualisation tool. Although the study was conducted at Volvo Cars, the approach and the insights are considered broadly applicable to other contexts that undergo similar transitions.