Investigating the design factors for a voice UI in a Workforce Management software

Abstract

This thesis explored design factors for implementing a Voice User Interface (VUI) in the use scenario of a food retail Workforce Management (WFM) software. The research focused on design considerations for introducing a VUI, and had the ambition to identify the benefits of introducing a VUI for two user groups of the WFM software, i.e. supermarket employees and managers. While following the User-Centered Design process, the VUI’s effectiveness of supporting user’s work by enabling hands-free interactions with the WFM software was examined in the industrial use case. The directions of the iterations were informed by user feedback and the results obtained in previous iterations. The iterative method also allowed for keeping the process of prototype design flexible. A set of design factors was derived from the executed design process where it was found that managers were the user group that could immediately benefit from introducing the VUI in the industrial scenario. Specifically, design guidelines for the industrial use case suggest how a Voice User Interface (VUI) can be implemented to allow hands-free interactions while on the move.