Vega Onboarding Experience
Vega Onboarding Experience
Improving the first-time user experience of a data analytics platform
Improving the first-time user experience of a data analytics platform
Overview
Overview
Vega is a SaaS analytics platform that helps healthcare organizations analyze ambulance response times using historical and simulated data. The tool enables decision-makers to understand trends, optimize resource allocation, and improve ambulance service delivery. However, new users often find it difficult to understand how to use the platform during their first interaction. This master’s thesis project, conducted in collaboration with Northstat, explores how an onboarding experience can improve the first-time user experience and help users confidently start using Vega. Due to confidentiality agreements, certain screens and system details from the Vega platform cannot be displayed in this case study.
Vega is a SaaS analytics platform that helps healthcare organizations analyze ambulance response times using historical and simulated data. The tool enables decision-makers to understand trends, optimize resource allocation, and improve ambulance service delivery. However, new users often find it difficult to understand how to use the platform during their first interaction. This master’s thesis project, conducted in collaboration with Northstat, explores how an onboarding experience can improve the first-time user experience and help users confidently start using Vega. Due to confidentiality agreements, certain screens and system details from the Vega platform cannot be displayed in this case study.
Role
Role
Researcher UX Desiger
Researcher UX Desiger
Duration
Duration
6 Months
6 Months
Tools
Tools
Timeline
Timeline
Design process
Design process
Problem statement
Problem statement
New users often struggle to understand how to use Vega during their first interaction with the system. The platform contains many analytical features, but the workflow is not immediately clear for beginners. Users reported difficulty navigating the interface, understanding how to perform tasks, and translating analytical questions into actions within the system. Existing help documentation was also perceived as too generic and did not provide contextual guidance when users needed support. Because of this, the learning curve for new users can be steep, making it harder for them to quickly gain value from the platform.
New users often struggle to understand how to use Vega during their first interaction with the system. The platform contains many analytical features, but the workflow is not immediately clear for beginners. Users reported difficulty navigating the interface, understanding how to perform tasks, and translating analytical questions into actions within the system. Existing help documentation was also perceived as too generic and did not provide contextual guidance when users needed support. Because of this, the learning curve for new users can be steep, making it harder for them to quickly gain value from the platform.
Solution
Solution
The project proposes an onboarding experience designed to guide new users through the system and help them learn the platform step by step. Key improvements include: ✔️ Step-by-step walkthrough ✔️ Scenario-based learning ✔️ Contextual guidance ✔️ Flexible onboarding ✔️ Task-based learning
The project proposes an onboarding experience designed to guide new users through the system and help them learn the platform step by step. Key improvements include: ✔️ Step-by-step walkthrough ✔️ Scenario-based learning ✔️ Contextual guidance ✔️ Flexible onboarding ✔️ Task-based learning
Interview Questions
Interview Questions
• How did you experience Vega the first time you used it? • What challenges did you face when navigating the system? • What type of onboarding would help you learn the system faster? • How do you currently learn new features in the platform?
• How did you experience Vega the first time you used it? • What challenges did you face when navigating the system? • What type of onboarding would help you learn the system faster? • How do you currently learn new features in the platform?
Interview Insights
Interview Insights
• Users struggled to translate analytical questions into actions • Navigation and workflow were difficult to understand initially • Existing help documentation felt too generic • Users preferred interactive guidance over text documentation
• Users struggled to translate analytical questions into actions • Navigation and workflow were difficult to understand initially • Existing help documentation felt too generic • Users preferred interactive guidance over text documentation
Personas
Personas
Two personas were created to represent different types of Vega users. Julia represents tech-savvy users who are comfortable with digital tools and prefer learning systems quickly through exploration. She values efficiency and dislikes long tutorials. Eva represents users who have experience with digital tools but can feel overwhelmed when learning complex systems. She prefers structured guidance and clear explanations that help her avoid mistakes. These personas helped ensure that the onboarding design supported both experienced and less experienced users.
Two personas were created to represent different types of Vega users. Julia represents tech-savvy users who are comfortable with digital tools and prefer learning systems quickly through exploration. She values efficiency and dislikes long tutorials. Eva represents users who have experience with digital tools but can feel overwhelmed when learning complex systems. She prefers structured guidance and clear explanations that help her avoid mistakes. These personas helped ensure that the onboarding design supported both experienced and less experienced users.
Mind map
Mind map
To organize the insights gathered from interviews and the heuristic evaluation, a mind map was created. The goal was to structure the key themes that emerged during the research phase and identify patterns in users’ challenges and needs. The mind map helped group insights related to navigation difficulties, complex statistical concepts, and the need for clearer guidance when interacting with the system. It also highlighted the differences between experienced and less experienced users and how their needs vary when learning a complex analytical tool. These insights helped define the main design opportunities and guided the development of the onboarding concepts.
To organize the insights gathered from interviews and the heuristic evaluation, a mind map was created. The goal was to structure the key themes that emerged during the research phase and identify patterns in users’ challenges and needs. The mind map helped group insights related to navigation difficulties, complex statistical concepts, and the need for clearer guidance when interacting with the system. It also highlighted the differences between experienced and less experienced users and how their needs vary when learning a complex analytical tool. These insights helped define the main design opportunities and guided the development of the onboarding concepts.
Low-Fidelity prototypes
Low-Fidelity prototypes
During the ideation phase, Low-fidelity prototypes were created to explore different onboarding concepts and ways of guiding users through the system. Sketching made it possible to quickly test layout ideas and interaction patterns before moving into digital prototypes. These protorypes helped visualize how onboarding could introduce the interface and support users when performing analytical tasks.
During the ideation phase, Low-fidelity prototypes were created to explore different onboarding concepts and ways of guiding users through the system. Sketching made it possible to quickly test layout ideas and interaction patterns before moving into digital prototypes. These protorypes helped visualize how onboarding could introduce the interface and support users when performing analytical tasks.
Mid-Fidelity prototypes
Mid-Fidelity prototypes
From the low-fidelity prototypes mid-fideity were created to explore different onboarding concepts and interaction patterns. Three different onboarding approaches were tested, including card-based onboarding, step-by-step walkthroughs, and scenario-based guidance. These early prototypes helped evaluate how different onboarding formats could support learning while keeping the interface clear and focused.
From the low-fidelity prototypes mid-fideity were created to explore different onboarding concepts and interaction patterns. Three different onboarding approaches were tested, including card-based onboarding, step-by-step walkthroughs, and scenario-based guidance. These early prototypes helped evaluate how different onboarding formats could support learning while keeping the interface clear and focused.
Usability test 1
Usability test 1
To evaluate the different onboarding approaches, usability testing was conducted on the three mid-fidelity prototypes. The goal was to explore how users interacted with the concepts and which onboarding format felt most intuitive for first-time users. Participants interacted with the prototypes and shared their thoughts using a think-aloud approach. The testing focused on understanding how users interpreted the onboarding instructions and whether the guidance helped them navigate the system.
To evaluate the different onboarding approaches, usability testing was conducted on the three mid-fidelity prototypes. The goal was to explore how users interacted with the concepts and which onboarding format felt most intuitive for first-time users. Participants interacted with the prototypes and shared their thoughts using a think-aloud approach. The testing focused on understanding how users interpreted the onboarding instructions and whether the guidance helped them navigate the system.
Test insights
Test insights
• Step-by-step guidance helped users understand what to do next • Visual demonstrations improved clarity when learning the interface • Scenario-based learning supported deeper understanding of tasks
• Step-by-step guidance helped users understand what to do next • Visual demonstrations improved clarity when learning the interface • Scenario-based learning supported deeper understanding of tasks
High-Fidelity prototypes
High-Fidelity prototypes
The final high-fidelity prototype combines structured guidance with flexible learning options. The onboarding experience introduces the platform through a guided walkthrough and then allows users to deepen their understanding through scenario-based tasks. By providing contextual guidance directly within the interface, the onboarding reduces the learning curve and helps users quickly build confidence when using Vega’s analytical tools.
The final high-fidelity prototype combines structured guidance with flexible learning options. The onboarding experience introduces the platform through a guided walkthrough and then allows users to deepen their understanding through scenario-based tasks. By providing contextual guidance directly within the interface, the onboarding reduces the learning curve and helps users quickly build confidence when using Vega’s analytical tools.
Welcome screen
Welcome screen
The onboarding experience begins with a welcome screen where users are introduced to Vega’s onboarding feature. From this screen, users can choose whether they want to start the onboarding walkthrough or skip it and explore the platform independently. This gives users flexibility and allows more experienced users to skip the introduction if they prefer.
The onboarding experience begins with a welcome screen where users are introduced to Vega’s onboarding feature. From this screen, users can choose whether they want to start the onboarding walkthrough or skip it and explore the platform independently. This gives users flexibility and allows more experienced users to skip the introduction if they prefer.
Onboard walkthrough
Onboard walkthrough
If the user chooses to start the walkthrough, the onboarding guides them step by step through the interface. Contextual tooltips highlight key elements and explain how users can interact with the system. This helps users understand how to navigate the platform and perform important actions.
If the user chooses to start the walkthrough, the onboarding guides them step by step through the interface. Contextual tooltips highlight key elements and explain how users can interact with the system. This helps users understand how to navigate the platform and perform important actions.
Optional onboard
Optional onboard
After completing the walkthrough, or if the user chooses to skip it, an overview screen appears. This screen informs users that they can revisit the onboarding later or continue learning through scenario-based tasks. The screen ensures that users always have access to guidance when needed.
After completing the walkthrough, or if the user chooses to skip it, an overview screen appears. This screen informs users that they can revisit the onboarding later or continue learning through scenario-based tasks. The screen ensures that users always have access to guidance when needed.
Scenario onboarding
Scenario onboarding
The final screen introduces scenario-based learning. Users can explore realistic analytical questions and complete guided tasks that demonstrate how the platform can be used in practice. This helps users move beyond basic navigation and understand how Vega’s analytical tools can support real-world decision-making.
The final screen introduces scenario-based learning. Users can explore realistic analytical questions and complete guided tasks that demonstrate how the platform can be used in practice. This helps users move beyond basic navigation and understand how Vega’s analytical tools can support real-world decision-making.
Usability test 2
Usability test 2
After refining the concepts, usability testing was conducted on the high-fidelity prototype to evaluate the final onboarding experience. Participants explored the prototype freely while describing their thoughts and reactions. The testing aimed to understand how intuitive the onboarding felt and whether the guidance helped users build confidence when interacting with the platform.
After refining the concepts, usability testing was conducted on the high-fidelity prototype to evaluate the final onboarding experience. Participants explored the prototype freely while describing their thoughts and reactions. The testing aimed to understand how intuitive the onboarding felt and whether the guidance helped users build confidence when interacting with the platform.
Test insights
Test insights
• Users found the onboarding clear and easy to follow • Contextual tooltips helped users understand the interface • Scenario-based tasks helped users apply the system in practice
• Users found the onboarding clear and easy to follow • Contextual tooltips helped users understand the interface • Scenario-based tasks helped users apply the system in practice
All screens
All screens
💌 Let's connect!
💌 Let's connect!
moa.tyren00@gmail.com
moa.tyren00@gmail.com