User Testing is The Most Important Development Tool

In the autumn of 2020, Norwegian Smart Care Lab (NSCL) carried out a functional lab test of the prototype of Varda Care. The solution was tested together with 12 people in the target group over 2 days. Here, Diana Myrstad Meldal, CMO at Varda Care, shares experiences from the test and how it has helped them further in the development process.

The company is located in Ålesund. During the test, two representatives from Varda Care were present in Stavanger, to be present during the user tests and interact with the participants after the test.

READ MORE: Ålesund company tests at Norwegian Smart Care Lab (article in Norwegian)

Feedback after the functional lab test carried out by the Norwegian Smart Care Lab

Diana Myrstad Meldal, CMO at Varda Care, answers the questions.

TARGET GROUP: Varda Care is clear that it has been important for them to involve the target group early in the development process. Here we see Diana Myrstad Meldal, CMO at Varda Care, in dialogue with colleagues. (Photo: Varda Care)

Function test with real users

- This has been an exclusively positive experience. NSCL has been helpful and facilitated well from the preparation of the test, the actual implementation and to the evaluation after the user test. They behaved professionally, were attentive and made the test subjects lower their shoulders and relax through the test. This contributed to us receiving honest and complementary feedback on our service, says Diana Myrstad Meldal from Varda Care.

The company has tested with NSCL based on clickable sketches, and not a finished programmed service. Testing has therefore come early in the development process and the company says that it may come even earlier on the next occasion.

- It is emphasized that the test users are the experts when it comes to how the service should be developed, and they should be central in this work. Something we place special emphasis on is that it has been invaluable to test with people in the target group. User testing is one of the most valuable things we invest in when it comes to developing services and user interfaces.

For Varda Care, it has been important not to spend too much time on development prior to a user test and then have the opportunity to customize the service based on feedback from the tests.

- NSCL has a network that is very valuable to us. The user panel meets our target group, at the same time as they provide objective feedback as they are outside our local network of contacts.

Preparation and implementation

Apart from preparing the service for testing, the test itself has not required much work from Varda Care.

- The process was well facilitated by NSCL, which was responsible for much of the preparation, recruitment of test candidates, and the actual implementation of the test. We also received very good and comprehensive documentation of the test where NSCL came up with specific improvement proposals for our service.

Diana says that Norwegian Smart Care Lab's service package has met their expectations and that the test run has provided valuable insight.

- We experience that we have received good help and guidance both before and after the test. The interaction that lies between the environments Norwegian Smart Care Cluster, HelseCampus Stavanger and Norwegian Smart Care Lab is perceived as valuable to be able to lean on, as a new welfare technology company.

Varda Care do not have a similar environment locally and even though much of the interaction takes place digitally, Varda Care says that they feel at home in the Norwegian Smart Care Cluster.

- If we are to provide feedback on improvement potential, we experienced that the tests were a little too long. We do not believe that there is a need for both user tests and in-depth interviews in the same round. For us, it would have been enough with the actual user test and rather asked a few questions towards the end. Some participants spent a lot of time on parts of the test, and in-depth information on parts of the test is just as useful as getting through everything with everyone. In addition to the actual scope of the test day, we could imagine spreading the tests in two pools with plenty of time in between to adjust the service based on the feedback, says Diana.

Effect and further development

The company has made several changes based on feedback from the test. Changes have been made to the features of the service, how the user gets started with the service, the subscription model and changes to the text.

- The test further influenced the strategy and plans for the development process. We did not test in the belief that we would only confirm that our service worked optimally, but we wanted to use user testing as a central part of our work in research and development. This is something we will do on a regular basis to improve our service. User testing has now become a permanent tool in our product development!

Does Varda Care recommend user testing with NSCL?

Without a doubt! We consider user testing to be one of the most important tools in the development of a new product or service. This has been an incredibly valuable experience that we have learned a lot from! Just get in touch if you want to talk about user testing and our experience with NSCL as a test facilitator.

– Does Varda Care recommend user testing with NSCL?

- Without a doubt! We consider user testing to be one of the most important tools in the development of a new product or service. This has been an incredibly valuable experience that we have learned a lot from! Just get in touch if you want to talk about user testing and our experience with NSCL as a test facilitator.

Contact info: Diana Myrstad Meldal, 458 74 927, diana.meldal@vardacare.com.