UX Tools for A Real-Feel Shopping Experience

Ease-of-access, and mass availability of products, has
turned online shopping into a proper lifestyle. The convenience of not having
to step out allowspeople to order pretty much everything online – and get it
delivered right at their doorsteps. According to Statista, 40 percent of
internet users in the USmake several purchases online in a month. Furthermore,
around 20 percent admitted to shopping online on a weekly basis.

However, despite the increasingpopularity of online shopping,
eMarketer reports that many customers still prefer the brick and mortar experience,
i.e.,physical stores. For example, a survey conducted on back to school
shopping reports that 56% of respondents planned to continue buying items
in-store – compared to only 20% who said they would prefer to shop online.

Why Opt for Online Shopping?

The answer is simple; in-store shopping is an experience
that allows you to use all five senses to make a decision. With in-store
shopping, you get what you pay for – without the need to cross your fingers and
hope that the products you ordered online meet your expectations.

According to a survey in June 2018, 70%
of female internet users chose to shop in-store solely because they can see
or touch the items. Approximately 41%of womenalso choose physical stores for
the pleasant shopping and browsing experience. After all, window shopping never
gets boring!

While online retailers can’t do much to combat these issues,
what they can do, is provide a great user experience. Focusing on personalized
recommendations, and a great browsing experience, through the application of UX
tools can really attract online shoppers –and in-store shoppers – to your e-commerce
store.

What is UX Design?

UX tools can help create meaningful and relevant experiences
for users.They are designed for multiple purposes – including user-friendly
designs and interfaces. A UX designer focuses on different aspects of the user
experience, such asutility, and ease of use.

UX design revolves around providing users information in a
clean and intuitive manner. Designers are typically in control of a number of
tasks – starting from product research, to creating user personas, prototyping,
and product testing.

With increased demand for a seamless shopping experience,
and multiple options available to online shoppers,design work can prove to be
difficult. UX tools save the day by easing this burden on designers. The below
list of tools are part of the normal arsenal of UX agencies such as Clearwater. They are an
Australian-based company who have helped provide us this handy list.

Here are the four main categories that UX tools can be
divided into:

Analytics Tools

The entire point of a high-quality UX design is to provide user
satisfaction. Without proper means to gauge what the user likes, there would be
no point in putting forth a particular design. These analytics tools help
designers understand exactly what usersare looking for, and how to provide a
great browsing experience. Additionally, analytics help designers identify
elements that need to be changed for a better user experience.

Some of the best analytics toolsinclude:

·        
Google
Analytics

·        
Keen

·        
Woopra

Tracking and Heat Mapping Tools

These provide insights by recording and tracking user
sessions, and the activity taking place on specific pages. Tracking tools
capture mouse movements, mouse clicks, and other on-site interactions by
visitors. Heat mapping tools take it a step further by recording user patterns on
different pages, thus providing insights into how users interact with specific
on-page elements.

Popular trackingand heatmapping toolsinclude:

·        
ClickTale

·        
Inspectlet

·        
Mouseflow

A/B Testing Tools

From the font of yourtitles, to the color and placement of your
CTA buttons, A/B testing tools allow you to test everything. These tools help
optimize your e-commerce site, by allowing you to test different variations of
all elements on a specific page.

Some of the most effective tools for A/B testing include:

·        
Adobe
Target

·        
Unbounce

·        
AB
Tasty

Prototyping Tools

With insights gained through analytics, designers can start
working on prototypes and wireframes through specific tools. These prototyping
tools allow you to easily showcase your design ideas, while reducing project
costs.

Here are some popular prototyping tools that UX designers
love:

·        
Pidoco

·        
Gliffy

·        
Figma

If utilized properly, the application of UX tools can make
your design workflow increasingly efficient –while allowing you to match, or
even exceed, users’ expectations.