LeaseQuery Redesign

Redesigning accounting software to be more intuitive,
user-friendly, and seamless, making it easier than ever to
navigate and manage financial tasks.

My Role: UX Designer | Duration: 2 Years | Project Status: Completed

Overview

The client’s existing accounting software, while feature-rich and powerful, faced increasing criticism for its complex interface and steep learning curve. Users—primarily accountants and finance teams—found it time-consuming to navigate, which led to inefficient workflows and frustration.

Many users struggled to quickly access key features, resulting in lower productivity and higher training costs for new users.

Problem Statement

The existing lease entry form was cumbersome, leading to:

High error rates in financial data entry
A lack of clear validation for lease terms and monetary inputs
Confusing workflows that slowed down lease processing
Poor integration with accounting and financial reporting systems

The Objective

Redesign the software with a focus on usability and simplicity, ensuring that accountants could access the tools they need quickly, improve workflow efficiency, and reduce time spent on non-productive tasks. The goal was to create an intuitive user experience that made managing financial data and accounting tasks faster and easier for both novice and experienced users.

The Process

To ensure that our designs addressed both user needs and business objectives, we employed a comprehensive, research-driven approach. This process involved multiple stages, from gathering insights to validating ideas, and integrated both qualitative and quantitative data. Below is an overview of the key methods we used:

Competitive Analysis
We began by conducting a thorough competitive analysis to understand the landscape and identify best practices within the industry. By analyzing direct and indirect competitors, we were able to pinpoint common design patterns, features that users were responding to, and areas where competitors were falling short. This helped us identify opportunities for differentiation and provided a foundation for establishing design benchmarks.

User Interviews
We conducted a series of user interviews to gather in-depth qualitative insights into user pain points, motivations, and behaviors. These interviews were designed to uncover both the explicit needs and the underlying desires of the users. By directly engaging with the target audience, we could identify key areas where the product could better serve their goals and offer a more intuitive experience.

Stakeholder Interviews
Understanding the perspectives of key stakeholders was crucial to aligning the design with business objectives and technical constraints. We conducted interviews with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to gather their input on goals, priorities, and any specific challenges they anticipated. These discussions provided valuable context and helped me ensure that the design not only addressed user needs but also aligned with organizational priorities.

Heap Analytics
To complement the qualitative insights, we used Heap Analytics to analyze user behavior and gather quantitative data. By examining key metrics like user flow, drop-off points, and interaction patterns, we were able to validate hypotheses and identify areas where users were encountering friction or confusion. This data-driven approach helped us fine-tune our designs, ensuring they were grounded in real-world usage patterns.

Intuitive Navigation
A more streamlined navigation menu replaced the cluttered, multi-layered menus of the previous design. Features were grouped logically, allowing users to access what they needed in fewer clicks.

Streamlined Form Layout
To reduce cognitive load, we reorganized the form into clear, logical sections based on user workflows. Financial data fields, such as base rent, security deposits, and escalation terms, were grouped intuitively to align with the way lease administrators think. This structure made it easier to input and review critical details quickly.

Enhanced Financial Data Entry & Validation
To minimize errors, we implemented inline validation that provided instant feedback when incorrect values were entered. Tooltips and placeholders guided users in inputting financial information correctly, reducing ambiguity. Additionally, real-time calculations for total lease cost, monthly rent, and key financial milestones eliminated the need for manual math, increasing efficiency and accuracy.

Organized Lease Table
A page featuring a sortable and searchable table of lease records, allowing users to easily filter, sort, and find specific lease information at a glance.

Solution

Critical Design Enhancements

This section highlights the key design improvements made to the lease entry form, focusing on usability enhancements, financial accuracy, and workflow efficiency. Each change was implemented based on user feedback and aimed at reducing errors while streamlining the data entry process.

Introduced a new navigation system that clearly indicates the user's current location within the form and enables easy navigation to other sections.

Added a summary page that allows users to review and edit their entries for accuracy before submitting, ensuring all information is correct.

Navigation + Summary Page

Initial Contracts Design

This is the initial contacts section of the form. The toggles at the top can be confusing, and the form overall feels cluttered with too much information.

There are also too many buttons at the bottom, which could overwhelm and confuse users.

New Contracts Design

With the redesign, users can easily drag and add contacts to the lease, streamlining the process. They can also add new contacts via a simple pop-up, which opens the "Add New" form. This improves the overall flow, making it more intuitive, while also enhancing the visual appeal of the interface.

"Add New" Form

Finance vs. Operating Test Redesign

Initial Design

The Finance vs. Operating Lease Test is one of LeaseQuery's standout features. It automatically analyzes the data you input to determine whether a lease should be classified as finance or operating. We redesigned this test to provide clearer, more accurate explanations of the results, while also enhancing its visual appeal for easier understanding.

New Design

The Outcome

We are continuously engaging with users about the recent changes, and while change can be challenging, most users have expressed enthusiasm and admiration for the new designs, particularly the enhanced ease of use with the payment tables.

Following the implementation of the redesigned lease entry form, user testing and performance metrics showed significant improvements:

18% faster lease entry completion time, improving overall operational efficiency.
Higher user satisfaction, with 85% of testers reporting the form was easier to use and more intuitive.
Reduced training time for new users, as clearer labels, tooltips, and validation helped them understand financial requirements faster.

Next Steps

The next steps will involve continuing to monitor user behavior through tools like FullStory and Heap to identify any areas where users may be encountering challenges or friction. By closely tracking these insights, we can proactively address potential issues and optimize the user experience. Additionally, we will send occasional surveys to gather direct feedback from users, ensuring we remain aligned with their needs and expectations. Above all, maintaining an ongoing dialogue with users will be crucial—because user feedback is a constant source of inspiration and improvement.

LeaseQuery Redesign Redesigning accounting software to be more intuitive, user-friendly, and seamless, making it easier than ever to navigate and manage financial tasks.