Modern look for Rowa Vmax – UID gives automated storage system a new face

The background

Rowa Automatisierungssysteme GmbH is Europe's leading enterprise for automated storage in pharmacies. Its product range includes the intelligent storage and order-picking system Rowa Vmax, supporting pharmacies in storing and retrieving drugs and in stock controlling.

The starting point

Users mainly operated Rowa Vmax via mouse and keyboard. Important functions could be accessed via function keys. However, it was not always clear what function was behind which key. The user interface also offered the user too much and irrelevant information, such as packaging dimensions or the ID number of external systems.
Apart from modernizing the product design, the user interface of Rowa Vmax was to be redesigned. The GUI design was focused on the hardware design.

The objectives

• A new user interface adjusted to the users' needs and optimized for touch screen use
• Hardware that perfectly matches the screen and icon design
• Easy practicability of the GUI design for the entire product family
• Maintaining the connection with the existing backend system

The procedure

To determine where operating problems arose with the existing GUI and what demands users have on a new interface, the UID experts firstly analyzed the context of use: They conducted context interviews with representative users in pharmacies and observed their work with Rowa Vmax.
Based on the results gained, the team developed an interaction concept. Using Microsoft SketchFlow, the usability engineers of UID were able to interactively visualize the sketches which allowed a tangible experience for customers on the one hand, and designers and software engineers on the other hand.
A mood chart workshop with all project partners helped to agree on a look and feel of the future design. Based on the jointly developed design style, the UID designers created the icon and screen design.
After completing the interaction and design drafts, UID implemented the prototype of the .NET interface in close collaboration with the Rowa team. The scrum method ensured exact adherence to the planned development schedule.

The result

• From the concept via design to implementation – the common language of XAML did not only ensure a more efficient user-centered design process but also exact implementation of the design drafts into a dynamic interface.
• The Model-View-ViewModel pattern allows the UID team to independently develop the design of the user interface and the business logic. Designers are able to change the screen design at any time without any problem and without modifying the entire logic. Furthermore, the Model-View-ViewModell pattern contributes to quality assurance: With unit tests, an extensively automated GUI can be tested.
• The UID software engineers exported the information on the designto a Resource Dictonary, which facilitates the implementation of the new GUI design for the entire product family.
• The interface of the Rowa Vmax is fully controllable via touch screen. A well structured interface and well thought out navigation facilitate orientation. The user is optimally guided through workflows such as goods storage. Relevant information and available functions can be seen at a glance. For example, all selectable elements in the content area are clearly marked in blue color and blue icons.
• The product design and the user interface form a harmonious unit: The elegant design picks up the forms and colors of the hardware. According to the dark and bright appearance of the product design, UID designed two different skins for the GUI. The user may choose between the two variants.

"UID professionally supported us in developing a new GUI. The new user interface gives Rowa Vmax a unique, attractive design and more than fulfils the high technical quality standards of Rowa, securing us a clear competitive advantage in connection with the relaunch of our corporate identity and the new, high-quality product design", says Dirk Wingenter, managing director of Rowa.

Project reference from 2010