Journyx Download Process
Goal
Journyx’s goal is to make it easier for companies to track times for projects, payroll and billings wherever the user is located -- simply and through a web based interface. It seems to be a logistical type software to facilitate the information gathering that the financial services department of a company would normally do by paper. They are aiming to automate labor-intensive, paper-based processes with a web-based solution. They try to improve a company’s payroll system and time collection systems that were in place.
Audience
The main target audiences of Journyx are managers, small businesses, workgroups, or departmental levels of larger organizations, who have people out in the work field and who travel often.
Overall page itself
When first looking at the Journyx web site I was a little overwhelmed. There is so much information piled onto the first page it is hard to figure out where you actually want to be. (See Figure 1) Providing as much help as possible with a wide variety of options to the user are always good ideas, but it’s important to remember: clutter on a web site can lead to confusion. I think the page layout needs to redone to create more emphasis on important areas and messages of the website. I think this website can be more effect just by creating contrast in the typography. There is barely differentiation between the headings of a list of links and the links themselves. The type points are all the same size in the columns. I had to search for the download link. I felt it was a little bit to tedious to search for a link to download the software. Two other timesheet program websites, Chores 2000 and Timesheet Professional, offer a clear link to download their software, immediately and in plain site. I also thought there might have been too many clicks in order to get to the software download. The last page offered choices of an ftp download or a http download. I think the website should make that decision for me. Although straight forward, the site needs to be more aware to emphasize important links and try to keep the download process to two clicks or less. A good thing about this site is that they offer the user an option to take a tour of the software with pictures and information about the software itself, unfortunately this isn't easy to get to. This is the main problem with the site, it makes you fill out information for everything from downloading the software to taking the tour, at least they offer the option to remember you. Still, it would help them out a lot if they only asked for this information when downloading the software not when just trying to take the tour or try the online demo.
(Figure 1) Home page of Journyx.com , here the user is confronted with a lot more choices to sort through and notice the vast blank space in the top area. It would better serve as an area for a tagline, or quick links to areas such as a free trial download, a tour etc. for first-time visitors.
Download process
Part of the downloading experience is finding the place where you can actually execute the download. Journyx provides more than one way to get to their download options. One, you can click on a link to one of their featured products and, from there, be led to “download a free trial.” Or two, you can scroll down their main page until you see the download link on their sidebar menu under the “Solution Central” heading. Either path will eventually take to the user registration screen.
Upon arrival at the downloads section I started out by filling out their form with lots of personal information. Besides all the personal information I was immediately struck by the irritating country pulldown menu. I would guess that just about anyone else that has gone through this form has probably been bothered by this menu. The first choice is Afghanistan which immediately makes me think; "hmmm is this software even available for users in Afghanistan?". In the next three seconds I begin to scroll down on the menu and then start to entertain a number of questions concerning this menu; "Do I want to scroll ALL the way down to find the U.S? Or should I just enter Afghanistan and move on?" "Geez! this is the longest countries menu I have ever seen, is this really necessary – does anyone in Sierra Leone use this software? Where the heck is the U.S.?" Finally, upon arrival at the U.S. I think; "Wow! I'm finally here, why isn't it the first item? They are a U.S. company with mostly U.S. clients, right?" A better approach would be to have a simple pull down menu, with a few basic options like, U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other, then allow the user to enter in their country if not listed.
Once I got the software onto my computer it and ran it, I was prompted with something unexpected. Their software requires that the IIS Server be installed. This normally wouldn't be a problem, but due to the recent outbreak of Code Red 2 I had removed it. This I would have to say is a drawback to their software. Another issue is that somewhat pesky that some Mac users have found, is that they go through the whole form process, only to learn that the software is not available for the Mac OS. In signing up for the timeledger.com free trial, I found it to be just as easy as the journyx.com setup, but you are informed up front exactly what you get in return for your information. Here you don't feel like your "risking" anything, the site informs you right up front what you get – I find that polite and respectful.
After proceeding with the rest of the download steps, I found it overall to be rather painless. I thought the experience was rather typical among other, similar organizations. It was laid out very simply and there were only a few steps to go through to get to the actual download section. The only thing I came across that could be an issue with users is that you are not given any information pertaining to what is available for download without first giving out a lot of personal information. I know I would be hesitant to give a company my address and email when I am not sure of what I am getting in return.
If they can fix some problems with clutter on their website, and perhaps get a interactive Quick Start guide implemented, they will provide a superb downloading experience.