Heuristic evaluation of Bigbasket application — a UX case study
I performed heuristic evaluation for the Bigbasket application (Android Version) using Nielsen’s 10 general principles for interaction design. Bigbasket is India’s leading online supermarket shopping app.
A heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method mainly used to identify any design issues associated with the user interface.
There are 10 general principles by Jakob Nielsen’s for interaction design. They are called “heuristics” because they are broad rules of thumb and not specific usability guidelines.
Let’s see the evaluation of the bigbasket app according to the 10 principles-
1. Visibility Of System Status
When user searches for any product on bigbasket or clicks on any product/category, it shows “Please wait..” keeping the users informed about the action being performed and to wait for the results.
Heuristic Violated: No
2. Match between System and Real World
Bigbasket uses terms like “Smart basket”, “Third party Payment Wallets” that are system oriented terms and not familiar to the user. Real world conventions not followed.
Heuristic Violated: Yes
3. User Control and Freedom
At any point of time if the user has added an item by mistake, he/she can remove the item added. The user also has the freedom to remove the item from the basket just before checkout.
Heuristic Violated: No
4. Consistency and Standards
Bigbasket maintains the consistency by placing the search on top, hamburger menu on the top left corner and profile details on the top right corner which is convenient to the users and does not makes them think much.
Heuristic Violated: No
5. Error Prevention
When the user tries to voice search any item on bigbasket, it asks the user for permission to record audio before they perform the action.
Heuristic Violated: No
6. Recognition rather than recall
The “Search” in bigbasket minimizes the memory load of users by making options, history visible.
Heuristic Violated: No
7. Flexibility and efficiency of use
While a novice user can easily add a pack of fruits in the default manner, an experienced user can always refine the search by adding filters like price.
Heuristic Violated: No
8. Aesthetic and minimalist design
Popups displaying too much of information on the same screen making the design cluttery and difficult for the users to stay focused on the primary information.
There are two delivery options displaying irrelevant information and leaving users in a confused state.
Heuristic Violated: Yes
9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
When a user selects an item and the selected item is out of stock, it notifies user the item is out of stock and also gives an option “Notify me” to the users so that they do not panic and are satisfied of being informed when the item is available.
Heuristic Violated: No
10. Help and documentation
Bigbasket provides customer service that provides help/support to the users with the option of call/message. Also, it has documented the FAQs for users to provide them ease in using the application.
Heuristic Violated: No
The Take Away 📝
Utilizing Jakob Nielsen's heuristics when evaluating interface design of bigbasket application helped identify usability problems with individual elements and how they impact the overall user experience.
Heuristic evaluation can be a useful inspection method and can improve the usability, utility, and desirability of the designs.
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