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Blog Design & UI/UX

The Effortless Experience

Alex Deckard
March 27, 2019 |
womens-day

What makes for an exceptional experience? It’s not what you may think…

Think about your commute to work. If you’re in the majority, chances are it’s a hectic, stress-filled time of day. Maybe you have to drive, take a bus or train, taxi, walk great distances, or any combination of the above. Perhaps it takes 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, or even more time just to get to work and back every day. Most would probably rate their commute as one of the worst experiences of their daily routine.

Are commutes made better by being provided with more options? Some would chose to drive vs take the bus and vice-versa if those are options are available.

Are commutes made better by additional features? Again, if there’s free wifi on the train or bus, perhaps some may choose one of these modes because of an available feature.

However, everything else being equal, if someone had to choose between a short (under 5 minute) walk to work, or endure a long commute, with all the options to choose from and modern features included, there is no doubt they would choose the short walk.

Why? Because it’s the experience that requires the least amount of effort, and perhaps is even a bit pleasurable.

Choosing Simple Over More


In his book, The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty, Product & Research Officer Matt Dixon found that customers were 94% more likely to repurchase a product or service that yielded a low-effort experience in comparison to experiences that were based on additional options, features, or “customer delight.” Furthermore, he found that 88% of customers increased spending as a result of a low-effort experience.

Back to the transportation example – why did Uber succeed in completely disrupting the taxi market? It wasn’t because they allowed you to choose the type of car, the interior features, or color. It was because they made getting a taxi easier than it had ever been before.

As we build out our products and services here at DCKAP, we need to continually be asking ourselves, “Does this option, feature, process, or transaction reduce effort for customers?” It could be as simple as ensuring our customers can hear and understand us by checking that we’re audible and clear over the phone before a meeting or call that leads to an effortless experience, or a frustrating one.

It’s not the option-filled experience.
It’s not the feature-packed experience.
It’s the effortless experience.


Alex Deckard

Alex has over a decade working as a web & UX designer with a strong e-commerce background. In his work, he takes pride in his ability to effectively communicate and relate design decisions to clients, as well as values, first and foremost, the client’s trust. When not behind a computer, Alex can be found roaming the vast expanse of the American West with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.

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