When to Redesign Your SaaS UX/UI: 5 Warning Signs to Watch For

In a competitive SaaS landscape, just one misstep can cost you users. Bad UX/UI design is all it takes to send your users running to the competition. However, prioritizing an intuitive user interface can make your product the preferred solution, building loyalty and long-term value.

Exceptional SaaS UX/UI design balances ease of use, visual appeal, and seamless functionality. It draws users in and engages them with an effortless and delightful user experience. 

Curious how your product stacks up? If you’re experiencing any of these five warning signs, it might be time to invest in a stronger UX/UI design strategy.

Why UX/UI Design is Critical for SaaS Success

Gone are the days when UX/UI could be an afterthought. Now, there’s no shortage of excellent design, and users have come to it. Here’s why UX/UI design is non-negotiable for SaaS success.

1. Improves Retention

When a product offers a smooth and intuitive experience, users want to stick around. A seamless design boosts user retention—a critical metric for SaaS success.

2. Boosts Conversion Rates

Many SaaS products offer a scale of free to paid services. A polished user interface reduces friction and makes converting users from one level to the next easier. Similarly, clear and user-friendly interfaces help facilitate in-app purchases. 

3. Enhances Brand Perception

Great design communicates professionalism and trust. Consistent design systems offer a clear message about a brand’s personality, helping users quickly understand what the brand stands for. Likewise, great design boosts credibility, which helps brand loyalty. 

4. Reduces Support Costs

A straightforward, user-friendly interface gives users the autonomy to accomplish their goals. By prioritizing an intuitive design, SaaS teams experience fewer questions and complaints, lowering the cost of support. 

5 Signs It’s Time to Invest in Better UX/UI Design

Is your design holding you back? If you notice these bad UX/UI symptoms, it’s time to take action. 

Sign 1: User Churn is Increasing

When user churn spikes, your SaaS interface design might be to blame. Look out for these symptoms of a design-related churn issue. 

Symptoms: 

• High churn rates
• Negative reviews about usability
• High drop-off rates during onboarding

→ Why It Matters: Poor UX/UI frustrates users, pushing them to competitors.

Sign 2: Users Struggle to Navigate Your Product

Wayfinding within your SaaS design should be intuitive and straightforward. You might have a UI problem on your hands if you notice these signs. 

Symptoms: 

• Frequent support tickets related to basic product functions
• Low feature adoption

→ Why It Matters: Confusing layouts or poor information architecture hinder usability.

Sign 3: Your SaaS Looks Outdated

In some cases, the problem is less about functionality and more about appearance. Here’s how you can determine whether your SaaS interface is behind the times. 

Symptoms: 

• An interface that hasn’t been updated in years 
• Visually unappealing designs
• UI conventions that don’t match modern standards 

→ Why It Matters: Outdated aesthetics harm credibility and make your product feel less innovative.

Sign 4: New Features Aren’t Being Adopted

If your interface is updated regularly, but your users aren’t gravitating to new features, an underlying UX issue might be to blame. Look out for these telltale signs of a problem.

Symptoms: 

• Low usage rates for new features and tools
• Low feature adoption
• Lack of engagement with interface updates

→ Why It Matters: Lack of intuitive design makes features hard to discover or understand.

Sign 5: Competitors are Winning with Better Design

If you feel like you’re doing everything right but your competitors are still winning more users, design might be the reason why. If you notice these issues, you might be falling behind the design standard in your market. 

Symptoms: 

• Losing users to rivals with sleek, modern interfaces 
• Struggling to retain users, despite feature updates and releases 

→ Why It Matters: Users expect the same level of quality and ease of use as top SaaS products.

Examples of Great SaaS UX/UI Design

To understand the power of great SaaS interface design, start by scanning the market for top-performing SaaS products. Pay particular attention to how they leverage design to stay ahead of the competition. For example, the software solutions below offer exemplary UX and UI designs and insights for improving your design. 

SaaS UX Examples:

Slack’s intuitive interface makes communicating with your team simple and straightforward.

• Notion: This all-in-one workspace software combines project management and collaboration tools with scheduling and knowledge management. Its user-friendly interface is highlighted by its intuitive onboarding and customizable user workflows. 
• Slack: This popular communication tool brings order to communication and facilitates collaboration, especially for distributed teams. With simple navigation and seamless integration of communication tools, Slack prioritizes the user experience with smart design choices. 
• Airtable: Data and project management come together in Airtable’s cloud-based spreadsheet solution. Although the tool is powerful and versatile, clear instructions and tutorials make it easy for new users to jump right in and experience the product’s value. 

What Makes Them Great:

While the tools listed above have unique use cases and strengths, they each exhibit several key SaaS UX principles. 

• Easy-to-Follow Workflows: Users can find their way quickly, without frustration or help from the support desk.

• Personalization Options That Cater to Diverse User Needs: These SaaS tools embrace flexibility. They let users customize settings, workflows, and team structures rather than locking them in a prescribed way of working. 

• Proactive Guidance for New Users During Onboarding: Each solution successfully anticipates users’ needs and questions, resulting in a seamless, helpful onboarding experience. 

SaaS UI Examples:

Figma makes design collaboration seamless with a minimalist UI and clear guidance. 

• Figma: This popular prototyping and design tool offers a lower learning curve than other design tools, thanks to its modern, clean interface and well-organized tools.
• Asana: Project management tool Asana helps teams collaborate, communicate, and work together toward goals. Its visually engaging layouts with minimal clutter make it easy for users to get right to work without wasting time trying to find what they need. 
• Zendesk: This customer service solution is designed to streamline support operations. Clear typography and color schemes that enhance readability give users the tools to help their customers effectively. 

What Makes Them Great:

These SaaS platforms exhibit UI choices that cater to a user-centered experience, including the following key principles. 

• Aesthetics That Enhance Usability: While these tools are beautiful, they are equally functional. Each element of the interface serves a purpose and is attractive. 

• Consistent Design Elements Across the Platform: These SaaS platforms support usability by applying uniform design systems throughout the product, making it easier and more intuitive for users to learn the tool and understand its features. 

• Clear Visual Hierarchy for Better User Focus: While these tools are feature-rich, they make complexity digestible for users with a clear information architecture and UI hierarchy. 

How to Improve Your SaaS UX/UI Design

If you’ve noticed one or more of the five signs of a design problem, your next step should be to begin the improvement process. Here’s how to get your SaaS design on the right track and experience the benefits of investing in UX/UI design.

Step 1: Conduct a UX Audit

Your first step is to determine the extent of the problem. Audit your UX design, including a review of user flows, interface design, and feature accessibility. Flag any areas of weakness, such as workflows with too many steps, confusing layouts, or hard-to-navigate menus. 

Step 2: Gather User Feedback

Next, clarify what your users think. Tools like Hotjar or simple surveys can help you understand user pain points. Look for trends in the data that point to larger issues. For example, users may not be able to customize their workflows in a specific way or find the needed features. 

Step 3: Simplify Navigation and Workflows

Once you’ve identified areas for improvement, work to streamline user flow within your platform. Focus on reducing clicks and making paths more intuitive for users. 

Step 4: Modernize Visual Design

Next, consider how to update the overall aesthetic of your SaaS product. Aim for a clean, modern interface design with easy-to-read color choices and typography. The look and feel of your application should feel current and of the moment while conforming to timeless digital design principles. 

Step 5: Test, Iterate, and Optimize

Finally, test your refreshed design. Use A/B testing to refine changes, hone in on high-performing design decisions, and validate your interface. This optimization step is critical to ensuring the improvement process yields results that resonate with your users.

Benefits of Investing in Better UX/UI

Improving your SaaS interface and user experience requires effort, but the payoff is worth it. With better UX/UI, expect to enjoy boosts to key business metrics that can ultimately put you ahead of the competition and lead to success. 

1. Higher Retention Rates: Users will stick around longer if your product is easy and delightful to use. 
2. Increased Customer Satisfaction: A pleasant interface supports happier users and more positive reviews for your SaaS product. 
3. Competitive Advantage: With a superior, dialed-in design, your product will stand out in a crowded market, boosting your chances of beating out the competition. 
4. Enhanced ROI: Better UX/UI design drives conversions, renewals, and revenue growth, all of which lead to a healthy bottom line and justify the cost of your investment. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Keep an eye out for these mistakes that can hinder your success. 

Overcomplicating the Design

To improve their product's overall look and feel, some teams add too many elements. Unnecessary features will confuse users and degrade your user experience. 

→ Solution: Focus on features that align with your business goals and make a big impact for your users. 

Ignoring User Input

Effective design changes are user-centered. Making UX/UI updates without considering feedback risks missing the mark.

→ Solution: Prioritize user input to determine what users want and need. 

Neglecting Mobile Optimization

Some design efforts fail to consider all screen types, leading to suboptimal interfaces for smaller screens like mobile. Drastic changes from one screen size to another can also confuse users. 

→ Solution: Ensure your SaaS works seamlessly across devices. Use consistent icons and layouts to make wayfinding easy, regardless of how users access your product. 

Ready to Level Up Your SaaS UX/UI Design?

Don’t let design mistakes keep your product from reaching its potential. If you notice user churn, navigation issues, or low feature adoption, take a closer look at your UX/UI design. These issues, as well as an outdated interface or repeatedly losing out to your competition, are all signs that you might have an underlying design problem on your hands. 

With a few deliberate changes and investment, you can take charge of your success and build a loyal user base with design, just like Slack or Figma, for example. 

Not sure if your product needs a design overhaul? Schedule a free consultation with Designli to learn how improving your product’s UX/UI design can transform your business. 

Explore Designli's UX/UI Design Services →

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