Guided User Interface for ERP Process Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ERP software systems rely heavily on user inputs, leading to user confusion and errors due to changes in process flows or user interfaces, which require users to learn new procedures and navigate through extensive documentation.
Innovation Solution
A software system that generates a fully guided approach to data entry by identifying the current state of a process, annotating process models with user interface elements, and mapping process activities to user interface locations, thereby guiding users through the data entry process without requiring them to learn new inputs or navigate complex interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ERP software provides comprehensive user interfaces with multiple commands and fields, then the system can handle complex business processes, but users experience confusion and delays when unsure which inputs are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive user interface into focused, task-specific views. Instead of presenting all possible commands and fields at once, the system divides the interface to show only the relevant inputs and actions needed for the current process step, reducing cognitive load while maintaining full process capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the interface have different levels of detail and interactivity based on the current process context. The interface dynamically adjusts which fields are visible, enabled, or highlighted, providing detailed guidance where needed and simplicity where appropriate
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system updates process flows or user interfaces to improve functionality, then the system becomes more capable, but users must learn new procedures and navigate changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the user interface in advance for upcoming process steps by pre-loading and pre-positioning the relevant inputs and controls. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when process updates occur, the interface is already optimized for the new workflow, reducing the learning curve and adaptation time for users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the user interface dynamic and adaptive to process changes. The interface automatically reconfigures itself based on the current process state, highlighting relevant fields and dimming or hiding irrelevant ones, allowing users to adapt to process updates without extensive retraining
3Ease of operation
If the user interface provides extensive documentation and guidance, then users can learn new procedures, but the interface becomes more complex and harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts guidance and documentation from the main interface view and presents it in a separate, on-demand manner. Context-sensitive help and documentation are available when users need them but do not clutter the primary workflow interface, maintaining simplicity while providing comprehensive support
Data Source
AI summary
The example embodiments are directed to systems and methods which may provide a guided user interface session for user input to a software process based on annotations added to a process model of the software process. In one example, a method may include receiving runtime data of an instance of software process from a workflow engine that is executing the instance of the software process, determining a process activity that is excepted to happen next within the running instance of the software process, identifying GUI and a subset of input elements within the GUI which are mapped to the determined process activity based on annotations within a process model of the software process, highlighting the identified subset of input elements and disabling any remaining input elements within the GUI to generate a guided GUI, and displaying the guided GUI via a computing system of a user.