"One Tap Away" – Redesigning Multi-Module Approvals
The mobile HRIS platform supported various HR operations like Leave, Overtime, and Attendance — each with its own approval function hidden within. While modularity was great for organization, it introduced friction for managers who needed to approve requests across multiple modules daily.
👨🏻💼💬
“I need to approve 3 things, but I have to open 3 menus, scroll, tap, and wait... It’s frustrating” — User Interview, Mobile Manager
💥 Key Problems on Mobile
Approval actions were buried deep in each parent module (e.g., Leave > Approval)
Managers couldn’t see pending approvals at a glance
No easy way to switch between modules quickly within approval context
Mobile UX made multi-layer navigation slower and less intuitive
🧪 Initial Hypothesis
If we create a centralized mobile screen where users can see categorized approvals by module (e.g., Leave, Attendance, Sick Permission), they can complete tasks faster with fewer taps and less friction.
🔬 Research Highlights
70% of managers checked HRIS only from mobile
Users spent 3–5 minutes navigating just to find the approval screen
Preferred modular grouping over single flat list
🛠️ Solution: Mobile-Centric “My Approvals” Screen
🔹 Design Decisions:
New Tab in Inbox Nav Bar: “My Approvals” with a badge counter
Inside the page:
Categorized by module (Leave, Overtime, etc.)
Each list displays number of pending requests
Tap to expand → see request list for that module
Each item supports swipeable quick actions (e.g., approve/reject)
✅ Outcomes
🕒 Navigation time reduced by 41% on average
📉 Drop-off rate decreased in approval funnel (from 28% → 11%)
💬 Positive feedback in post-rollout interviews:
👨🏻💼 “Finally, it feels like the app knows what I need.”
📚 Reflection
This was a mobile-first UX challenge — not just about centralizing, but about simplifying access without losing context. I learned that on mobile, clarity beats cleverness.
“A good mobile experience isn’t just responsive — it’s intentional.”
