SAP Business ByDesign: the "feel good factor"

At the SAP Business ByDesign launch event press conference, I submitted the following question via email:

“Please describe the importance of the new user interface for this particular product. Was the design process different from previous SAP development efforts?“

The short answer is the development process was different, based on experience gained in developing SAP Solution Manager. At the same time, the SAP Palo Alto office developed careful user interface style guides and standards to be used consistently throughout the application.

Although the web broadcast was fuzzy, and I could not easily see the screens, it's clear SAP has focused on a key aspect of the new Business ByDesign software. Regardless of features, the workflow and user interface are absolutely critical components to the success of this new solution. When potential small business customers view the software, their overall comfort level will be influenced by whether or not those screens feel good. The "feel good factor" will play a key role in whether or not small businesses adopt this Business ByDesign software.