Reimagining Yacht management software with scalable UI/UX design

CLIENT: IDEA Data Solutions GmbH

COUNTRY: Germany

IDEA Data Solutions GmbH, based in Germany, is a leading provider of yacht management solutions through its flagship platform IDEA Yacht. Possessing over 20 years of industry expertise, this company supports a wide range of clientele ranging from superyacht owners, captains, and fleet operators around the world. This software company offers solutions that streamline maintenance, safety compliance, crew management, and inventory tracking in yacht management. IDEA Data Solutions GmbH is trusted across the entire maritime sector globally. Moreover, this company is renowned for building solutions that simplify complex yacht operations with innovative, user-friendly technology.

The Vessel Database is one of the most important modules of IDEA Data Solutions GmbH. But their Vessel Database had numerous user navigation issues. It was outdated and inconsistent. We at Exline Labs joined hands with IDEA Data Solutions GmbH to redesign the module in order to address the above-mentioned challenges. By leveraging the expertise of skilled UI engineers and UX engineers at Exline Labs, we undertook the custom user interface design and custom user experience design. 

We delivered a modern and scalable Vessel Database  with enhanced usability. Furthermore, we transformed complex workflows into simplified workflows while aligning the Vessel Database with the branding vision of IDEA Data Solutions GmbH.

Though the Vessel Database was the heart of the yacht management operations, its outdated design caused friction for users for a greater extent. Consequently, the major processes such as crew management, expense tracking, and reporting were slowed down due to cluttered forms, confusions in the navigation, and inconsistent layouts. Those issues directly affected efficiency and weakened the overall usability of the platform. 

IDEA Data Solutions GmbH had a long-term vision. That is why, they requested a long-term solution that blends custom user interface design and custom user experience design, which is backed by a scalable design system that has the potential to be extended across all modules of their yacht management platform.

Prior to moving into the design phase, we needed to understand why the old Vessel Database was slowing people down. There, we at Exline Labs worked closely with the leadership of  IDEA Data Solutions GmbH through workshops to align on business goals. Via those workshops, we could listen to the people who used the system every day. The user group comprised yacht managers, crew admins, and finance teams.

According to our findings, we realized that the forms were super complicated. Moreover the workflows between modules did not match up. Furthermore, reporting was highly painful for the user groups due to cluttered data tables. 

In order to capture the above-mentioned issues, we built user personas that reflected real roles on board and then we mapped their journeys through the system. This practice made it easy to spot the exact friction points that frustrated users and caused mistakes.

By discovering these challenges early, we could give the redesign a solid direction which is focused not just on new visuals, but on fixing ground-level problems with a user-centered approach.

Upon discovering the core issues, we moved to the next phase. Our next step was to rebuild the Vessel Database in a way that can actually make sense for everyday users. There, Exline Labs restructured the entire system. Consequently, tasks could move smoothly from entering vessel details to generating financial reports without going through extra steps that slowed people down before.

Moreover, we reorganized the confusing navigation menus and fixed them into a clear, logical structure. We created layouts that were easy to follow and harder to get wrong especially for form-heavy areas like expenses, revenue proposals, and approvals. By redesigning the information architecture and simplifying task flows, we could set the stage for a system that feels straightforward and super efficient.

One of the core requirements of IDEA Data Solutions GmbH was to transform the entire platform into a cohesive platform. In order to meet that requirement, we created a scalable design system that could bring every module into alignment. Buttons, input fields, tables, modals, and navigation were standardized for consistency and ease of use. Moreover, responsive layouts ensured that the entire system worked smoothly across devices.

Furthermore, we integrated IDEA Data Solutions GmbH’s brand kit including colors, typography, icons, and spacing. Consequently, the software not only looked modern but reinforced the IDEA Data Solutions GmbH’s identity. This approach makes future updates faster and keeps the platform feeling polished, trust-building and professional.

We followed a step-by-step design process. There we started with simple wireframes to map layouts, Next we moved to polish mockups that reflected the brand. We created clickable prototypes so that  users had a chance to test real workflows, and then we could collect feedback from their end. Their feedback helped us refine forms, enhance readability, and speed up tasks. We made sure to guide each and every step by user insights, to build the final design worked in practice to the fullest.

We redesigned IDEA Data Solutions GmbH’s Vessel Database into a tool that is easy-to-use and powerful. The new interface made it easy to enter vessel details without any errors, create and approve revenue proposals quickly, and keep track of expenses through clear financial dashboards. Furthermore, reporting became faster with cleaner comparison views. Other than that, approval pop-ups ensured smoother workflows. We combined smart design with real user feedback, so that the Vessel Database now functions with a modern, user-friendly look.

Upon completing and finalizing the designs, Exline Labs made sure that our development team had everything they needed to bring them to life without guesswork. We provided detailed design specs directly from Figma, complete with spacing, assets, and responsive layout notes for desktop and mobile. Formerly prepared clear component guidelines showed how each element should behave. The documentation packs were prepared to explain usage rules, error states, and edge cases.

By handing over a well-prepared design package, we removed uncertainty and ensured that the overall development process was fast, accurate, and frustration-free.

The redesign finally resulted in a massive impact on the usability and the overall business value of the Vessel Database.

Usability was improved by reducing the time taken for form completion.  Moreover, we could decrease the error rates. We made sure that all the modules on the Vessel Database follow the same design to maintain the UI consistent. The consistency of the UI helps a lot to grow the users’ confidence levels.

We could transform reporting and financial tasks speedier and most importantly, those tasks reporting and financial tasks became faster and more accurate than ever. Our team of UI engineers and UX engineers created the design system easing up the future scalability so that developers can apply additional modules with minimal effort in the future upgrades.

The project timeline was somewhat tight and the entire redesign process was completed in just 8 weeks:

This case study showcases the importance and the impact of combining custom user interface design with custom user experience design. Throughout this project, we helped IDEA Data Solutions GmbH via addressing user pain points and building a scalable design system. There, we at Exline Labs helped IDEA Data Solutions GmbH to level-up their yacht management platform ensuring scalability.  

Utilising the blended expertise of our UI engineers and UX engineers, we delivered a yacht management software solution possessing high-level usability. Moreover, the developed solution enhanced the overall brand experience. Consequently, this solution transformed yacht management into more efficient, consistent, and user-friendly operation.