SAMSUNG CLOUD
A Safe Space for Your Data
What is Samsung Cloud?
With Samsung Cloud, users can be worry-free from losing their data to a lost, stolen, or broken Samsung device. It supports an easy and seamless backup, sync, restore, and upgrade experience across all Samsung devices. Users can set up and manage their preferences from one screen, sync and view their photos across Samsung devices, and back up and restore Samsung device from a stored backup.
Users struggle to manage their data on Samsung devices.
More than 60% of users struggled with managing data on Samsung Device. Although the data managing tool(Kies) was provided to users, there had been too much customer feedback on usability. Also, many users were using other cloud services for data management.
How might we allow users to manage their data seamlessly across their samsung devices?
My Role
From 2016 to 2018, I've been leading a design team responsible for defining and realizing a vision for Samsung Cloud core features.
Our team works with partners and stakeholders across the globe and of every discipline.
What I do
- Product vision & Strategy
- User key-value & Scenarios
- Defining Design Principles
- Research Coordination
- Executive Presentations
- Wireframe & Information Architect
- Visual & Interaction Design
How it all started
Since 2016, Samsung kicked off efforts to realize an opportunity to create Samsung's unique data management system (Samsung Cloud) capabilities new.
The first step of this effort was market research to gauge user needs around the world. Also, we conducted user research to hear feedback from users who use Samsung devices.
The most significant opportunity was to create Samsung's own data management system in our users' actual use scenarios.
We know our customers want help
The key to this effort was to define the landscape and understand how we might offer differentiated value to our users. What can we help users to provide a use scenario that can easily manage their data?
People have expressed three functions as a function for data management.
Backup
Never lose what's important to users
Restore
If replacing the devices, you won't lose all data
Sync
Seamless view data across the devices
Aligning on goals
Before beginning any design work, I brought together PM, Service PM, and engineering leaders together.
We discussed the goal of agreeing to a unified vision.
Making a Design Process
We started by defining problems, conducting user research, finding user insight, and putting insight into deliverable UX concepts.
Understanding Current Situation
Kies tool, which was provided with Samsung data management function, had a significantly lower utilization rate (less than 10% of all Samsung users), and obtained insight through analysis of competitors.
1. The structure of Kies app was not entirely friendly for users, and the interfaces were not well-designed. Users complained a lot about the browsing experience with it.
2. Kies can only manage music, photos, and videos. Supported content cannot meet people’s needs to manage contacts, apps, and documents.
Samsung Kies Tool
Competitive Analysis
1. Data storage and management functions are configured to work in a seamless way with their features.
2. It provides the free capacity to attract users and provides entry points through accounts to manage the security aspects.
What role should Samsung Cloud basically support?
1. It supports various contents by identifying user needs.
2. It makes it easier for users to use it by having entry points in the device.
3. It needs to work closely with functions within Samsung's devices.
4. The account needs to select as the gateway, and the service plan accordingly shall be constructed.
Study what users want and need
Our team conducted interviews, which allowed us to go deeper to understand their personal needs and problems.
In particular, it was to listen to the exact purpose and opinions of the relevant departments in creating new services and analyze business and user purposes through research on real users.
Our high-level research questions
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What are the current user journeys and pains of data managing?
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What are their needs and goals of managing and storing data?
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What kind of data would you like to store and manage?
Generative research_User interviews
User Journey_From User interviews
What valuable things do users want?
1. Many users (more than 90 percent) are using third-party clouds due to inconvenience in managing data systems for Samsung devices.
2. Users want to store their data on cloud servers, but they are most concerned about security issues.
3. Users need the functions to check and manage their current status.
4. The use cases that require data management are when changing devices and using multi-device.
5. Users had different demands on whether to save as a backup or as a real-time sync function, depending on the type of file.
Learning from our users
Supports integrated cloud capabilities
: Integrated cloud storage for backup, store, and data storage is required. The scenario of backup, sync, and store use should consider through user journey analysis.
Gateway into the functions
: Access to the function makes it easy and allows access securely.
Seamless integration with Samsung Features
: Saved data and seamless integration of Samsung devices should be supported. Also, the experience of using multiple devices between devices should be considered for users who use more than one device
A dashboard that lets you gather information at a glance
: Users want to check the storage status. Much of the information about storage needs to be adequately visualized and communicated.
Tailor to context
: What users want and what environments they want to manage their data vary. Detailed settings are provided for this purpose.
Cloud information
- Cloud usage, Storage, Downloaded status, Detail settings
Synced contents
- Calendar, Contacts saved in Samsung account, Samsung Internet browser, Samsung Keyboard data
Backup and restored contents
- Calendar, Contacts saved in Device and SIM, Call logs, Home Screen Layout, Apps, Device Settings
, Messages, Files
The Easy Way Back to "Your Data"
Always Have Your Memories with You
A Safe Space for Your Data
Keep things just how users want it. Even if you upgrade or reset your phone, instantly return.
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Users' memories are always with you. By simply turning on sync, automatically upload your photos to the cloud so you can look back at them any time.
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Keep your vacation photos, all-important work files, and more, in one safe place.
Defining design concept
Rebuild User Journey
Based on the design insights, we constructed the information architecture such that there was a minimal level of difficulty in immediately accessing relevant information. After all, the goal of this product is to enable users to quickly and easily view information.
Challenging our assumptions
One of the most important crossroads we faced in this process was determining the ideal interaction way for how we presented an easy and guided way. We specifically had 2 key questions we wanted to answer in testing:
1. Is the design unobtrusive, yet noticeable?
2. Does the user understand the information they want to check?
With that in mind, we took options for usability test with participants.
To provide an easy entry path
SETUP Wizard(OOBE) is the first user-set-up process on the device. At the end of this process, information and pathways to the cloud were considered to reduce user entry barriers. The setting name and menu structure were also tested as the setting was determined as a policy path to the cloud.
Setup wizard > Samsung Account Page
Settings > Samsung Cloud: The entry point in the settings app
Efficient way to get the information
I made several proposals for the design of the cloud's first page. We thought about how to deliver the information that users wanted to get on the first page most efficiently and conducted tests.
The finished design
SETP WIZARD : First Screen to Introduce Features
When users set up the device for the first time, the Samsung account page in setup wizard displayed the benefits for inducing user sing up. After the user signs, it provides a page to set cloud features at the setup wizard stage. With user feedback that the information delivered after the release of the S7 is not efficient, the following models are presented with more concise but accurate information.
Samsung cloud features added to Settings application
Samsung cloud is added to "Cloud and accounts" under settings app. Users can backup and sync the data according to user preferences. The tablet provides the setting as a split and reconstructs the screen with the appropriate design component.
Samsung Cloud menu
In this menu, the user can check and control all features related to Samsung cloud as same as Web service. All status, usage, and remaining storage are display in the visualized diagram for easy understanding by users. The user test was conducted by analyzing sync and backup by function and finally applied the support function.
Cloud Storage Plan
For next devices, modify screen layout and buttons for changing the storage plan.
Multi devices
By using Samsung cloud service, multi-devices connected to one account can be managed and controlled the data easily and almost at the same time.
New web design
We redesigned the web page with the same concept as the new mobile design.
Guide to interaction design
The project was developed webs, mobile, and tablet at the same time. After launching S7, Note 7, which was the first device integrated to Samsung cloud feature, Samsung cloud web and mobile are co-working for developing new features and adding more values to the elements. Also, users can use and feel seamless service between the website and hands-on devices at the user experience view. For me, it was an excellent opportunity to learn about the importance of service strategy and the consistency of user experience on multiple devices through this project.
Learn from the project
Press & Mentions
https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/samsung-cloud
...With Samsung Cloud, you can be worry-free from losing your data to a lost, stolen, or broken Galaxy device. Get an easy and seamless backup, sync, restore, and upgrade experience.
...Samsung Cloud: A Better Way to Upgrade, Back Up and Sync Your Galaxy Device
https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-cloud-storage-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it
...Samsung Cloud storage: Everything you need to know about it.
https://ausdroid.net/2017/05/06/new-galaxy-s8-comes-samsung-cloud-sure-understand/
...Your new Galaxy S8 comes with Samsung Cloud … be sure you understand what it does.