SaaS Redesign Research Framework · CHAPTER 3 OF 5

Industry language and processes

Terminology Research

Step 1

Terminology includes:

1

Module names

2

Short forms

3

Status names

4

Process terms

5

Role names

6

Compliance terms

7

Report names

First, decode the language of the industry.

Before redesigning, identify all industry-specific terms used across the product, workflows, documents, screens, and client discussions.

First, decode the language of the industry.

Before redesigning, identify all industry-specific terms used across the product, workflows, documents, screens, and client discussions.

Terminology includes:

1

Module names

2

Short forms

3

Status names

4

Process terms

5

Role names

6

Compliance terms

7

Report names

Wrong terminology creates wrong design decisions.

If a key term is misunderstood, the redesign can move in the wrong direction from the start.

Because in SaaS software, terminology is connected to workflows, approvals, reports, permissions, and compliance.

One wrong assumption can force the team to rework entire flows, screens, and navigation later.

Wrong

Correct

Wrong terminology creates wrong design decisions.: Wrong Correct

Wrong terminology creates wrong design decisions.

If a key term is misunderstood, the redesign can move in the wrong direction from the start.

Because in SaaS software, terminology is connected to workflows, approvals, reports, permissions, and compliance.

One wrong assumption can force the team to rework entire flows, screens, and navigation later.

Wrong

Correct

Wrong terminology creates wrong design decisions.: Wrong Correct

Understand what each term means

where
it is used

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

who
uses it

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

why
it matters.

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

Understand what each term means

where
it is used

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

who
uses it

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

why
it matters.

Understand what each term means: whereit is used who uses it why it matters.

Example

A designer searches “BMR” without pharma context and gets Basal Metabolic Rate.

But in pharma software, BMR means Batch Manufacturing Record — a core manufacturing process connected to approvals, compliance, and audit trails.


So if the term is misunderstood, the redesign can place information in the wrong flow, use incorrect labels, miss important Guidelines, or simplify something that shouldn't be.

Illustration accompanying Example
Illustration accompanying Example
Illustration accompanying Example
Illustration accompanying Example
Illustration accompanying Example

Example

A designer searches “BMR” without pharma context and gets Basal Metabolic Rate.

But in pharma software, BMR means Batch Manufacturing Record — a core manufacturing process connected to approvals, compliance, and audit trails.

So if the term is misunderstood, the redesign can place information in the wrong flow, use incorrect labels, miss important Guidelines, or simplify something that shouldn't be.

BMR search without industry context: Basal Metabolic Rate.
BMR search with pharma context: Batch Manufacturing Record.

That is why terminology research is
done first.

“One wrong meaning can lead to the wrong redesign direction. “

“One wrong meaning can lead to the wrong redesign direction. “

That is why terminology research is done first.

Step 2 Industry Process Research

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process

Industry process research helps the design team understand how that specific industry works before changing the product experience.

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process: What does this industry do? What actual process look like? What regulations matter? What risks do teams manage? What are common processes? Industry research helps answer:

What does this industry do?

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process: What does this industry do? What actual process look like? What regulations matter? What risks do teams manage? What are common processes? Industry research helps answer:

What actual process look like?

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process: What does this industry do? What actual process look like? What regulations matter? What risks do teams manage? What are common processes? Industry research helps answer:

What regulations matter?

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process: What does this industry do? What actual process look like? What regulations matter? What risks do teams manage? What are common processes? Industry research helps answer:

What risks do teams manage?

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process: What does this industry do? What actual process look like? What regulations matter? What risks do teams manage? What are common processes? Industry research helps answer:

What are common processes?

Industry research helps answer:

After Terminology, Understand the Industry Process

Industry process research helps the design team understand how that specific industry works before changing the product experience.

Industry research helps answer:

What does this industry do?

What actual process look like?

What regulations matter?

What risks do teams manage?

What are common processes?

Poor Research Can Break Workflows.

Without proper industry understanding, the design team may make decisions based only on how the screen looks, not how the work actually happens.

This includes:

1

Simplify compliance-required steps

2

Short forms

3

Status names

4

Process terms

5

Role names

6

Compliance terms

7

Report names

Poor Research Can Break Workflows.

Without proper industry understanding, the design team may make decisions based only on how the screen looks, not how the work actually happens.

This includes:

1

Simplify compliance-required steps

2

Short forms

3

Status names

4

Process terms

5

Role names

6

Compliance terms

7

Report names

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose

Clarity

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

Trust

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

Control

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose

Clarity

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

Trust

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

Control

In complex software, this can make the redesign worse than the old version because users may lose: Clarity Trust Control

FRAMEWORK CONTENTS

SaaS Redesign Research Framework

Search documentation

Search scope

Search across all eight guides.

Diagram detail