FastBill Advance VAT Return

See it live

Role

Lead Designer

Timeline

2018

Team

Profile picture of Yang Meyer Reifenrath Profile picture of Arne Bahlo

Overview

Recognizing the demand for advance VAT return functionality in FastBill, my team and I initiated the development of this highly requested feature. In Germany, the official advance VAT return document is complex and cumbersome. Within a short timeframe, we conceptualized, designed, tested, and implemented the feature.

We aimed to promptly alert users to potential actions or misleading entries, fostering transparency and understanding. This proactive communication strategy not only simplified the overall process but also aimed to build trust in our product among users.

Approach

In the early stages, we formulated hypotheses to guide our development process, one of which centered around determining the number of fields from the official German advance VAT return document needed to satisfy the majority of our users.

Through validation, we swiftly confirmed this hypothesis, enabling us to streamline our focus on incorporating only the essential fields in the initial iteration. This approach allowed us to prioritize user needs and expedite the development process.

Overview of all past transmissions.
The second step of our three-step form is the main interaction area for our customers. Here, they need to enter incoming and outgoing amounts of money for their VAT declaration.
The final step appears during the submission process, displaying all entered data to the user.

Outcome

The advance VAT return feature stood out as one of the most successful and seamlessly integrated additions to FastBill during my tenure.

The concluding step of the overall flow, especially the screen displaying a comprehensive overview of user inputs and financial implications, excelled in both user testing sessions and post-release.

The incorporation of a test run functionality further contributed to lowering user anxiety levels. This feature allowed users to gain a clear understanding of the specific data that would be transmitted, enhancing confidence and usability.