Should we build offline mode?

Question

Your team is considering building onboarding flow. How would you evaluate this decision?

Codemia · Accepted Answer

To evaluate whether to build an offline mode for HRT's onboarding flow, we need to define the scope of the problem. The key question is: **How does our current onboarding flow perform in terms of user retention and engagement when users face connectivity issues?** This involves understanding the extent to which our target users (traders, analysts, and developers in the finance industry) rely on mobile and offline capabilities when accessing our platform. We should analyze user feedback on onboarding, particularly focusing on pain points related to network dependency.

Our primary users are finance professionals who operate in fast-paced environments where access to real-time data is crucial. These users may find themselves in scenarios with poor internet connectivity, such as during travel or in remote locations. For HRT, it is essential to ensure that the onboarding process does not become a barrier to entry, especially for new users who are evaluating our platform against competitors that may offer more flexible access options. Understanding the competitive landscape will help us assess the necessity of an offline onboarding mode.

I recommend developing a lightweight offline mode for the onboarding flow that allows users to complete essential tasks without needing a constant internet connection. This could include a downloadable tutorial and the ability to save progress locally. The reasoning behind this solution is to enhance user experience and retention by minimizing friction during onboarding. Users will be able to complete onboarding steps at their convenience, which is particularly valuable in the finance sector where time is of the essence.

To track the success of the offline onboarding mode, we should focus on the following metrics:  
1. **Onboarding Completion Rate**: Measure the percentage of users who complete the onboarding process after implementing offline capabilities compared to before.  
2. **User Retention Rate**: Track the retention rate of users who completed onboarding using offline mode versus those who did not.  
3. **Time to Complete Onboarding**: Analyze the average time taken to complete the onboarding process with offline capabilities to identify efficiency improvements.  
4. **User Satisfaction Score**: Use surveys to gauge user satisfaction specifically regarding the offline onboarding experience.  
5. **Churn Rate of New Users**: Monitor the churn rate of new users in the months following the implementation to assess any impact on long-term engagement.

Key trade-offs to consider include:  
1. **Development Resources**: Building an offline mode will require additional engineering resources, which may delay other feature releases. We need to evaluate our current roadmap and prioritize accordingly.  
2. **Complexity of Implementation**: Offline functionality may introduce complexities in data synchronization when the user reconnects, leading to potential bugs or user frustration if not handled well.  
3. **User Experience vs. Functionality**: While an offline mode enhances accessibility, it may not be as rich in features as the online version. We need to ensure that the offline experience is valuable enough to justify its development without compromising the overall user experience.

Should we build offline mode?

HRT

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