Item: Microsoft Visio
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

In the design and discovery phases of our software design projects we use Microsoft Visio to map out existing paths of the IVR system that users can move thru the application as well as mapping out all future design paths that need to be developed in our future iterations planned in development

Pros and Cons

Mapping of existing software paths
Design of user experience flows
Design of development paths

Better automated pathing functionality
Better built in training tutorials
Better help me pop up suggestions

Most Important Features

Flow mapping for organizational diagrams
Design mapping for software development applications
Development planning tool

Return on Investment

Great tool for design team / mapping
Software developers all use as their ideal communication tool to explain functionality
Can be understood by all levels and functions within design, development, QA, and management teams

Alternatives Considered

Adobe InDesign and BMC Helix Business Workflows

Microsoft Visio was really the only tool our team wanted to use because it was easy for our users to learn and it integrated well in our windows environment. Management preferred it due to their years of experience working with this tool and other Microsoft products.

Key Insights

Do you think Microsoft Visio delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Microsoft Visio's feature set?

Yes

Did Microsoft Visio live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Microsoft Visio go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Microsoft Visio again?

Yes

Other Software Used

BMC Helix ITSM (Remedy), Smartsheet, Microsoft Project

Likelihood to Recommend

When planning for future development in the discovery and design phases Microsoft Visio is especially useful in understanding the planned or existing applications and how it will interact with future code. You can create detailed flow documents that help see how an application works and there is no limit to how complex you can design an application in Microsoft Visio. Given that it is a Microsoft product it is pretty intuitive to learn to use, and integrates well into existing windows application and systems

Microsoft Visio flows help visualize flows

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Visio