A new colleague opens a GIS application with a straightforward task to complete. The information is available, but the next step is unfamiliar. A short explanation at that moment can be more useful than another document to read beforehand.
GeoApps supports interactive demos and walkthroughs that provide step-by-step guidance inside the application. Users can follow instructions while working, keeping the explanation close to the task.
Give users a clear place to start
For example, consider a colleague preparing for a project meeting. They need to locate an area, choose relevant information and understand what they are looking at. An introduction organised around that task gives them a practical reason to explore the application.
A useful starting point for onboarding is therefore a familiar question: what does this person need to accomplish? Build the explanation around that objective, with a clear beginning and an understandable endpoint.
An interactive walkthrough introduces the map legend and explains how to explore available layers.
Bring guidance into the working day
GeoApps walkthroughs can introduce tasks such as finding map layers, viewing object information, applying filters and using dashboards. Consequently, users can receive support without repeatedly switching between the application and a separate manual.
Consider a task performed only occasionally. Someone may have completed training months earlier but still need a reminder today. In that situation, a brief sequence of relevant instructions offers a manageable way back into the workflow.
Match the explanation to the audience
Walkthroughs can be configured separately for each app through GeoApps Manage. This allows guidance to reflect the functions and workflows of a particular application.
When planning that guidance, consider how audiences differ. A project coordinator might need a short orientation, while a regular user may benefit from instructions for a less familiar task. Keep each explanation focused, and review whether its wording makes sense to someone encountering the process for the first time.
Make learning part of using GIS
Interactive demos and walkthroughs support onboarding and feature discovery. They also provide a first point of help for recurring questions, alongside documentation, training and personal support.
For application teams, a practical next step is to identify where users hesitate. Start with one common task, define what successful completion looks like and consider where guidance would help. This keeps onboarding connected to the work people actually need to do.
Give your users a clearer next step
Explore how interactive walkthroughs could support your organisation’s GeoApps applications and onboarding approach.
