Jun 18, 2025
Enhancing Report-Building Efficiency for Power Users
Designing a bulk filter selection workflow that reduces effort and saves time for BI power users who handle large, repetitive datasets.
Product Design
Dashboards
Executive Summary
Power users needed a faster way to make large selections in filter dropdowns.
Eliminating repetitive selection effort
BI users building reports struggled with time-intensive filter selections. Through contextual inquiry, I identified that the real need was not CSV import (original request) but a faster and more flexible bulk selection method.
The solution was a code-pasting workflow with smart validations, enabling users to copy codes directly from Excel and apply them at once. This significantly reduced effort and improved productivity for users who handle hundreds of selections.
My Role and Team
A cross-functional collaboration focused on performance, workflow design, and user needs.
UX Designer (Me): Research, workflows, interaction design patterns, and validation handling.
Product Manager: Prioritisation, scope definition, and alignment with business goals.
Engineering Team: Engineering Lead and 5 developers focusing on feasibility, optimisation, and implementation.
Together we approached the challenge holistically, ensuring user needs, technical constraints, and business requirements remained balanced throughout the project.
Problem space Research
Understanding how BI users select items at scale: Contextual inquiry and workflow discovery
During contextual inquiry, I observed BI users building reports inside their workflow environment. This helped surface the real pain points.
Users repeatedly searched and selected items one by one.
Many relied on Excel sheets of codes/names, switching between Excel and the report builder repeatedly.
The process was time-consuming and error-prone.
Huge effort investment, significant time cost, and distraction from core task of analysing data and generating insights
From Request to Real Need
What users asked for was not the true solution.
"Can we just import a CSV file?"
Users initially asked for CSV import. However, CSV import created new problems:
Users did not always want to import everything inside a CSV.
They would need to create or reformat CSV files repeatedly.
Formatting errors could interrupt their workflow.
The real job to be done was clear:
A faster and flexible way to make bulk selections without losing granular control.
Solution Space
Exploring and evaluating different approaches.
Working with the Product Manager, I explored multiple directions:
CSV import
Saved selection lists
Code pasting directly from Excel (Selected solution):
Offered granular control over selections
No file formatting requirements
A familiar workflow based on existing user habits
Designing the Experience
Supporting both simple and advanced selection needs - Two modes for two different workflows
The filter selection dropdown now includes:
Search and Select mode for individual selections
Paste Codes mode for bulk selections:
The system behaviour includes:
Valid codes get selected
Invalid, missing, or duplicate codes remain in the paste box for correction
Matching items are selected instantly
A cap of 10,000 codes ensures stable performance
Challenges and Solutions
Balancing user needs with performance limits and system constraints - Constraints that shaped the final workflow
Performance Limits
Issue: Backend/API load if too many codes are sent.
Decision: Cap at 10,000 codes per action (configurable).
Validation: Frontend blocks anything above the cap.
When to Trigger Selection?
Initial idea: Select in real time like search.
Problem: It would overwhelm the backend with each keystroke.
Solution: Added a CTA (“Apply Selections”) for batch processing.
Validations (Duplicates, No matching results, No permission)
Constraint: Frontend doesn’t load all dropdown items (lazy loading).
Approach:
Frontend validates for count limit.
Backend validates for duplicates, no matching results, and permission issues.
UX: Errors are shown inline in the paste box; successful codes disappear once applied.
Switching Modes Midway
Problem: What if a user pastes codes but switches back to search?
Solution: Mode switching is disabled until pasted codes are cleared, preventing confusion.
Testing and Feedback
Pilot testing with BI power users - Clear time savings and strong adoption
The internal BI team served as the pilot group. Feedback themes included:
Strong adoption for large selection scenarios
Significant time savings
A clear preference for granular control over rigid CSV imports
Users handling hundreds and thousands of selections reported the largest productivity gains.
Outcome
A small feature with a large productivity impact.
The bulk pasting feature transformed a tedious and manual workflow into a fast and efficient one. It reduced effort, saved time, and improved the experience for power users.
Cross-functional collaboration ensured that design, product, and engineering delivered a solution that was scalable, technically sound, and truly valuable to users.
More Works
FAQ
01
What kind of projects have you worked on?
02
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
03
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
04
What tools do you use?
05
How do you approach new projects?
06
Can you help set up a design system?
07
How can I get in touch?
Jun 18, 2025
Enhancing Report-Building Efficiency for Power Users
Designing a bulk filter selection workflow that reduces effort and saves time for BI power users who handle large, repetitive datasets.
Product Design
Dashboards
Executive Summary
Power users needed a faster way to make large selections in filter dropdowns.
Eliminating repetitive selection effort
BI users building reports struggled with time-intensive filter selections. Through contextual inquiry, I identified that the real need was not CSV import (original request) but a faster and more flexible bulk selection method.
The solution was a code-pasting workflow with smart validations, enabling users to copy codes directly from Excel and apply them at once. This significantly reduced effort and improved productivity for users who handle hundreds of selections.
My Role and Team
A cross-functional collaboration focused on performance, workflow design, and user needs.
UX Designer (Me): Research, workflows, interaction design patterns, and validation handling.
Product Manager: Prioritisation, scope definition, and alignment with business goals.
Engineering Team: Engineering Lead and 5 developers focusing on feasibility, optimisation, and implementation.
Together we approached the challenge holistically, ensuring user needs, technical constraints, and business requirements remained balanced throughout the project.
Problem space Research
Understanding how BI users select items at scale: Contextual inquiry and workflow discovery
During contextual inquiry, I observed BI users building reports inside their workflow environment. This helped surface the real pain points.
Users repeatedly searched and selected items one by one.
Many relied on Excel sheets of codes/names, switching between Excel and the report builder repeatedly.
The process was time-consuming and error-prone.
Huge effort investment, significant time cost, and distraction from core task of analysing data and generating insights
From Request to Real Need
What users asked for was not the true solution.
"Can we just import a CSV file?"
Users initially asked for CSV import. However, CSV import created new problems:
Users did not always want to import everything inside a CSV.
They would need to create or reformat CSV files repeatedly.
Formatting errors could interrupt their workflow.
The real job to be done was clear:
A faster and flexible way to make bulk selections without losing granular control.
Solution Space
Exploring and evaluating different approaches.
Working with the Product Manager, I explored multiple directions:
CSV import
Saved selection lists
Code pasting directly from Excel (Selected solution):
Offered granular control over selections
No file formatting requirements
A familiar workflow based on existing user habits
Designing the Experience
Supporting both simple and advanced selection needs - Two modes for two different workflows
The filter selection dropdown now includes:
Search and Select mode for individual selections
Paste Codes mode for bulk selections:
The system behaviour includes:
Valid codes get selected
Invalid, missing, or duplicate codes remain in the paste box for correction
Matching items are selected instantly
A cap of 10,000 codes ensures stable performance
Challenges and Solutions
Balancing user needs with performance limits and system constraints - Constraints that shaped the final workflow
Performance Limits
Issue: Backend/API load if too many codes are sent.
Decision: Cap at 10,000 codes per action (configurable).
Validation: Frontend blocks anything above the cap.
When to Trigger Selection?
Initial idea: Select in real time like search.
Problem: It would overwhelm the backend with each keystroke.
Solution: Added a CTA (“Apply Selections”) for batch processing.
Validations (Duplicates, No matching results, No permission)
Constraint: Frontend doesn’t load all dropdown items (lazy loading).
Approach:
Frontend validates for count limit.
Backend validates for duplicates, no matching results, and permission issues.
UX: Errors are shown inline in the paste box; successful codes disappear once applied.
Switching Modes Midway
Problem: What if a user pastes codes but switches back to search?
Solution: Mode switching is disabled until pasted codes are cleared, preventing confusion.
Testing and Feedback
Pilot testing with BI power users - Clear time savings and strong adoption
The internal BI team served as the pilot group. Feedback themes included:
Strong adoption for large selection scenarios
Significant time savings
A clear preference for granular control over rigid CSV imports
Users handling hundreds and thousands of selections reported the largest productivity gains.
Outcome
A small feature with a large productivity impact.
The bulk pasting feature transformed a tedious and manual workflow into a fast and efficient one. It reduced effort, saved time, and improved the experience for power users.
Cross-functional collaboration ensured that design, product, and engineering delivered a solution that was scalable, technically sound, and truly valuable to users.
More Works
FAQ
01
What kind of projects have you worked on?
02
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
03
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
04
What tools do you use?
05
How do you approach new projects?
06
Can you help set up a design system?
07
How can I get in touch?
Jun 18, 2025
Enhancing Report-Building Efficiency for Power Users
Designing a bulk filter selection workflow that reduces effort and saves time for BI power users who handle large, repetitive datasets.
Product Design
Dashboards
Executive Summary
Power users needed a faster way to make large selections in filter dropdowns.
Eliminating repetitive selection effort
BI users building reports struggled with time-intensive filter selections. Through contextual inquiry, I identified that the real need was not CSV import (original request) but a faster and more flexible bulk selection method.
The solution was a code-pasting workflow with smart validations, enabling users to copy codes directly from Excel and apply them at once. This significantly reduced effort and improved productivity for users who handle hundreds of selections.
My Role and Team
A cross-functional collaboration focused on performance, workflow design, and user needs.
UX Designer (Me): Research, workflows, interaction design patterns, and validation handling.
Product Manager: Prioritisation, scope definition, and alignment with business goals.
Engineering Team: Engineering Lead and 5 developers focusing on feasibility, optimisation, and implementation.
Together we approached the challenge holistically, ensuring user needs, technical constraints, and business requirements remained balanced throughout the project.
Problem space Research
Understanding how BI users select items at scale: Contextual inquiry and workflow discovery
During contextual inquiry, I observed BI users building reports inside their workflow environment. This helped surface the real pain points.
Users repeatedly searched and selected items one by one.
Many relied on Excel sheets of codes/names, switching between Excel and the report builder repeatedly.
The process was time-consuming and error-prone.
Huge effort investment, significant time cost, and distraction from core task of analysing data and generating insights
From Request to Real Need
What users asked for was not the true solution.
"Can we just import a CSV file?"
Users initially asked for CSV import. However, CSV import created new problems:
Users did not always want to import everything inside a CSV.
They would need to create or reformat CSV files repeatedly.
Formatting errors could interrupt their workflow.
The real job to be done was clear:
A faster and flexible way to make bulk selections without losing granular control.
Solution Space
Exploring and evaluating different approaches.
Working with the Product Manager, I explored multiple directions:
CSV import
Saved selection lists
Code pasting directly from Excel (Selected solution):
Offered granular control over selections
No file formatting requirements
A familiar workflow based on existing user habits
Designing the Experience
Supporting both simple and advanced selection needs - Two modes for two different workflows
The filter selection dropdown now includes:
Search and Select mode for individual selections
Paste Codes mode for bulk selections:
The system behaviour includes:
Valid codes get selected
Invalid, missing, or duplicate codes remain in the paste box for correction
Matching items are selected instantly
A cap of 10,000 codes ensures stable performance
Challenges and Solutions
Balancing user needs with performance limits and system constraints - Constraints that shaped the final workflow
Performance Limits
Issue: Backend/API load if too many codes are sent.
Decision: Cap at 10,000 codes per action (configurable).
Validation: Frontend blocks anything above the cap.
When to Trigger Selection?
Initial idea: Select in real time like search.
Problem: It would overwhelm the backend with each keystroke.
Solution: Added a CTA (“Apply Selections”) for batch processing.
Validations (Duplicates, No matching results, No permission)
Constraint: Frontend doesn’t load all dropdown items (lazy loading).
Approach:
Frontend validates for count limit.
Backend validates for duplicates, no matching results, and permission issues.
UX: Errors are shown inline in the paste box; successful codes disappear once applied.
Switching Modes Midway
Problem: What if a user pastes codes but switches back to search?
Solution: Mode switching is disabled until pasted codes are cleared, preventing confusion.
Testing and Feedback
Pilot testing with BI power users - Clear time savings and strong adoption
The internal BI team served as the pilot group. Feedback themes included:
Strong adoption for large selection scenarios
Significant time savings
A clear preference for granular control over rigid CSV imports
Users handling hundreds and thousands of selections reported the largest productivity gains.
Outcome
A small feature with a large productivity impact.
The bulk pasting feature transformed a tedious and manual workflow into a fast and efficient one. It reduced effort, saved time, and improved the experience for power users.
Cross-functional collaboration ensured that design, product, and engineering delivered a solution that was scalable, technically sound, and truly valuable to users.
More Works
FAQ
What kind of projects have you worked on?
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
What tools do you use?
How do you approach new projects?
Can you help set up a design system?
How can I get in touch?