UX Design for the Telekom Cloud PBX App in Microsoft Teams

Using Phone Features Directly in Microsoft Teams

CompanyFlex Cloud PBX is a DSL and landline service that includes an unlimited Internet plan for Deutsche Telekom business customers. This solution enables the deployment of phone systems from the cloud. This ensures that employees can be reached at their company landline number from anywhere, regardless of the device they’re using.

Services

• Development of a UX design for the Microsoft Teams app

• Copywriting for the user interface of a Microsoft Teams app and for the Microsoft Teams app library

We used the following services:

Here’s what it’s all about

Modern companies are increasingly relying on Microsoft Teams as their central platform for communication and collaboration. That’s why a solution – in the form of a dedicated Microsoft Teams app – was needed to provide seamless, direct access to the practical features of the cloud-based phone system right within Microsoft Teams. To this end, Telekom developed an initial MVP of the Microsoft Teams app to make the telephony features of the Telekom connection – such as redial, caller ID suppression, and a company-wide contact directory – accessible within Microsoft Teams. The Digitale’s main task was to develop a user interface for this MVP that enables easy use of the connection features directly within Microsoft Teams.

UX Design by The Digitale

This user interface was created in close collaboration with the Telekom development team. The collaboration took place via Microsoft Azure DevOps. The interface wireframes were created using Sketch and Zeplin.

At the same time, the text for the application’s various screens was written with the help of the CompanyFlex Cloud PBX documentation. One particular challenge that was overcome was reconciling the requirements of the two major brands, “Deutsche Telekom” and “Microsoft.” This involved strictly adhering to the respective guidelines for text and design set forth by Telekom’s corporate identity (CI) and Microsoft’s specifications for Teams apps, which required close collaboration between our UX design and editorial teams.

Structure of the Microsoft Teams App

During this process, the following structure was developed for the app:

1. Log-in: When the Microsoft Teams app is launched for the first time, a log-in screen appears. Here, users log in using their credentials and save them for future use.

2. Home Screen: After logging in, the core of the app opens. Here, users can configure settings related to their own connection and use the features of the cloud PBX.

3. Address Book: The company-wide address book has its own tab in the Telekom Cloud PBX Microsoft Teams app. After logging in, users will find all contacts within the company who have a CompanyFlex Cloud PBX connection—even if they are not stored in their own Microsoft Teams contact list.

4. FAQ: This tab contains frequently asked questions about the Cloud PBX app and the CompanyFlex Cloud PBX connection.

5. Info: This tab is mandatory and required for every Microsoft Teams app. In addition to a brief description of the app’s features, it also includes other useful information, such as the app’s current version number.

Responding Agilely to New Challenges

During the development process, it was also important to respond agilely to new challenges that arose while working on the wireframes. For example, what happens if users make mistakes when logging in? Where are info boxes needed to explain features that aren’t self-explanatory? What labels should the app’s buttons have? To which Telekom content outside the app should the FAQs link?

In addition to the operational work, The Digitale was able to draw on its many years of experience in UX design and content creation, thereby also supporting the developers in an advisory capacity.

“With the development of the Cloud PBX app for Microsoft Teams, we at Deutsche Telekom broke new ground, and together with The Digitale, we were able to release the app in record time and develop a design that not only meets all requirements but also feels intuitive and refreshing. I’d like to thank The Digitale for their excellent and professional collaboration.”

Andreas Morschhausen | Project Manager, Business Communication Products

An intuitive, centralized solution for greater ease of use and productivity

Working closely with Telekom’s development team, we were thus able to create an application for Microsoft Teams that offers its users a secure and intuitive user experience with a low learning curve. Since then, Telekom’s business customers have been able to get even more out of the Microsoft Teams collaboration platform and their CompanyFlex Cloud PBX connection, and conveniently access the comprehensive range of features of their cloud-based phone system in one central location.