The Importance of Usability in a CTMS
Ah! It’s that time of year. You’ve finished your study, phase, or trial, and you’ve realized that you need more than your current CTMS can give. As you look ahead to the next steps in the process, it’s the perfect moment to re-evaluate your company’s needs.
Your Clinical Trial Management System is one of the most fundamental tools in your kit. According to a study by the US Government Accountability Office, legacy systems account for (on average) 31% of organizational tech. Are you on a legacy system? If so, one of the most important features you may be lacking is usability.
It’s such a basic quality of a CTMS that it’s possible you’ve taken it for granted. What does “usability” mean in this context, anyway? And how can it improve not only your daily work, but efficient trial management and successful outcomes? Is your CTMS truly “usable?”
Let’s find out.
Defining Usability in a CTMS
At its heart, “usability” refers to the ease with which users can interact with a system to achieve their goals. A modern CTMS is built with the user in mind. It aims to simplify their experience from day one, across the board.
Modern CTMS are, therefore, optimized for usability. They allow clinical researchers, study coordinators, and stakeholders to navigate the system with ease, managing clinical trials without unnecessary obstacles. In the context of CTMS, this usability comes down to a couple key elements:
- Intuitive Interface Design: A user-friendly interface is crucial for CTMS usability. Clear layouts, logical organization of information, and intuitive controls contribute to a positive user experience. It also decreases the amount of training time needed to have all employees comfortable with the system.
- Efficient Navigation: Easy navigation within the CTMS platform is essential for users to locate information and perform tasks without delay. Intuitive menus, search functions, and breadcrumbs help users effortlessly navigate through different sections of the system. Eliminating unnecessary steps saves time and streamlines clinical trial logistics for system users and patients alike.
- Accessibility: Prioritizing accessibility needs is often overlooked in legacy systems. Features such as keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and adjustable font sizes contribute to improving accessibility for all users. This is especially important for medium to large enterprises with a high employee headcount–and so, diverse and evolving user needs.
The Benefits of Optimized CTMS Usability
There are, naturally, many benefits to improved usability in a CTMS: it’s all about the experience, efficiency, and cost-savings. Using a modern CTMS with an emphasis on UX supports your organization in more ways than one.
The first thing you’ll notice when switching to a CTMS with improved usability is the daily difference. Usability in CTMS directly results in a more positive experience for clinical researchers, study coordinators, and stakeholders working with clinical trials, everyday. It includes the three factors discussed above: reducing complexity, simplifying navigation, and improving accessibility within the system. A usable CTMS boosts productivity and user satisfaction: driving both success and retention.
Improving usability in CTMS also brings about a significant increase in efficiency. By creating smooth workflows and optimizing UI, employees can complete tasks with greater speed and precision. Their tasks are presented to them in real time, they don’t need to search for them! This not only saves time but also lowers the likelihood of errors, supporting the highest quality of trial management.
Complex interfaces in CTMS often require extensive training for users to become proficient. However, with a focus on usability and intuitive design, training becomes not only easier but quicker, too. When less time is spent on training, there’s more for actual trial management activities. This results in another productivity boost, not to mention cost savings.
And that’s not the only place for reduced cost. By minimizing errors, and increasing productivity, companies can fully leverage their resources and efficiently allocate them. Moreover, upgraded processes (supported by better usability) can lead to shorter trial durations. This further lowers the costs associated with trial management.
The Importance of Collaboration and Iterative Improvements
Interdepartmental collaboration plays a key role in clinical trial management, especially in remote and / or global clinical trials where the clinical operations teams are located all over the globe. It’s yet another place where CTMS usability takes priority. A user-friendly CTMS encourages better collaboration among study team members.
When users can easily navigate the system and access the information they need based on workflows across the various study team member, communication barriers are lowered. This allows for more coordination between research teams. It also expedites decision-making processes, and ultimately, contributes to improved trial outcomes.
But it’s not only about collaboration inside an organization. Achieving the highest level of usability also requires collaboration with the CTMS team itself. Prioritizing user feedback and implementing iterative improvements allows CTMS platforms to adapt to changing needs over time.
This adaptability ensures that the system remains relevant and effective, even as trial requirements and workflows evolve. When organizations and CTMS designers work together, users feel empowered and supported—leading to higher satisfaction and engagement with the CTMS.
Interdepartmental collaboration plays a key role in clinical trial management, especially in remote and / or global clinical trials where the clinical operations teams are located all over the globe. It’s yet another place where CTMS usability takes priority. A user-friendly CTMS encourages better collaboration among study team members.
When users can easily navigate the system and access the information they need based on workflows across the various study team member, communication barriers are lowered. This allows for more coordination between research teams. It also expedites decision-making processes, and ultimately, contributes to improved trial outcomes.
But it’s not only about collaboration inside an organization. Achieving the highest level of usability also requires collaboration with the CTMS team itself. Prioritizing user feedback and implementing iterative improvements allows CTMS platforms to adapt to changing needs over time.
This adaptability ensures that the system remains relevant and effective, even as trial requirements and workflows evolve. When organizations and CTMS designers work together, users feel empowered and supported—leading to higher satisfaction and engagement with the CTMS.
How Do Modern CTMS Meet the Challenge?
Modern CTMS take a proactive approach to addressing user needs and feedback. It’s one of the major advantages of successfully migrating to a modern system: usability is always a top priority. At BSI Life Sciences, we take a three-fold approach:
- User-Centric Design: BSI incorporates user feedback and conducts usability testing during the development process for all versions and updates. This guarantees that the CTMS platform meets the needs of its users.
- Customization Options: Not only does BSI offer a default workflow for quick set up, we also offer on-top configuration and even customization. Supporting organizations in customizing their interface preferences improves usability by letting users tailor the system to their approach. .
- Continuous Improvement: BSI CTMS operates as a SaaS company—which allows for continuous updates and client support, among other benefits. Iterative improvements based on user feedback maintain and enhance CTMS usability over time. Upgrade to new versions are easily done.
It's time to move past clunky technology and experience legacy system modernization with the most usable CTMS on the market. BSI has the key.
BSI: Software for Life Sciences
Our modern CTMS solutions cover all aspects of your clinical trials.
BSI CTMS is the most innovative, function complete and easy-to-use clinical trial management software on the market. It provides CTMS, eTMF, Study Startup and Trial Supply Management RTSM in one integrated unified platform.
Standard interfaces (API) assure complete data oversight and easy integration with the external systems (e.g. EDC and eTMF) of your choice. BSI CTMS is the central hub for all aspects of your clinical trials. It’s available as SaaS for ease of use, continuous improvement, and simplified infrastructure.
We’re modern, sleek, and designed with the user in mind for intuitive end-to-end clinical trial management. And the best part? We offer updates, upgrades, and scalability in-house with a full client support team for your legacy system migration and beyond.
There’s never been a better time to embrace a better CTMS. Book a call today.
