Software Product User Manuals are essential for any product. With users and customers spending a large portion of their time on mobile devices, is it now necessary to ensure that software help is provided and optimised for viewing on the mobile devices? Does it add any value? What are the challenges in providing help content on mobile devices.

1. Accessing User Manuals
on MOBILE DEVICES
A DISCUSSION ABOUT DELIVERING POST-SALE PRODUCT
INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS

2. Mobile Devices
Smart Phones
• Calls, Texts, Games, Internet, Social Networking
Phablets
• Social Networking, Work, Games, Calls
Tablets
• Social Networking, Video Calls, Videos, Games, Books
E-Book Readers
• Books, Internet

3. Types of User Documents Relevant on
Mobiles
User Manuals
Tutorials
Reference Guides

4. Need for product help on mobile devices
 You are on the move with no access to a desktop or laptop
 You do not have locally saved the support documents on the
desktop or laptop
 You need to refer to help and provide guidance over a call to
someone
 You are on a field visit and quickly need to provide tech help to a
customer

5. Documentation Formats Suitable for
Mobile Devices
Mobi (Kindle)
EPUB
EBooks
HTML Based Help Documents
PDF
Video

6. Hurdles to Delivering Help Content on
Mobiles
 Technical documentations are huge in volume and can consume a
huge chunk of of mobile device network data
 Existing product help document formats may not be supported on
mobile devices
 Documents not optimized for viewing on mobile devices
 Small screens of the mobile devices hinders viewing documents,
often requiring zooming in & out to see images clearly

7. Some Ideas to Make it Work
 Content optimization for viewing on mobile devices
 Publish documents in mobile device friendly formats
 Prepare easy to navigate HTML based documents for
viewing on mobile devices
 Compress content to reduce mobile data usage
 Create help user interface optimized for mobile devices

8. Your Thoughts
What are your thoughts regarding this?
What do you think is a good way to present the
help content on mobile devices?
Please share your comments below.
Thank you.