Process & resource efficiency – Better HMIs with less effort

This article is part of the series Futureproof HMIs.

The right focus: making sensible use of people and tools

One of the most common resource traps in HMI projects is unclear role allocation: developers design interfaces even though they are not UX experts. UX designers, on the other hand, struggle with technical restrictions or incompatible tools. The result: lengthy coordination processes, error-prone in-house developments, and inconsistent user interfaces.

The solution: clear responsibilities and supportive tools.

In individual design projects, trust in the designers is crucial. Of course, they are not as deeply versed in the subject matter as developers who have been working on the machine for decades. But that is precisely their advantage: they consistently view the operation from the user's perspective – and develop solutions that no technician has yet come up with. This not only leads to noticeable improvements, but often to genuine innovations.

Systems such as HELIO offer this UX expertise in the form of ready-made components and a well-thought-out design system – so teams don't have to reinvent every element. This not only reduces the effort involved, but also prevents many classic usability problems.

Less tinkering, more standardization

Many requirements in industrial HMIs are similar—and yet everything is often built from scratch. The rule of thumb is: those who use existing solutions don't waste resources, but save valuable time for what's really important.

• Pre-built components save development time and testing effort.
• Design systems ensure visual consistency and help with operating logic.
• Proven UX principles reduce operating errors and training costs.

💡 Instead of getting creative in the wrong place, the motto is: Keep it simple. The real innovation work begins when standard tasks are solved efficiently.

Automation and modularity as efficiency boosters

Modern HMI systems must be agile—not only in the end product, but also during development. That's why modular architectures, automated processes, and visual prototyping are essential.

HELIO offers exactly that:

• Visual editor with live preview saves compilation time.
• Reusable building blocks avoid duplication of effort.
• Automated validations increase consistency.
• Interfaces to third-party systems (e.g., machine control, databases, printing services) are already integrated.

💡 This allows even distributed teams with different skills to work together efficiently – without lengthy training or unclear processes.

Respond quickly to market demands

Time-to-market is a critical success factor in many industries. Those who can respond quickly to changing demands—e.g., due to legal changes, new markets, or customer feedback—gain a clear competitive advantage.

An efficient development process must therefore:

• enable rapid iterations, for example through rapid prototyping or modular updates,
• allow changes without system breaks, e.g. for new user roles or functions,
• create reusable solutions to leverage synergy effects within the product family.

Tools such as HELIO support this approach systemically – so that every project becomes a reusable asset.

Conclusion: Efficiency is not a sacrifice, but a competitive advantage.

Process and resource efficiency does not mean sacrificing quality – on the contrary: those who standardize, automate, and use good tools in a targeted manner create space for real innovation. At the same time, development risks, project durations, and costs are reduced.

💡System instead of muscle: Those who develop HMIs efficiently deliver better products in less time – and remain flexible in the long term.

HELIO shows how this approach works in practice – with built-in usability, preconfigured components, and a modern development environment that keeps processes lean and scalable.

Internal sources

Streamlining UX/UI development in difficult times
How bad times can be good for HMI development.
helio-hmi.com/en/blog/challenging-times

Design tokens in an industrial context
How consistent design simplifies processes and prevents errors.
hmi-project.com/de/news/design-tokens
vimeo.com/1102137517

Efficiency through standardization – HELIO features at a glance
How HELIO accelerates development processes with ready-made components, a design system, and visual configuration.
helio-hmi.com/de/features

Component library & reuse
Overview of all UI building blocks that enable standardized interactions and reduce development time.
docs.helio-hmi.com/docs/guides/modularity/components

Live preview & visual editor
Preview & validation directly in the browser – for fast feedback and shorter iterations.
docs.helio-hmi.com/docs/getting-started/build-your-first-hmi/preview-hmi

Design System & Style Management
Consistent design thanks to centrally maintained styles and tokens – less coordination effort, better consistency.
docs.helio-hmi.com/docs/reference/design-system

Data connection & interface integration (OPC UA, MQTT)
Connection to machines, databases & services – preconfigured & reusable.
docs.helio-hmi.com/docs/reference/data-layer

Design Tokens – Getting Started With HELIO
vimeo.com/1035981598

FAQ Fridays #6 What does “What you see is what it is” mean?
vimeo.com/855271736

Dynamic Images – Getting Started With HELIO
vimeo.com/1035981628

External Sources

Atomic Design – Methodology for Modular UI Systems
Basics for reusable UI building blocks – compatible with the HELIO component architecture.
bradfrost.com/blog/post/atomic-web-design

Rapid Prototyping in UX Projects (Interaction Design Foundation)
How early testing reduces development effort.
interaction-design.org/literature/topics/prototyping

This article is part of the series:

Future-proof HMIs – Success factors for industrial user interfaces with vision

1. User-centered approach
Those who focus on people rather than products not only get more satisfied users, but also better products.
Read More

2. Technological future-proofing
Web technology is leading the way because it offers a huge user base, established standards, and open interfaces.
Read More

3. Process and resource efficiency
Efficient HMIs don't happen by chance—they happen through clear processes, the right tools, and good role distribution.

4. Independence & scalability
When creating industrial HMIs, you should not tie yourself to suppliers or hardware. Independence is key, and here's why:
Read More

5. There is only one team
Successful HMIs are not created by tools or technology alone—they are created through genuine collaboration.
Read more

6. Practical sense
This is our ultimate ingredient for building future-proof HMIs. The best part is that it is usually already built in at the factory.
Read More