Usability Audit for a 1C-Bitrix Website
Conversion is dropping but traffic is normal — the problem is not acquisition but what happens on the site. A usability audit identifies specific points where users are lost: where navigation is confusing, which forms cause friction, why the cart is abandoned at checkout. On Bitrix-based sites, standard usability problems are compounded by platform-specific issues: standard components have predictable failure patterns.
Bitrix Component Specifics
Smart filter (catalog.section.filter) — a frequent source of problems. Common issues: the filter only applies when a button is clicked, but users expect instant response; when a property has many values, the list has no search; the mobile filter overlay covers content.
Cart and checkout (sale.order.ajax) — the highest abandonment rate occurs at these steps: delivery selection (unclear pricing), mandatory registration (barrier to guest checkout), payment form with unexplained redirect.
User account (sale.personal.*) — the standard component has an overloaded navigation structure and unclear order statuses.
Audit Methodology
Heuristic analysis — manual review against Nielsen's 10 heuristics. We evaluate 5–7 key user scenarios: product search, add to cart, checkout, account management, support request.
Data analysis — Yandex.Metrica Webvisor provides session recordings; the scroll map shows how far users scroll on long pages; the funnel report identifies the steps at which users drop off.
Technical checks:
- Mobile load speed (Core Web Vitals)
- Accessibility on 320px and 768px screen widths
- Form review: real-time validation vs. post-submit validation
- Validation error text (specific vs. generic "Please fill in the field")
Typical Findings on Bitrix Sites
| Issue | Component | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory registration to place an order | sale.order.ajax |
High |
| No confirmation feedback when adding to cart | catalog.element |
Medium |
| Filter resets when navigating between pages | catalog.section.filter |
High |
| Search does not handle typos | search.title |
Medium |
| No breadcrumbs in deep sections | template | Medium |
| CAPTCHA on every form with no alternative | main.feedback |
Medium |
Report Format
Each issue is documented using the following template:
- Page/scenario — where it occurs
- Description — what specifically is wrong
- Screenshot — with annotation
- Impact — on conversion or user satisfaction
-
Recommendation — a specific solution, not "improve" but "remove mandatory registration and enable guest checkout by setting
ALLOW_GUEST_ORDER = Yin the component settings"
What Is Included in the Usability Audit
- Heuristic analysis of 5–7 key usage scenarios
- Data analysis: Webvisor, funnels, click maps
- Mobile version testing on real devices (320px, 768px)
- Form audit: checkout, feedback, search
- Structured report with prioritized recommendations
- Recommendations formatted as ready-to-apply Bitrix component settings