How 58 Group’s Meishi Enterprise IM Platform Boosts Collaboration and User Experience

Since the birth of Talkomatic in 1973, the world’s first public IM system, instant messaging has spread from university labs to everyday communication, evolving through ICQ, QQ, WeChat, and finally into enterprise solutions that support both social and business needs, especially during the pandemic.

Enterprise instant‑messaging products have become the most efficient internal collaboration tools, handling text, voice, video, file sharing, and information dissemination while integrating various office applications into a unified management platform.

Meishi, an internal IM product of the 58 Group, aims to be an ultra‑efficient collaboration platform that not only solves communication problems but also enhances the connection efficiency among people, scenarios, information, and organizations. The recent iteration of new features illustrates the product’s improvement process.

1. Continuous discovery and resolution through experience walkthroughs

Experience walkthroughs run throughout the product lifecycle. The Meishi team periodically defines scopes, records issues, categorises them, and designs solutions. Problems are prioritised by impact and implementation cost, then allocated to monthly releases, ensuring new features and bug fixes improve overall user experience.

2. Monitoring user experience via satisfaction surveys

During the growth stage, satisfaction surveys track user feedback on core functions such as operational efficiency, system stability, visual appeal, and functional experience. Online questionnaires focus on key features, and follow‑up interviews clarify user needs, guiding targeted improvements.

3. Building standards to lower learning costs

Unified design standards and reusable components reduce cognitive load, allowing seamless switching across scenarios and devices. Consistent visual guidelines improve overall perception and accelerate routine design tasks.

4. Refining core scenario experiences

The messaging feature, used most frequently, links communication with tasks like to‑dos and meetings. Its extensible panels, real‑time status displays, and searchable history ensure smooth collaboration.

5. Emotional design to engage users

Human‑centred copywriting and graphics create a warm, resonant experience. Subtle emoticon usage replaces direct language, fostering positive emotional resonance.

6. Timely reminders for new features

New functionalities are introduced via unobtrusive pop‑ups and an official assistant, minimizing disruption while building anticipation for updates.

The article summarises how Meishi iterates from the perspectives of function, experience, and emotion, maintaining a user‑centred design mindset and thanking the project team for their collaborative attitude.

Acknowledgements: Li Sheng, Zhu Chao, Lin Jie, Xie Lingyan, Zhu Baoxu, Gao Yuan, Li Jing.