TikTok GO -
Local Services Data Center
TikTok GO is TikTok’s local services initiative. It connects creators, merchants, and small businesses, allowing creators to promote local deals and earn commission.
Background
Within TikTok GO, the Data Center is where creators and merchants track:
Sales performance
Commission earnings
Redemptions
Video performance
However, the language used in the Data Center was complex, inconsistent, and difficult for creators to understand.
I led terminology simplification and cross-functional alignment for the TikTok GO Data Center.
Challenges
1. Unclear requirements
Most PRDs were written in Simplified Chinese and translated using AI. This caused:
Ambiguous metric definitions
Misinterpretation by English-speaking teams
Inconsistent implementation across features
2. Inconsistent terminology
Different product managers used different names for the same metrics. For example, terms used like CPT commission, fixed commission, and fixed fee, referred to the same metric. These terms were not consistently defined across the creator experience, merchant experience, and internal documentation.
3. Complex data terms
Usability testing showed that many creators struggled to understand terms like CPS commission, CPT commission, GMV and write-off amount. These terms were common in the merchant ecosystem, but unfamiliar to creators.
As a result, creators could not clearly interpret their earnings, metrics felt intimidating and technical. This reduced trust and confidence in the product.
Building a common language for creators and product teams
I focused on three goals:
Simplify language for creators
Align terminology across teams
Improve metric comprehension through education
1. Simplified data terms
I replaced technical jargon with clear, conversational terms:
GMV → Total sales value
Write-off amount → Redemption value
Sales volume → Products sold
Write-off quantity → Products redeemed
We tested the new terms with creators and small business owners in Thailand and Indonesia. They found the new language significantly easier to understand.
2. Defined and aligned 17 key terms
I proposed and defined 17 core Data Center terms to standardize how metrics are described.
To drive adoption, I:
Planned and ran alignment sessions with 12 product managers
Partnered with 3 content designers
Audited 27 PRDs to ensure consistent implementation
This reduced ambiguity in both documentation and product UI.
3. Added in-product education
Worked with designers to add tooltips on:
Main dashboard pages
Detail metric pages
This allowed users to quickly understand unfamiliar metrics without leaving the product.
4. Launched a centralized glossary
Created a TikTok GO Data Center glossary to:
Provide consistent definitions
Support creators’ understanding of performance and earnings
Align product, marketing, and documentation language
Before
After
OUTCOME
82% of test participants found tooltips helpful
Standardized terminology across 27 PRDs
Aligned 12 PMs and 3 content designers on shared definitions
Reduced confusion between creator and merchant experiences
Strengthened cross-functional collaboration and long-term consistency