IMA
A SIMPLE and EFFICIENT inventory management application that UTILIZES a mobile phone CAMERA for data input.
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Summary
Scope: Create an app to help an automotive parts retailer make the inventory process faster and more efficient.
Role: Principal Designer, Researcher, Content Creator, Visual Designer.
Tools: Figma, Maze, Pre-Graphed index cards, Google Forms, user interview, Canva.
Timeframe: 3 Weeks.
Deliverables
For this project I created:
- Empathy Map
- Journey Maps
- Personas
- User Stories and Flows
- Competitor Analysis
- Storyboards
- Wireframes
- Prototypes
Reinventing Inventory Management
Inventory management can be tedious and time-consuming, often involving manual processes with pen and paper. This inefficient multi-step process can occupy a significant portion of workdays, taking up approximately 33 out of 40 working hours in a week.
The Challenge
The inventory manager of a well-known auto parts retailer approached me with three major problems to solve:
- Enable employees to use their phone cameras to scan and record barcode information from shelf tags.
- Automatically populate the recorded information into a table, sorted by the manufacturer code as the default.
- Provide employees with functions to edit the data, including sorting, deleting, and recovering entries.
The Hi-Fi Solution
One potential solution I considered was allowing employees to utilize their phone cameras to record barcode information from shelf tags.
The Lo-Fi MVP
What goes into collecting inventory data? How might I design a way for information to be easily edited? How might the user need to manipulate the data they collected?
The Background and the Client
The inventory manager faced the challenge of manually recording product part numbers and entering them into a computer to update the retail system's inventory. By having an app that utilizes the scanning feature on a cell phone to capture inventory shelf barcodes and automatically sort them by manufacturer code, the inventory manager can save a considerable amount of time and effort.
Design Approach
By conducting thorough research, engaging in an in-depth interview with the client, considering the needs of all users, brainstorming ideas, sketching concepts, and iterating through multiple design phases, I successfully developed the minimum viable product (MVP) solution.
RESEARCH
The most valuable insight I obtained was that the existing inventory process typically takes around 3-4 days to complete, consuming an average of 33 hours of work.
User Story and Flow
Storyboard
Paper Prototyping
Design System
The app design incorporated proprietary colors that aligned with the company's brand. Due to the simplicity of the app, the design system remained straightforward and uncomplicated
Evolution of IMA
Here's how the app changed over the course of the design process.
SCANNED ITEM SCREEN
WORKLIST SCREEN
SORT SCREEN
Accessibility
Designing the app with accessibility in mind was a top priority. The high-fidelity screens underwent contrast and color blindness checks to ensure compliance. Meeting accessibility standards was made relatively easy by considering factors such as limited text, appropriate font size, button size, and strategic placement of features.
To enhance user experience and minimize errors, confirmation dialogues were implemented. This provided users with clear options to either proceed with an action or cancel it, reducing the chances of unintended actions.
Usability Testing
Insights from user testing showed that participants appreciated the simplicity of the app and its straightforward features.
Design Conclusion
An important insight I gained during the testing process was the significance of breaking down tasks and using clear, user-friendly language in testing questions. Asking participants to complete multiple tasks using unfamiliar testing language can have a negative impact and skew the results. To ensure high-quality results, it is crucial to ask well-crafted and user-centric questions.
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User experience design
UX designer
User interface design
Interaction design
User-centered design
Usability testing
Information architecture
User research
UX design process
Wireframing
Product designer
Industrial design
Product development
Design thinking
Prototyping
Design iteration
Product aesthetics
User-centric design
Product usability
Design for manufacturability
Product manager
Agile product management
Product roadmap
Product strategy
Market research
Competitive analysis
Product development lifecycle
Product requirements
Stakeholder management
Product launch
Business development
Entrepreneurship
Marketing strategy
Business planning
Market analysis
Financial management
Business growth
Competitive advantage
Market segmentation
Business innovation
Mobile app design
User interface (UI) design
User experience (UX) design
Mobile app development
App prototyping
Mobile app usability
Mobile app interface
Mobile app user flow
Mobile app wireframing
Mobile app interaction design
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