Lightspeed x-series

Role

UX UI Designer

Product Designer

Type

Mobile App

Web app & Mobile

Tools

Miro, Figma

Timeline

4 Weeks

6 Weeks

Overview

Overview:

Upserve Inventory is a mobile application designed to streamline the inventory management process for restaurants and hospitality businesses. This case study highlights the key steps and decisions I made to create a seamless and intuitive user experience for scanning product barcodes using a mobile phone camera feature.

Lightspeed is a one-stop commerce platform that’s built for retailers, offering point of sale, e-commerce, inventory, and reporting features to keep their business running smoothly. This case study explores the successful implementation of a customer data consolidation strategy in the x-series flagship product, highlighting the challenges faced, the strategies used, and the results achieved through the seamless solution.

Problem

Problem:

Our design research revealed a cumbersome and error-prone inventory-receiving process. Users were burdened with manually entering product details and quantities into the system, which created workflow bottlenecks, frequent errors, and discrepancies in inventory records. This inefficiency disrupted order fulfillment, stock management, and overall supply chain operations.

Several clients expressed growing concerns about data accuracy and customer relationship management. They faced persistent challenges such as billing errors that damaged customer trust and missed opportunities for personalized marketing initiatives, like loyalty programs. Additionally, the presence of duplicate customer records created inefficiencies in customer support, leading to a fragmented and suboptimal service experience. These issues collectively hindered customer engagement and operational efficiency, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive solution to optimize data management, reduce errors, and enhance relationships with customers.

Solution

Solution:

We developed a scalable solution that automated the inventory-receiving process, focusing on barcode scanning with mobile cameras. This feature allowed users to quickly scan products, reducing manual entry and errors. With integrated error-checking and streamlined record-keeping, we improved efficiency and empowered users to manage inventory with greater accuracy.

We designed and implemented a solution to identify, group, and merge duplicate records, creating a streamlined and accurate customer database. This not only reduced billing errors but also unlocked the potential for personalized marketing strategies and improved customer support efficiency.

Process

We used a user-centered design approach to address inventory-receiving challenges. Through research and user feedback, we identified pain points and developed an intuitive, automated solution. Iterative prototyping and testing ensured a seamless, efficient, and scalable experience.

We conducted in-depth research to understand the scope of the problem, collaborating closely with stakeholders to design and implement a targeted solution. Iterative testing and feedback ensured a refined system, providing lasting improvements in data accuracy and operational efficiency.

Final Designs

How did I get to the final design?

🫶

Empathize

🎯

>Define

💡

>Ideate

🛠️

>Prototype

👨‍🔬

>Test

Empathize

Discovery Research

The first step was conducting user research to understand the pain points and needs of restaurant staff managing inventory. I collaborated with the product owner to create an interview plan, ensuring we gathered qualitative data.

My approach involved comprehensive surveys and in-depth questions to gain insights into the current inventory-receiving workflow.

The interview results sparked discussions that helped us understand the nuances of their experiences, validating their needs and existing pain points.

The first step was conducting user research to understand the pain points and needs of restaurant staff managing inventory. I collaborated with the product owner to create an interview plan, ensuring we gathered qualitative data.

My approach involved comprehensive surveys and in-depth questions to gain insights into the current inventory-receiving workflow.

The interview results sparked discussions that helped us understand the nuances of their experiences, validating their needs and existing pain points.

Research Highlights

Needs:

Streamline the inventory-receiving process to reduce operational delays.
Minimize inaccuracies in inventory records caused by manual data entry.
Have an intuitive interface that simplifies data entry, requiring minimal training.

Wants:

A user-friendly system with easy navigation to enhance efficiency.
Real-time feedback and error prevention for a seamless experience.
A system that adapts to changing operational demands through continuous improvement.

Desires:

A reliable, pleasant user experience with minimal disruptions.
An interface that promotes efficiency and ease of use without complexity.

Needs:

Streamline the inventory-receiving process to reduce operational delays.
Minimize inaccuracies in inventory records caused by manual data entry.
Have an intuitive interface that simplifies data entry, requiring minimal training.

Wants:

A user-friendly system with easy navigation to enhance efficiency.
Real-time feedback and error prevention for a seamless experience.
A system that adapts to changing operational demands through continuous improvement.

Desires:

A reliable, pleasant user experience with minimal disruptions.
An interface that promotes efficiency and ease of use without complexity.

Challenges 🤔

Barcode Accuracy: Ensuring precise scanning, even with damaged or low-quality labels.
Integration Complexity: Seamlessly integrating with existing systems for smooth data transfer.
Scalability: Ensuring the solution handles high scanning volumes in busy environments.
Offline Functionality: Enabling functionality during connectivity issues.

Barcode Accuracy: Ensuring precise scanning, even with damaged or low-quality labels.
Integration Complexity: Seamlessly integrating with existing systems for smooth data transfer.
Scalability: Ensuring the solution handles high scanning volumes in busy environments.
Offline Functionality: Enabling functionality during connectivity issues.

Solutions 😎

Implemented advanced image recognition and error-correction algorithms to improve accuracy and handle varying barcode conditions.
Collaborate with IT teams to create robust APIs for smooth integration with existing inventory systems.
Optimize scalability using cloud-based infrastructure and performance enhancements for increased scanning volumes.
Develop offline capabilities to store data locally and sync when connectivity is restored.

Implemented advanced image recognition and error-correction algorithms to improve accuracy and handle varying barcode conditions.
Collaborate with IT teams to create robust APIs for smooth integration with existing inventory systems.
Optimize scalability using cloud-based infrastructure and performance enhancements for increased scanning volumes.
Develop offline capabilities to store data locally and sync when connectivity is restored.

Define

Strategy

I facilitated brainstorming sessions with the PM and development teams to explore solutions, focusing on automation and interface design. We sketched flow ideas on paper and then translated them into low-fidelity wireframes using Miro. Proposed features included auto-populated product data fields, error detection prompts, and a guided workflow for users.

After researching existing inventory tools and analyzing market trends, I proposed an innovative approach: leveraging the phone’s camera to scan product barcodes, streamlining the inventory counting process.

Implementing this solution presented challenges, but through close collaboration with the development team, we identified and addressed key issues, resulting in a refined and effective solution.

I facilitated brainstorming sessions with the PM and development teams to explore solutions, focusing on automation and interface design. We sketched flow ideas on paper and then translated them into low-fidelity wireframes using Miro. Proposed features included auto-populated product data fields, error detection prompts, and a guided workflow for users.

After researching existing inventory tools and analyzing market trends, I proposed an innovative approach: leveraging the phone’s camera to scan product barcodes, streamlining the inventory counting process.

Implementing this solution presented challenges, but through close collaboration with the development team, we identified and addressed key issues, resulting in a refined and effective solution.

Ideate

Existing Journey Map

Intended User Journey

Design

Sketches

Wireframes

Hi-Fidelity Mockups

Screenshot-2024-04-25-at-10.14.55 AM (3)

Test and Iterations

We invited a group of restaurant staff to test the barcode scanning feature, aiming to observe their interactions and identify any usability issues or pain points.

Objectives

Assess how easily users navigate the barcode scanning process, focusing on interface and flow.
Measure the speed and accuracy of the barcode recognition feature in different scenarios
.
Gather insights into user experience, identifying challenges, frustrations, or positive feedback.
Evaluate if design elements, like visual cues and feedback, align with user expectations and enhance the experience.

Assess how easily users navigate the barcode scanning process, focusing on interface and flow.
Measure the speed and accuracy of the barcode recognition feature in different scenarios
.
Gather insights into user experience, identifying challenges, frustrations, or positive feedback.
Evaluate if design elements, like visual cues and feedback, align with user expectations and enhance the experience.

Results

Feedback from the prototyping phase was used to refine the design, improving the barcode scanning feature. I focused on making the process seamless by adding visual cues and providing real-time feedback for a smoother user experience.

Iterations

Added more prominent visual cues during the barcode scanning process.
Clarified error messages to improve the troubleshooting experience.
Streamlined the workflow based on user feedback.
Made performance tweaks to enhance the barcode recognition speed.

These refinements demonstrate a responsive approach to user feedback, ensuring the barcode scanning feature evolves to better meet user needs.

Added more prominent visual cues during the barcode scanning process.
Clarified error messages to improve the troubleshooting experience.
Streamlined the workflow based on user feedback.
Made performance tweaks to enhance the barcode recognition speed.

These refinements demonstrate a responsive approach to user feedback, ensuring the barcode scanning feature evolves to better meet user needs.

Conclusion

The Upserve Inventory App's barcode scanning feature was successfully implemented, providing restaurant staff with a seamless and efficient way to receive inventory.

Through an iterative design process and a user-centered approach, I created a streamlined experience that enhances operational efficiency. The barcode scanner simplifies tasks like creating suppliers, adding catalog items, receiving merchandise, and entering inventory counts, reducing errors and saving time. This makes the Upserve Inventory App a valuable tool for restaurant owners and managers.

The Upserve Inventory App's barcode scanning feature was successfully implemented, providing restaurant staff with a seamless and efficient way to receive inventory.

Through an iterative design process and a user-centered approach, I created a streamlined experience that enhances operational efficiency. The barcode scanner simplifies tasks like creating suppliers, adding catalog items, receiving merchandise, and entering inventory counts, reducing errors and saving time. This makes the Upserve Inventory App a valuable tool for restaurant owners and managers.