ProDelivery System
Organization
CIRCL Technologies Ltd.
Date
10.2022 - 07.2024
Type
Desktop Backoffice, Android mobile app,
Company website (check it out here!)
Description
ProDelivery is a SaaS system, successfully launched in February 2023. Designed specifically for the logistics industry, the product currently focuses on optimizing the LPG market supply chain.
Product outcomes
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Successful launch in February 2023, which resulted in a 30% reduction of direct distribution cost for Proto Energy
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Successful launch in July 2024 of system 2.0 version for european distributor
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Replaced old, bug-filled component library with a modern, styled PrimeOne Design System
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New company website
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Transitioned product from single-brand oriented to a generic, flexible tool
Background
First client
Proto, a premier LPG energy provider in Kenya heavily influenced the product's start not only in terms of the requirements, but also provided a legacy platform, which our developers used as a foundation to build on top of.
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Back then product's core revolved around the manufacturing process, stock management, security and control of the supply chain.
However, we faced significant challenges due to a persistent lack of data, feedback, and clear communication from Proto's end.
Further development
As the company grew and began actively seeking new customers, it became evident that the product needed to be revised. Proto's unique business model resulted in significant portions of the product being irrelevant for European distributors. This realization in Q3 of 2023 initiated a critical shift, leading to a company-wide restructuring and a complete overhaul of the system architecture and development plan
Selected features
Route planning, optimisation & tracking
Route planning stands for the core of a logistics module.
It's an intelligent solution meant to replace pen-and-paper ways of work with automated processes and support of day-to-day challenges of sales agents, dispatch managers, and drivers.
Workshops
From manual to automation, this part of the system was explored with all possible solutions.
The discussions were supported by talks with the potential clients, to put some light on the requirements prioritisation.
Gathering insights
The transportation module took a great amount of research to understand each element's logic, good practices, and details. The findings were translated into flows, diagrams, and user journeys, to support the final solution decisions.
Benchmarking
Main references:
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Circuit
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OptimoRoute
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SmartRoute
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Amazon DSP internal software
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Upper
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Route4Me
User interviews
While discovering this feature, the approach was enriched with information coming directly form a potential customer in Portugal. To understand how the business operates, the company designated an on-site team of project manager, software engineer, and the sales officer. Because this single example could be considered a representative sample of there market in general, we prepared a user interviews questionnaire with underlined information goals and missing points, that was later executed and described in internal documentation in detail with many attached photos.
Wireframes
Designing the route planning element was particularly engaging, largely because the standard approach involves incorporating an interactive map. This map features various markers that aid users in comprehending the route plan effectively.​
User interface
The focus area was a color palette for all the pins, marks, and visuals revolving around the map, simplicity in usage, and giving a good picture of what is going on on the field.
Developer hand-over
When a final version was provided, it was later discussed on what can be simplified for the MVP and added in further stages. The product team collaborated on that note with the developers and successfully agreed and collaborated during development.
Launch & Feedback
The first launch of this new feature concluded with positive feedback. Further decisions on the next steps and improvements are on-hold until the launch in the client's main facility planned for Q4 2024.
Order Management System
The OMS module started the shift towards the new distributor-oriented initiative. Developed internally, it was supported by the Shopify system and integrated with the client's current apps.
Workshops
The first creation attempts began several months until we reached the final shape of the OMS. Initially, the plan was to develop it on the old framework and tailor it to Proto's specific needs.
However, as time progressed, the concept underwent significant changes. The high-level scope shifted towards a more generalized and industry-standard approach.
Throughout this process, the UX team collaborated closely with software engineers, the CEO, the head of product, project managers, and developers.
Research on vocabulary and structure
One of the core product changes that directly impacted the modules' structure was the main navigation and vocabulary revamp. These key aspects were reviewed and significantly improved based on:
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Industry-standard guidelines
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Competitors benchmarking
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Data analysis on visits on each page and subpage
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Tree-testing to identify potential problematic points and revise the chosen naming once again
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ChatGPT precise vocabulary definitions
Benchmarking
To name key benchmark sources:
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Unleashed
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Shopify
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IBM
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Wix eCommerce
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ChatGPT
User stories & user flows
Conclusions from the previous stages were batched together into the written documentation and user stories. With concrete requirements, we translated those into many user flows, visuals, and diagrams showing the proposal logic.
Wireframes
The prime purpose of the wireframes was to be flexible and based on good industry practices.
As time showed, this flexible approach allowed us to quickly adjust the wireframes to ever-changing requirements even much later in the stage, and became a reference point to the other modules.
User interface
For this and all subsequent feature designs, we adopted a new framework and design system, PrimeNG. The UI designed for this module served as a reference for other modules, ensuring consistency across the platform.
Developer hand-over
Beginning with this module, the company engaged external contractor developers to assist in implementing the new UI. This decision significantly enhanced the development process, bringing in additional expertise and resources to expedite the project.
Pricing module (Proto)
The pricing module enables Proto to modify product prices, tailor them to specific customer segments, and generate price lists that are integrated into the selling process.
Research & benchmarking
The research process identified two potential solutions commonly used in order management systems. It also provided valuable insights and future solution ideas, such as incorporating discounts, taxes, and UI inspirations.
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The final option was chosen because of the system's reliance on states and product variants. Each combination of product variant and state (e.g., an empty and non-defective 6kg gas cylinder) required a dedicated price.
Wireframing
The pricing module flow included proposals for the price list overview and detail pages, a creation form with suitable actions, and a corresponding set of screens for the linked feature: customer segment groups.
User interface
While the UI was initially based on the product component library, it encountered several challenges during the development stage. This marked my first encounter with our bug-filled framework, with its consequences manifesting in every existing component.
Ultimately, crucial fixes were implemented, prioritizing essential issues over the "good-to-have" ones due to the limited time available before the official product launch.
