Project Summary
The current Inventory Manager is a semi-well organized spreadsheet. The aim here is to create a much more User friendly experience which provides the user the ability to add and track items within inventory. Allowing the User; To search through and choose from the library of items we currently produce. To have visability into the capacity of currently available individual bins which, in turn, allows for advanced organizing capabilities using the most logic and sense. And giving the User a robust experience, keeping it simple and intuitive.
Project Requirements
User Research / User Testing / Wireframes / Prototype / Hi-Fed Design
Update Current Features
- Key Feature - Adding Items & Picking Items
- Work towards more visual display - Thumbnails
- Error messaging (If incorrect shelf is scanned in relation to the label)
- Adding items page - Including ability to Select Rug System
- Scan or manual input
Added Features
- Ability to reprint the label
- Include bin location count/capacity - (14/50)
- Success messages
- Historical data - Previously added items up to certain time frame.
- Scanning Component ID pulls items information - allows User to skip to Bin/Location Sorting
User Persona (Originally 2)
User Overview
Name: Jorge Gomez
Age: 20
Position: Newly Hired Inventory Personnel (2 weeks)
Learning Style: Hands on
Age: 20
Position: Newly Hired Inventory Personnel (2 weeks)
Learning Style: Hands on
Background Profile
Previous roles include - Coffee shop Barista and Cashier. Jorge has experience with computer interfaces and systems, also sorting inventory and taking stock counts. Jorge is very practical and likes to find the fastest way to get things done to limit time wasting. With plans to move up the career ladder, Jorge wants to make a good impression, so is very inquisitive, but a good listener all round.
App Use
Understanding
Jorge finds the app daunting to look at, not very intuitive and complicated when learning within the first 2-3 weeks of use. The process of storing items into the Inventory system as well as into the location bins is confusing at first. A seasoned member of the team introduces work arounds for some processes, but this isn’t ideal as they’re not the most efficient way to work. When it comes to picking orders, there are multiple steps to take in order to complete the order, which, when trying to read the queue, seem to be out of sequence. A Slightly outdated system to Jorge, he is used to a modern and well organized approach of delivering goods to a customer, different items yes, but still a cleaner process.
Pain Points
First logging into the system is easy enough, and so is scanning an item into Inventory. A problem arises when a label is damaged and unscannable. Jorge isn’t able to add the item via the app using the component ID as the app doesn’t allow for manual input. Jorge reaches out to a more experienced member of the team to help find a workaround for this process. Which actually involves printing a new label for the item so that it can be stored into Inventory properly, ready for picking. Being able to see a sequential order queue would be very helpful and speed up the process a lot. When trying to locate a design via the Design Viewer app, to help identify the item being stored in Inventory, Jorge has trouble finding specific colors to help match the items.
Physical Use
Understanding
Jorge finds the process of how items come into the Inventory department ready to be allocated a bin and also when picking items too. There can be a lot of items to input, so being able to input multiple items at the same time would be very efficient to the work process. For example, having the ability to add multiple items, that already have labels (like Amazon returns), of the same design and size into the same bin location at once, scanning each item, double checking the count and then adding to Inventory. Otherwise the more experienced team members have helped Jorge to follow a process that they have developed, Jorge isn’t the biggest fan of this as the process seems as if it could do with updating, but the limited choices and lack of experience keeps Jorge from making any suggestions.
Pain Points
Jorge would get confused when there are orders being picked by someone, while trying to place items into Inventory. Feeling as if there isn’t enough space to get to where the items need to be placed. Picking items seems to be something that can slow a workflow down, for example, the re doesn’t seem to be an ordered sequence to the orders coming in and needing to go out. This can look like this - if an item needs picking from Aisle 100 A, then the next from Aisle 500 C, then back to 100 A again. Breaking the ability to build up a cadence, even when the orders are all already in the system. When moving the items, the racks/shelves seem to be grated metal, which can cause damage to the items when they’re being moved and also make pulling items out a problem sometimes too.
User Flow
User Q & A
- Will Users be able to submit multiple items in a single session?
- No, only a single item can be added.
- No, only a single item can be added.
- Will Managers have the ability to update bin space based on their internal inventory audits?
- Not in this iteration, but in future update, Yes.
- Not in this iteration, but in future update, Yes.
- Will a User be able to filter item designs if they’re unfamiliar with item/collection names?
- We hope to add this in as a feature, Yes.
- We hope to add this in as a feature, Yes.
- Can a User go back and edit information on an already submitted item?
- Only Managers will have this ability at present, but we hope to change this based on permissions.
- Only Managers will have this ability at present, but we hope to change this based on permissions.
- As a User I would like to be able to Reprint a label for a previously submitted item, is this possible?
-Yes, this will definitely be an option.
Wireframes & Testing Round 1
User Testing Feedback
Understanding
- The app seems to be fairly straight forward, but I’m concerned I won’t be able to find the rug I’m looking for as I don’t know all the names.
- Working through the process of adding an item to inventory seems simple enough, but I need a little more information when it comes to adding it to a bin.
- Do I start the process all over again once I’ve added a single item, or can I add multiple?
- Will the label print automatically at the end of the process or will I have to manually do that myself?
- Not all items are available in all sizes, but the design says I can select any of the sizes, this wouldn’t make sense in action.
- Can we get an overview of the item at the end, instead of throughout? It’s distracting.
Pain Points
- I would personally get confused when searching for a item with no visual of that item as I don’t have full knowledge of every item we produce.
- Selecting a size isn’t going to work like it does here as not every item has the same sizing.
- Maybe there’s a way to break the flow up some as this seems very condensed and a little confusing.
-I felt a little over-whelmed with everything happening at once, is there a way to separate the steps?
- I don’t think we need to be asked whether or not we want to add another item as we don’t always need to, and also it’s not a constant process. We add to inventory and then we add it to the shelf before we start all over again.
Wireframes & Testing Round 2
User Testing Feedback - Round 2
Understanding
- Really like how it’s come together from the very beginning. Can’t wait to see it all with color and in the app suite for us to start using.
- Really enjoyed the flow of things. You really listened to our feedback when it came to breaking out the steps in the process. This is a lot easier to understand.
- Having the historical information on the main screen makes a lot of sense. Helps us to check on our previously added items in case we get confused or need to re-print a damaged label.
- Thank you for the work you’ve produced and the effort you’ve taken to thinking about what we really need.
- This all makes so much more sense now. A leap forward from the spreadsheet we’ve been using to track -everything.
Pain Points
- Would be amazing if we could add the Comp ID manually at the beginning if we already have one.
- If we can’t add multiple items right now, it doesn’t make sense to show the quantity.
- Showing the item sizes is a little confusing, even though they’re greyed out. Is it possible to remove those that aren’t available in the chosen item? So we only have what’s selectable showing?
- Filtering is great, but it’s annoying to have to go back and restart/ reselect any of the filters. Maybe you can use tags to help us see what we’ve already selected? And make them removable too?
- I think you could probably remove the quantity from the bin location selection screen.
High Fidelity
