Volvo group

Streamline logistics for truck drivers, enhancing efficiency in their day-to-day operations across the transportation sector with mobile application.

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Understanding the problem

In the construction sector, inefficiencies in transportation logistics are a significant concern. Consuming 36% of on-site time and accounting for 10-20% of project expenses. Fragmented logistics planning is the primary culprit behind these inefficiencies. To address this, we proposed a solution through a mockup designed for site managers. The key to the success of this app is the integration of real-time data and logistics information, sourced directly from early-stage suppliers in the logistics chain.

Our research aimed to

• Understand user goals and needs.
• Identify pain points in the current user journey.
• Explore motivations for data provision related to construction site deliveries.

Early in our project, we employed the "How Might We" method to transform our problem statement into an opportunity, leading to the question: "How might we motivate drivers to use Volvo software. thereby making logistics more efficient and reducing waste costs in transportation?"

Our process is grounded in the Double Diamond theory and Lean UX methodology. Encompassing discovery, definition, ideation, and implementation phases.

There is an opportunity in every bad experience

‍To comprehend the competitive landscape, we analyzed three prevalent market apps. K2 Fleet, Opter Driver, and TDX Mobile. Despite their functional similarities, these apps lacked in user interface design and visual appeal. This analysis provided early project insights and a broader industry perspective.

Collecting and presenting data

Our primary aim was to delve into the interaction between truck drivers and existing apps, focusing on essential features for their work and the challenges they currently face. We conducted seven comprehensive interviews with suppliers in the infrastructure industry, addressing questions like

• How do drivers manage and track bookings?
• What tools are used for material management, and why?
• What are the procedures and challenges upon arriving at a construction site?
• To what degree are digital tools employed in their workflow?

Key findings and Insights

• Simplicity is Key: Current apps are cumbersome and feature-laden, making them difficult to navigate.
• System Overload: Drivers juggle multiple apps to sync with construction site systems.
• Uncertainty at Delivery Points: There's often confusion about who will receive the goods at the site.

To synthesize these insights, we created an empathy map. This helped identify user patterns, insights, and needs, leading to a more focused and user-centric approach.

Building empathy

Through analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, we noticed variations in responses between short-haul and long-haul drivers. We created two persona profile, Louise Henriksson (30, long-haul driver) and Roger Lindqvist (57, short-haul driver). These personas were instrumental in empathizing with our target groups and prioritizing their specific needs.

Understanding the User Journey

A user journey map was developed to understand the different phases of a supplier’s day and their experiences. This comprehensive view aids in identifying key touchpoints and potential areas of improvement.

Cluster analysis for organized insights

Interview findings were categorized into sections such as app features, pain points, pickup processes, gains and motivations. This segmentation organized in Excel enabled our team to have a clear overview and facilitated effective presentation of these findings to our client, Volvo Group.

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Wireframing, usability testing & prototyping: From concept to realization

The project commenced with low-fidelity prototypes. Enabling us to test the application's basic structure through usability tests. These early prototypes allowed for swift adjustments before progressing to more complex high-fidelity mockups.

User testing insights: Feedback from these initial sketches guided the creation of a mid-fidelity prototype. Conducting six additional usability tests. We uncovered vital insights such as the need for a prominent history button, simplification of on-screen content and improved visibility. The overall positive response from suppliers to our mockups was a clear indicator that we were moving in the right direction.

Refining the final prototype: Refining the final prototype for Volvo Group involved multiple stages. From with paper prototyping and progressing through the development of wireframes, mid-fidelity and clickable high-fidelity prototypes in Figma. During this phase we prioritized accessibility driven by insights from our pre-study indicating that users might need to access the app under less than ideal conditions, such as while driving. To ensure the app was as accessible as possible, we diligently worked to meet WCAG requirements. This commitment to accessibility led to continuous refinements in the app’s UI structure, phrasing and interactions. With user testing revealing areas for improvement. A significant enhancement suggested by a long-haul supplier was the implementation of a dark mode feature specifically designed for night-time use. Further catering to the real-world usage scenarios of our users

Conclusive learnings

• Emphasis on simplicity: The primary challenge lay in data visualization. Our usability tests highlighted that the screen content was too dense and small making it difficult for users to comprehend. The focus then shifted to creating iterations that presented data in a clear and visually appealing manner.
• Potential for expansion: Given more time to further development of user personas and journey maps would be beneficial particularly for site managers. The complexity of the project warrants additional research and iterative test phases.‍
• Incremental progress is crucial: Big challenges necessitate small gradual steps. Especially for changes brought about by a standalone application.‍
• Flexibility in research: Early in the project, a more digitally-focused approach led to some oversight of the users’ actual needs and challenges.‍
• The power of user journey maps: As complexity increases, journey mapping becomes invaluable for documenting processes, identifying critical points, and facilitating stakeholder collaboration.‍
• Returning to simplicity: A recurring theme was the need for simplicity. Drivers expressed frustration with current apps, feeling they were designed more from the site manager’s perspective rather than addressing their actual needs to simplify their work.