4. The story
4. The story
4. The story
Patent Pending
(Since May '23)
Introduction
People involved
People involved
Design team
1 Product Designer
I owned the entire
design of this project
Product team
1 Senior Product Manager
Engineering team
3 Software Engineers
2 Front-end Engineers
QA team
1 QA Analyst
Design team
1 Product Designer
I owned the entire
design of this project
Product team
1 Senior Product Manager
Engineering team
3 Software Engineers
2 Front-end Engineers
QA team
1 QA Analyst
Introduction
Introduction
What does Fourkites do?
Fourkites addresses
issues in logistics and
supply chain visibility
What does Fourkites do?
Fourkites addresses
issues in logistics and
supply chain visibility
What does Fourkites do?
Fourkites addresses
issues in logistics and
supply chain visibility
Users–who uses what product?
Users–who uses what product?
Users–who uses what product?
Shipper–Warehouse manager
Tracks and manages
shipment using
'CoreTrac'
Shipper–Warehouse manager
Tracks and manages
shipment using
'CoreTrac'
Shipper–Warehouse manager
Tracks and manages
shipment using
'CoreTrac'
Drivers
Enable this shipment using
GPS–enabled trucks.
Optional
Use a Fourkites mobile app
call 'CarrierLink' for navigation
Drivers
Enable this shipment using
GPS–enabled trucks.
Optional
Use a Fourkites mobile app
call 'CarrierLink' for navigation
Drivers
Enable this shipment using
GPS–enabled trucks.
Optional
Use a Fourkites mobile app
call 'CarrierLink' for navigation
Warehouse gate guards
Check these drivers into and out
of the warehouse facility using
a Fourkites tool called 'Dynamic Yard'
Warehouse gate guards
Check these drivers into and out
of the warehouse facility using
a Fourkites tool called 'Dynamic Yard'
Warehouse gate guards
Check these drivers into and out
of the warehouse facility using
a Fourkites tool called 'Dynamic Yard'
Problems these users face
Problems these users face
Problems these users face
Drivers
Spending time longer than
needed in queues at the gates of the warehouse facility
avg. 30-50 minutes wasted
avg. $10,000 spent in detention penalties
Gate guards
The extended wait time is a consequence of the gate guarding manually entering shipment data that the driver is bringing, offline
avg. 10-20 minutes wasted
Warehouse manager
This data entered by gate guards are sometimes inaccurate since it is very manual and offline
Shipment tracking quality (i.e., correctly tracked a position of a truck at frequent intervals) is poor at 50-60%
Drivers
Drivers
Spending time longer than
needed in queues at the gates of the warehouse facility
avg. 30-50 minutes wasted
avg. $10,000 spent in detention penalties
Spending time longer than
needed in queues at the gates of the warehouse facility
avg. 30-50 minutes wasted
avg. $10,000 spent in detention penalties
Gate guards
Gate guards
The extended wait time is a consequence of the gate guarding manually entering shipment data that the driver is bringing, offline
avg. 10-20 minutes wasted
The extended wait time is a consequence of the gate guarding manually entering shipment data that the driver is bringing, offline
avg. 10-20 minutes wasted
Warehouse manager
Warehouse manager
This data entered by gate guards are sometimes inaccurate since it is very manual and offline
Shipment tracking quality (i.e., correctly tracked a position of a truck at frequent intervals) is poor at 50-60%
This data entered by gate guards are sometimes inaccurate since it is very manual and offline
Shipment tracking quality (i.e., correctly tracked a position of a truck at frequent intervals) is poor at 50-60%
How I went about designing a solution for this
How I went about designing a solution for this
How I went about designing a solution for this
Interviewing users–inferences
Interviewing users–inferences
Interviewing users–inferences
Drivers
Drivers are ready to use their phones if that means they will spend lesser time at the gates of a warehouse facility
Drivers
Drivers are ready to use their phones if that means they will spend lesser time at the gates of a warehouse facility
Drivers
Drivers are ready to use their phones if that means they will spend lesser time at the gates of a warehouse facility
Gate guards
Gate guards are ready to use computers to enter missing data or double-check data before entering them into the shipment database
Gate guards
Gate guards are ready to use computers to enter missing data or double-check data before entering them into the shipment database
Gate guards
Gate guards are ready to use computers to enter missing data or double-check data before entering them into the shipment database
Warehouse manager
They already use a FourKites tool called 'eDocs Manager' to manage electronic documents submitted by drivers while they deliver/pick up a shipment
Warehouse manager
10 warehouse managers were interviewed
They already use a FourKites tool called 'eDocs Manager' to manage electronic documents submitted by drivers while they deliver/pick up a shipment
Warehouse manager
10 warehouse managers were interviewed
They already use a FourKites tool called 'eDocs Manager' to manage electronic documents submitted by drivers while they deliver/pick up a shipment
Design workshop with the respective
stakeholders of these products
Design workshop with the respective
stakeholders of these products
Design workshop with the respective
stakeholders of these products
Workshop members
Workshop members
Workshop members
I took the inferences made from user interviews into a workshop where I invited members of product, engineering and design teams who were working on the following products:
I took the inferences made from user interviews into a workshop where I invited members of product, engineering and design teams who were working on the following products:
I took the inferences made from user interviews into a workshop where I invited members of product, engineering and design teams who were working on the following products:
CoreTrac
Dynamic Yard
eDocs Manager
CoreTrac
Dynamic Yard
eDocs Manager
CoreTrac
Dynamic Yard
eDocs Manager
Goals of the workshop
Goals of the workshop
Goals of the workshop
Find common touch points between the three products
Find gaps in the experience of the three products
Find the right technology/solution to bridge this gap
Find common touch points between the three products
Find gaps in the experience of the three products
Find the right technology/solution to bridge this gap
Find common touch points between the three products
Find gaps in the experience of the three products
Find the right technology/solution to bridge this gap
Takeaways from the workshop
Takeaways from the workshop
Takeaways from the workshop
A tool that links the three products can be used to simplify the flow of data
A tool that links the three products can be used to simplify the flow of data
A tool that links the three products can be used to simplify the flow of data
The driver is the pivotal character of this story, who can help provide missing data
The driver is the pivotal character of this story, who can help provide missing data
The driver is the pivotal character of this story, who can help provide missing data
They can do this using a product easily available via their mobile phones
They can do this using a product easily available via their mobile phones
They can do this using a product easily available via their mobile phones
Studying Fourkites' product ecosystem
Studying Fourkites' product ecosystem
Studying Fourkites' product ecosystem
Present system
Present system
Present system
I studied the existing system map across the 3 products to get a deeper
understanding of the capabilities of the solution
I studied the existing system map across the 3 products to get a deeper understanding of the capabilities of the solution
I studied the existing system map across the 3 products to get a deeper
understanding of the capabilities of the solution
Proposed system
Proposed system
Proposed system
An application used by a Driver can connect these 3 products to create
one, seamless solution
An application used by a Driver can connect these 3 products to create one, seamless solution
An application used by a Driver can connect these 3 products to create
one, seamless solution
Concept
A web-based mobile application can be easily accessed by simply scanning a QR code at any facility, or received via text message with an URL.
This way, the driver’s entire logistics delivery/pickup experience can be digitised.
Concept
A web-based mobile application can be easily accessed by simply scanning a QR code at any facility, or received via text message with an URL.
This way, the driver’s entire logistics delivery/pickup experience can be digitised.
Concept
A web-based mobile application can be easily accessed by simply scanning a QR code at any facility, or received via text message with an URL.
This way, the driver’s entire logistics delivery/pickup experience can be digitised.
Key feature highlights
Key feature highlights
Key feature highlights
Web-based mobile app
Drivers can scan the QR code present
at the facility they arrive at to start filling
out details of their inbound/outbound
shipment
Web-based mobile app
Drivers can scan the QR code present
at the facility they arrive at to start filling
out details of their inbound/outbound
shipment
Web-based mobile app
Drivers can scan the QR code present
at the facility they arrive at to start filling
out details of their inbound/outbound
shipment
Enter track-enabling details on the go!
Drivers, who have first-hand, accurate data
required to enable high quality tracking of
shipment, can enter it themselves on their
mobile before reaching the gates
Enter track-enabling details on the go!
Drivers, who have first-hand, accurate data required to enable high quality tracking of shipment, can enter it themselves on their mobile before reaching the gates
Enter track-enabling details on the go!
Drivers, who have first-hand, accurate data
required to enable high quality tracking of
shipment, can enter it themselves on their
mobile before reaching the gates
Driver–gate guard collaboration:
Spend 2-3 minutes in queues
at gates
Drivers show entered data to the gate guard.
They verify it using Dynamic Yard tool and
check them inside the facility.
Driver–gate guard collaboration:
Spend 2-3 minutes in queues
at gates
Drivers show entered data to the gate guard.
They verify it using Dynamic Yard tool
and check them inside the facility.
Driver–gate guard collaboration:
Spend 2-3 minutes in queues
at gates
Drivers show entered data to the gate guard.
They verify it using Dynamic Yard tool and
check them inside the facility.
Driver-shipper collaboration:
Get pick up/delivery documents
approved electronically
Drivers now spend significantly lesser time on
getting their pickup/delivery docs approved
Driver-shipper collaboration:
Get pick up/delivery documents
approved electronically
Drivers now spend significantly lesser time on getting their pickup/delivery docs approved
Driver-shipper collaboration:
Get pick up/delivery documents
approved electronically
Drivers now spend significantly lesser time on
getting their pickup/delivery docs approved
Testing with users
Testing with users
Testing with users
I collaborated with Product and Engineering teams to conduct tests
on the following platforms:
I collaborated with Product and Engineering teams to conduct tests on the following platforms:
I collaborated with Product and Engineering teams to conduct tests
on the following platforms:
Staging environment
Staging environment
Staging environment
Product was tested with internal stakeholders. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Product was tested with internal stakeholders. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Product was tested with internal stakeholders. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Beta release
Beta release
Beta release
Product was released to a control group of customers. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Product was released to a control group of customers. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Product was released to a control group of customers. User testing methods were carried out on them.
Feedbacks from user testing
Feedbacks from user testing
Feedbacks from user testing
Poor tracking quality
Poor tracking quality
Poor tracking quality
The average tracking quality of shipments was 10%, with even lower efficiency for short-haul loads taking less than 60 minutes.
This is well below FourKites' typical tracking efficiency of 90% and requires immediate attention.
The average tracking quality of shipments was 10% with even lower efficiency for short-haul loads taking less than 60 minutes.
This is well below FourKites' typical tracking efficiency of 90% and requires immediate attention.
The average tracking quality of shipments was 10%, with even lower efficiency for short-haul loads taking less than 60 minutes.
This is well below FourKites' typical tracking efficiency of 90% and requires immediate attention.
Design iteration
Design iteration
Design iteration
The feedback from testing now transforms into the new design brief:
"Improve the tracking quality of shipments' data acquired via YardConnect"
The feedback from testing now transforms into the new
design brief:
"Improve the tracking quality of shipments' data
acquired via YardConnect"
The feedback from testing now transforms into the new design brief:
"Improve the tracking quality of shipments' data acquired via YardConnect"
a. User research–interviews
a. User research–interviews
a. User research–interviews
Takeaways from interviewing ~10 truck drivers
Takeaways from interviewing ~10 truck drivers
Takeaways from interviewing ~10 truck drivers
The low tracking quality was due to drivers' behaviour with the mobile web app.
Drivers completed all necessary documentation processes for their load before starting the journey.
The completion of documentation triggers a prompt in the FourKites system, beginning the tracking process. However, drivers take several minutes (ranging between 10 minutes to up to 2 hours) to start the truck and leave the facility, negatively impacting the tracking quality of short-haul loads.
Drivers also take legally required breaks during their journey, further affecting the tracking quality.
The low tracking quality was due to drivers' behaviour with the mobile web app.
Drivers completed all necessary documentation processes for their load before starting the journey.
The completion of documentation triggers a prompt in the FourKites system, beginning the tracking process. However, drivers take several minutes (ranging between 10 minutes to up to 2 hours) to start the truck and leave the facility, negatively impacting the tracking quality of short-haul loads.
Drivers also take legally required breaks during their journey, further affecting the tracking quality.
The low tracking quality was due to drivers' behaviour with the mobile web app.
Drivers completed all necessary documentation processes for their load before starting the journey.
The completion of documentation triggers a prompt in the FourKites system, beginning the tracking process. However, drivers take several minutes (ranging between 10 minutes to up to 2 hours) to start the truck and leave the facility, negatively impacting the tracking quality of short-haul loads.
Drivers also take legally required breaks during their journey, further affecting the tracking quality.
b. Ideation
b. Ideation
b. Ideation
Concept
Concept
Concept
The product should learn when drivers would depart from the facility and convey this information to the FourKites system to properly delay load tracking.
A minor modification to the original user flow was introduced to gather information on the driver's departure time, based on business objectives.
The product should learn when drivers would depart from the facility and convey this information to the FourKites system to properly delay load tracking.
A minor modification to the original user flow was introduced to gather information on the driver's departure time, based on business objectives.
The product should learn when drivers would depart from the facility and convey this information to the FourKites system to properly delay load tracking.
A minor modification to the original user flow was introduced to gather information on the driver's departure time, based on business objectives.
c. Wireframes and prototypes
c. Wireframes and prototypes
c. Wireframes and prototypes
Learning what the
driver's drive plan is
Drivers enter how long they will take
to physically leave the facility and the
Fourkites tracking will start with a delay
of that amount of time
Learning what the
driver's drive plan is
Drivers enter how long they will take
to physically leave the facility and the
Fourkites tracking will start with a delay
of that amount of time
Learning what the
driver's drive plan is
Drivers enter how long they will take
to physically leave the facility and the
Fourkites tracking will start with a delay
of that amount of time
The result
Tracking quality drastically improved from 10% to 90% and above,
succeeding in the purpose of the iterative design sprint.
Queueing was greatly reduced, since the time taken to
complete the documentation tasks reduced by 70%
The result
Tracking quality drastically improved from 10% to 90% and above, succeeding in the purpose of the iterative design sprint.
Queueing was greatly reduced, since the time taken to
complete the documentation tasks reduced by 70%
The result
Tracking quality drastically improved from 10% to 90% and above,
succeeding in the purpose of the iterative design sprint.
Queueing was greatly reduced, since the time taken to
complete the documentation tasks reduced by 70%
