K.M. Davies
A web-based app optimizes apple distribution from sorting to storage and sales, enhancing efficiency in fieldwork and office management processes.
UI.UX
Alice Liu
Role:
Researcher, UI designer
Team Size:
1
Date:
Aug 2022 - Feb 2023
Duration:
7 Months
Client Challenges
K.M. Davies Co., Inc. specializes in advanced controlled atmosphere and refrigerated storage solutions for produce. They manage over 250 million pounds annually and ensure efficient, high-quality storage and distribution.
Our clients faced significant challenges with their current system, which has two critical aspects requiring improvement.
Workers in the fields manually test each apple's pressure, tag them, and sort them into different batches for distribution to the appropriate buyers. The outdated interface of the current apple pressure testers makes this process inefficient and prone to errors.
The in-office management aspect involves using Excel sheets to track and summarize batch information, generate reports, and maintain records. This method is inefficient, lacks real-time tracking, and fails to provide a comprehensive, holistic view of recent batch information, leading to delays and inaccuracies in decision-making and reporting.
Developing a new platform to integrate with existing pressure testers and replace Excel sheets is essential to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and real-time management of the entire apple distribution process.
Tablet for field workers
The tablet portion of the application is designed to assist distributors in collecting data while working in the field. I interviewed 2 field workers to understand their current challenges. The field workers' pain points can be summarized into two categories:
Outdoor Environment: Bright sunlight makes it difficult to read the screen, especially with low color contrast in the UI. Additionally, workers often wear gloves, making small buttons hard to press accurately.
Complexity of Logging Information: Workers need to repeatedly re-enter a lot of information for each batch, which is energy-consuming and inefficient.
I delivered a new platform featuring an intuitive, WCAG AAA accessible interface with large buttons and clear color contrast. User testing showed that even under bright sunlight, color differences are easy to discern. The redesigned workflow allows quick and easy data input using predefined templates. For instance, to log defect information, workers can tap the same button to switch between unchecked, checked, and flagged for priority. This intuitive, user-friendly interface reduces errors and streamlines the data collection process.
Desktop for Office Management
The desktop portion of the web app is designed to help office staff monitor recent pressure tests of different apple batches and track average pressure changes. The interface allows users to easily navigate and access information on each batch, including the date of the pressure test, the average pressure reading, and any additional notes or comments regarding the batch. Staff can also easily access the test mode by creating a new test from the desktop portion.
Summary
To optimize apple distribution for our client, we developed a comprehensive platform that streamlines the entire process from testing to distribution. The tablet portion is tailored for field workers, simplifying the testing, tagging, and sorting of apples with a user-friendly interface. The desktop portion aids office workers with real-time tracking, batch management, and report generation. This cohesive solution enhances efficiency and accuracy across the distribution process, addressing both outdoor fieldwork challenges and in-office data management needs.
