BuddyPro is a SaaS platform designed to streamline field service management for businesses
with remote technicians and service teams. BuddyPro’s goal is to simplify job scheduling, task assignment, real-time updates, and reporting, enabling companies to enhance field efficiency, reduce response times, and improve customer satisfaction. This platform serves as an all-in-one solution for field service managers and teams, featuring mobile and desktop access for both dispatchers and on-site technicians.
Problem Statement
Traditional field service management involved extensive manual coordination, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and communication gaps between dispatchers and technicians. BuddyPro aimed to resolve these issues by providing a centralized platform where tasks could be managed end-to-end, from scheduling to completion. Key challenges included:
Ensuring Ease of Use for Field Technicians: The platform needed to be intuitive for technicians with varying levels of digital literacy.
Optimizing Real-Time Communication: Enabling seamless communication and updates between field and office teams was essential to improve responsiveness.
Creating Customizable Reporting: Managers required a flexible reporting dashboard to monitor field metrics and performance indicators.
Design Process
Research:
I started by researching the competitors' market and the planning and management services that had previously been used. After analyzing competitors and products on the market, I got to work. However, due to a lack of funding and tight deadlines, the stakeholders decided not to conduct a user interview at this stage.
Ideation & Wireframing:
Based on research findings, I sketched initial concepts and created low-fidelity wireframes in Figma. I focused on simplifying the user flow for dispatchers and making task management highly intuitive for technicians on mobile. We conducted rapid user feedback sessions with stakeholders to validate the main structure and functionality before moving forward.
High-Fidelity Design & Prototyping:
I then developed high-fidelity designs, ensuring consistency with BuddyPro’s brand while prioritizing functionality and ease of navigation. Features like real-time task updates, drag-and-drop scheduling, and mobile-friendly interfaces were designed to support on-the-go needs. I incorporated an adaptable layout for dashboards, allowing managers to filter and customize data views based on specific KPIs.
Collaboration with Developers for Accessibility & Responsiveness:
Collaborating closely with developers, I ensured the platform was fully responsive for both mobile and desktop, meeting WCAG accessibility guidelines. Adjustments were made to improve color contrast, touch target sizes, and navigation to accommodate both the desktop dashboard and mobile needs of field technicians.
Testing & Iteration:
After completing the prototype, I led usability testing sessions with dispatchers and technicians to observe their interactions with the platform. Feedback helped identify areas for improvement, such as simplifying the task status update flow and refining notification alerts for critical tasks. Based on these insights, I iterated on the design to enhance clarity and reduce friction.
Achievements & Outcomes
Streamlined Task Management: By introducing drag-and-drop scheduling and real-time updates, BuddyPro reduced job assignment time by 35%, allowing dispatchers to assign tasks quickly and technicians to receive instant updates.
Enhanced User Satisfaction: Post-launch surveys showed a 40% increase in user satisfaction among field technicians due to the intuitive mobile interface and ease of reporting job statuses on the go.
Improved Reporting Capabilities: With customizable dashboards, managers could track key metrics like completion rates and response times, resulting in better decision-making and a 25% improvement in service efficiency.
High User Retention Post-Launch: The platform’s ease of use, combined with its ability to meet specific field service needs, led to a high user retention rate, with 80% of initial trial users continuing with the platform after three months.
Reflection
Designing for BuddyPro was a rewarding experience that highlighted the importance of user-centered design for efficiency and responsiveness. By prioritizing accessibility, real-time communication, and intuitive interfaces, I helped create a platform that significantly improved field service operations and user satisfaction.