Context
This project came from my years working in hospitality, where managing supplier orders was often confusing. We deal with many suppliers daily, each with different ordering methods—text, website, phone, and app— and deadlines, which made things tricky.
Tool
Figma, Miro
Timeline
8 Weeks (Jan 2024 - Mar 2024)
My Role
Product Designer
Problem
Low Morale—
Struggling with Conflicting Order Methods, Deadlines, & Team Communication
Goal
Stay Productive—
Streamlined System & Effortless Teamwork
User Interview
To better understand the challenges users face, I interviewed three people working in different roles at a cafe about their experiences with the ordering system. Each had unique pain points and goals, but they all shared one common need: they need a system that could assist them.
Head Chef
Pain Points
I handle stock and order kitchen supplies, but some items have to be ordered from the front, which gets confusing.
Goal
Better team communication and inventory management
General Manager
Pain Points
I feel bad because sometimes I forget to order supplies, and my boss has to fix it. I'm tired of all the endless multitasking.
Goal
A system to help us be productive and organised
Barista
Pain Points
Suppliers have different ordering methods and varying cut-off times and holiday closures. It's confusing.
Goal
A unified system and process for a stress-free workflow
User Flow
What’s the journey for ordering from suppliers?
User Persona
Wireframe
Hi-Fi Design (Version 1)
Design Feedback
Calling for a simple & intuitive flow
I shared my design with interviewees for feedback. Here's the feedback theme:
The three colors on the order page can be confusing. Users prefer seeing specific numbers for par level and order amount rather than just colors.
Opening and closing menus on the home screen can be a bit annoying, especially when everything is open.
The home screen has too much information, making it unclear what is the most important.
In-depth Interview
No more one-size-fits-all & one-way chats 🙅
To dig deeper, I decided to conduct an In-depth interview with another potential user. I spoke with a cafe owner who runs a local shop with 16 employees. He manages approximately ten suppliers, with about five staff members involved in the ordering process. I asked him what he finds most challenging about the supplier ordering process from his perspective and why it's difficult. I also inquired about what he needs the most in this process. Here's what I learned:
Final Design
Flow in Action
Tablet Version
From the interview, I learned our users mainly use the app on phones, with tablets as the next popular choice. So, I added a dashboard screen for tablets in the design.
