Maven Machines
How can we help truck drivers do their jobs more efficiently?
Truck drivers rely on Maven Machines’ dispatch app to do their job. They use it get to different locations, and drop off and pick up shipments.
Problem: Maven Machines has been able to provide more features and information. Now, one of the screens has become a "kitchen sink," and they think it needs a makeover.
Solution: Simplify this screen, so that they see the right info at the right time.
“
Nobody wants to keep operating a device that you gotta keep redoing, and you start getting frustrated and it’s not working. There’s other devices out there that you can use.
- Stacy, truck driver
My Role
How I worked on this project for a client in 2020.
Understand the product vision
I talked to a Product Manager (AJ) at Maven and conducted research online. I formulated thoughts on how to redesign their platform.
Conduct user research
I interviewed truck drivers who use the app. We talked about how they use the app to do their job, and what problems they have with it.
Redesign recommendations
I produced sketches and mockups to make the app easier and faster for drivers to engage with.
Heuristic and competitive analyses
I looked at Maven Machine's and competitors' apps to see what works well and what doesn't.
This was the only heuristic that failed for Maven Machines. This is because of the Stop Info screen, which is the screen they thought was the initial problem.
Simplifying the information
There is duplicate info shown many times in different places on the Stop Info screen. My sketch shows how to remove duplicates.
Finding out the users' pain points
I wasn't able to do a ride-along since I was working remotely.
“
What are you going to do if you’re driving and you use [the GPS] to get to your next destination, and it locks up on you?
“
When you do a lot of stops… every minute counts.
“
He followed the map and he hit a bridge.
The biggest UX issues
These are the top problems users are having with the app related to the user experience:
Thinking through improvements
Delete a shipment
Drivers want to be able to delete things such as shipments. We did not go with this because AJ said they should be marked as duplicate shipments instead.
Condensing information with expandable sections
I also thought about Stop Info screen. AJ felt it was something we could improve, even though it didn't come up in user interviews.
We brainstormed ways to have all the info on one screen instead of two. The idea was to have expandable sections on the screen.
I also put all location information to the top of the screen as an overview, and then the details went below.
This helped me think through what the best flow would be before I updated the hi-fidelity designs.
Recommendations
I used the Sketch files Maven Machines had. I also used screenshots of the app because some screens were not in Sketch.
- I designed for Android, as their drivers are provided with Android tablets.
- I provided recommendations for how to edit information and provide options based on past trips.
- These designs include the main pain points I heard from the drivers: some parts are automated, they can edit or delete info, and they have options to choose from.
- This design should make it faster for drivers to complete their tasks.
This flow shows options, the ability to edit, and info automatically entered.
Revisions, testing, and analytics
My learnings and recommendations for continuing this project.
