STREAMLINING USABILITY FOR AN ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
Software Redesign
About Site Service Software Inc.
Site Service Software delivers a comprehensive and scalable suite of solutions tailored for the elevator service industry. From maintenance and repairs to modernization, inspections, and violations tracking, the platform streamlines operations and enhances efficiency. With seamless ERP integration and adaptability for businesses of any size, Site Service Software revolutionizes the industry by centralizing all aspects of elevator service management.
IMPACT FOR THE BRAND
This project aims to improve the usability and efficiency of Site Service Software's elevator maintenance system by simplifying workflows, enhancing platform navigation, and helping users fully utilize all features, leading to increased productivity and user satisfaction. This results in a smoother, more user-friendly experience, boosting customer satisfaction and fostering loyalty. By offering a more adaptable platform, Site Service Software can attract a broader customer base, strengthen its competitive position, and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
My Role
Performed competitor analysis and interviewed the previous software developer to gather insights for design solutions.
Led the software redesign, creating wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes based on stakeholder feedback.
Produced update presentations and maintained ongoing communication with stakeholders to ensure project alignment and efficiency.
Tools
Illustrator, Figma
Timeline
3 Months
CONTEXT
The elevator maintenance software is outdated and features a poorly designed interface, which hinders usability and efficiency. Its cluttered layout, redundant features, and fragmented workflows force users to navigate multiple sections for related tasks, increasing cognitive load, unnecessary effort, and reducing productivity. Additionally, its static design falls short of modern usability standards and could be improved to enhance the overall user experience.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Dashboard
Previous Format
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The interface appears cluttered, with a lot of text and numerous sections in the layout. This setup can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
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There are many separate modules, and the user must navigate between them, which increases the cognitive load and makes it difficult to access relevant information quickly.
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The lack of intuitive categorization and clear visual hierarchy means users need to work harder to find what they need, resulting in inefficiency.
Redesign
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The new layout provides a clean, organized workspace where key features are easy to find, reducing unnecessary clicks for faster access.
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Collapsible panels allow users to expand only the sections they need, keeping the workspace focused and uncluttered.
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Navigation is simplified with well-organized tabs and clear icons, making it easy to switch between tasks like maintenance contracts, invoices, and route analysis.
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The improved search function helps users quickly find what they need with fewer clicks, saving time.
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Data is grouped and color-coded for better readability, allowing users to focus on important information and make quick, informed decisions.
RESEARCH:
Understanding the needs of the Stakeholders
Interviewing stakeholders, such as managers, technicians, and building owners, was crucial to understanding both the broader organizational goals and specific user pain points. Here's why interviewing these three key stakeholders is essential:
Contracts List
Previous Format
The form is outdated, with an overwhelming amount of unorganized data. The lack of elements, such as search, filters, color coding, or dynamic interactivity, hinders usability and makes it time-consuming to navigate and manage contracts effectively.
Redesign
The redesign prioritizes efficiency, user control, and readability, delivering a user-centric design with streamlined workflows and dynamic features. By balancing functionality and aesthetics, it provides a smoother, more productive experience, making it an effective tool for managing long lists within the software.
Forms
Previous
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Dense information without sufficient spacing makes the interface overwhelming and harder to scan.
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The design utilizes a static design with minimal modern aesthetics or interactivity.
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Users must toggle between two windows for full contract information, disrupting workflow.
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There is no color coding or bold headings to guide attention to critical fields.
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The device table lacks sorting or filtering options, requiring manual scrolling for larger datasets.
Redesign
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Consolidates scattered information into grouped sections for a more focused experience, with expandable and collapsible sections.
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Simplifies data entry using interactive elements like date pickers, checkboxes, and dropdown menus.
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Includes a filtering tool in the table to help users quickly locate specific details, improving efficiency.
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Tooltips clarify each field’s functionality, enhancing user understanding.
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More structured layout with well-defined areas, larger clickable sections, and clearer categories.
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Utilizes modern UI elements such as icons and sliders for an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface.
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Presents data in a visually appealing way with clearer labels, better color contrast, and more readable fonts.
Provided insight into the operational aspects of using the software to manage contracts, schedule maintenance, and track service history. Their feedback focused on the efficiency of workflows and the ease of managing large volumes of service data.
Since they are the direct users of the system in the field, their perspective focused on the ease of accessing real-time data, generating reports, and completing tasks. Their input was invaluable for improving field service usability, including mobile responsiveness and data entry forms.
Provided insights into the software's performance from the perspective of tracking the progress of maintenance requests and ensuring the timely servicing of elevators. Their feedback focused on reporting, contract management, and overall ease of use.
DESIGN DECISIONS
USER TESTING AND ITERATIONS
I conducted guided usability testing with some stakeholders to assess how users interact with the actual software and its features. During this process, several aspects of the design were tested, including layout, navigation, functionality, and content clarity.
Simplify Navigation and Reduce Clutter
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Incorporate collapsible side panels to reduce the number of visible sections and create a cleaner layout.
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Organize related data into tabs, allowing users to focus on relevant information without unnecessary distractions.
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Utilize icons and visual indicators to guide users and enhance navigation, making it easier to identify key features at a glance.
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Create a unified dashboard where all essential information is displayed in an organized and digestible manner, minimizing the need to navigate between multiple pages.
User Testing Insights:
Design Corrections:
Improve Data Entry and Organization
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Implement a quick-view mode for summary information, allowing users to expand sections for additional details when necessary.
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Simplify forms with interactive elements like dropdowns and date pickers to enhance data entry efficiency.
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Applying tooltips provides contextual guidance directly within the interface, enabling users to quickly understand each field or option without the need to consult external documentation.
User Testing Insights:
Design Corrections:
Search and Filter Capabilities
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Use filters, sorting, and search capabilities more effectively to help users find relevant data quickly.
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Enhance the search function by implementing faceted search, allowing users to filter results by multiple attributes. This ensures that users can quickly narrow down results and find the specific data they need.
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Implement an accordion-style design to organize related information, enabling users to toggle between different data sets seamlessly.
User Testing Insights:
Design Corrections:
EXPECTED OUTCOME
By simplifying workflows, improving data visibility, and optimizing forms, users will be able to accomplish tasks faster and with fewer mistakes. Expect smoother processes and quicker turnarounds across the board.
Intuitive features such as tooltips, well-organized information, and clearer navigation will empower users to feel in control, boosting satisfaction and making them more confident in using the platform.
By eliminating unnecessary steps and organizing information more effectively, users will complete their tasks with greater efficiency, leading to noticeable productivity gains across the system.
The introduction of dynamic, interactive elements like dropdowns, date pickers, and real-time tooltips will make data input faster, easier, and more accurate, transforming the user experience into something smooth and hassle-free.
REFLECTION
Redesigning the elevator maintenance software has been an insightful and rewarding experience. The main objective was to tackle the specific challenges stakeholders encountered, aiming to enhance usability, efficiency, and clarity.
Given the rapid advancements in IoT and AI, it's crucial for the software to remain adaptable to future technological shifts. To ensure this, I designed the system to be flexible and scalable, enabling it to evolve in line with the industry's changing needs. By adopting a modular design approach, I’ve set up the software to allow for easy component updates, ensuring that future modifications can be integrated without causing interruptions to existing workflows.
Moving forward, I will continue to gather user feedback to guide ongoing improvements. This redesign is just the beginning, and I am dedicated to creating a tool that streamlines operations and consistently improves service quality.
