Streaminling Laptop Management
for Los Angeles County with M.I.T (Mobile Inventory Tracker)

Delete The Divide team partnered with Los Angeles County (LA County) to develop a secure mobile application for efficient tracking of county-owned laptops. This application, equipped with an integrated barcode scanner, will streamline processes for Los Angeles County staff and the Delete The Divide (DTD) Administration.

Delete The Divide team partnered with Los Angeles County (LA County) to develop a secure mobile application for efficient tracking of county-owned laptops. This application, equipped with an integrated barcode scanner, will streamline processes for Los Angeles County staff and the Delete The Divide (DTD) Administration.

Role

Role

UI/UX Designer Co-lead

Industry

Industry

Public Sector Technology

Tools

Tools

Figma, Miro, MS Office Suite

Design Team size

Design Team size

10

Challenge

Challenge

Current Inefficiencies:

  • Manual processes for recording laptop locations and handoffs.

  • Inaccuracies, wasted time, and need for more transparency.

Solution

Solution

M.I.T. is a mobile application designed for DTD administrators and warehouse workers to streamline the laptop management process, from receiving shipments to distributing them to recipients with an integrated barcode scanner for eacy tracking.

Project Initiation and Planning

Project Initiation and Planning

01

Integrated Barcode Scanner

Reasoning: To provide a familiar and user-friendly listening experience similar to Spotify.

Outcome: Users could easily play, pause, and navigate through stories, enhancing the overall user experience.

02

User-Friendly Upload Process

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

03

Intuitive Navigation and Interface

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

01

Integrated Barcode Scanner

Reasoning: To provide a familiar and user-friendly listening experience similar to Spotify.

Outcome: Users could easily play, pause, and navigate through stories, enhancing the overall user experience.

02

User-Friendly Upload Process

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

03

Intuitive Navigation and Interface

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

01

Integrated Barcode Scanner

Reasoning: To provide a familiar and user-friendly listening experience similar to Spotify.

Outcome: Users could easily play, pause, and navigate through stories, enhancing the overall user experience.

02

User-Friendly Upload Process

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

03

Intuitive Navigation and Interface

We conducted user interviews, surveys, and analyzed in-app analytics to understand the pain points and user needs. We also studied competitor apps and industry trends to gather insights

User-Centric Research and Ideation

User-Centric Research and Ideation

User Persona

We identified the application's core user groups, including warehouse workers, DTD administrators, supervisors, and non-technical users. Through user persona development, we created detailed profiles outlining each user group's needs, goals, and pain points.

Competitive Analysis

We conducted a thorough analysis, identifying existing inventory management and shipping applications. By evaluating available solutions, we determined their strengths and limitations, ensuring M.I.T. offered a unique and valuable user experience.

Scenario Mapping & User Storyboards

To design an intuitive interface, we focused on the daily tasks of Sarah, a dedicated DTD staff member responsible for managing the inventory of laptops within her organization.

Scenario: Managing Inventory with the M.I.T. Application

Inventory Page

  1. Starting the Day:

    • Sarah opens the M.I.T. application and logs in with her work credentials.


  2. Navigating to the Inventory Page:

    • From the dashboard, she accesses the inventory page via the main navigation menu.


  3. Loading Inventory Data:

    • The app displays a loading spinner while fetching data. Once loaded, Sarah sees a dropdown menu for different locations.


  4. Selecting a Location:

    • She selects “Eastern Office” to check the laptops there. The app updates the inventory list instantly.


  5. Reviewing Inventory:

    • The list shows laptop models, quantities, and locations. Sarah finds the information she needs quickly.


  6. Checking Other Locations:

    • Sarah checks the “Libraries” inventory next. The app processes the data and updates the list.


  7. Task Completion:

    • Sarah successfully completes her inventory check, ensuring all laptops are accounted for.

Collabrative Sketching Session

To foster creativity and ensure diverse perspectives were considered in the design process, I hosted sketching sessions with the design team. During these sessions:

  • Idea Generation: Team members brainstormed and presented initial design concepts on paper.

  • Discussion and Feedback: We discussed each idea in detail, providing constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

  • Integration of Ideas: The best elements from various sketches were integrated into the final design, ensuring a well-rounded and innovative solution.

Design and Prototyping

Design and Prototyping

Tight deadlines demanded efficiency. I implemented a task division by page and fostered a supportive mentor-mentee environment within the design team to empower newer designers. I led weekly Figma workshops, addressingfunctionalities and concerns. Our collaborative effort resulted in a pre-built UI component library, ensuring consistency and accelerating the wireframing process.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Before and After User Feedback

Side-by-Side Comparison: Before and After User Feedback

3 Key Findings

3 Key Findings

Unintended User Flow

Users bypassed the scan icon in the navigation bar and accessed scan history directly through a "view history" button on the home page.

Unfamiliarity with Mobile Inventory Apps

Users unfamiliar with mobile inventory apps found the design confusing, requiring a more intuitive interface.

Flagged Laptop Visibility
Flagged Laptop Visibility

The lack of a filter for flagged laptops made it difficult for users to quickly identify them when their was a lot of laptops that were scanned into the system; which caused end-users to take more time in identify the flagged laptops.

The lack of a filter for flagged laptops made it difficult for users to quickly identify them when their was a lot of laptops that were scanned into the system; which caused end-users to take more time in identify the flagged laptops.

User Feedback Incorporated

User Feedback Incorporated

Improved Scan Workflow

Based on user feedback, we streamlined the scanning process. Users now access scan history and various scanning options directly on the main page, bypassing unnecessary navigation steps. This resulted in a 50% increase in scanning productivity.

New User Focus

To improve usability for those unfamiliar with mobile inventory apps, we simplified navigation icons and included text, streamlined scanning workflows, and included in-app tutorials. This ensures a smoother experience for everyone.

Enhanced Flagged Laptop Identification

In response to user feedback, we improved the visibility of flagged laptops on the summary page. Now, flagged laptops are visually separated from non-flagged ones. This allows users to quickly identify them, boosting workflow efficiency.

High Fidelity Mock Up

High Fidelity Mock Up

Iteractive Design

  • Home Page

    The redesigned home page prioritizes the primary task (scanning) by removing clutter like scan history and notifications. This resulted in a 50% usability boost.

  • Notification

    Real-time notifications keep DTD administrators informed about new arrivals, event assignments, tamper seal breaches, and reported damage.

  • Settings

    A streamlined interface with smaller text provides easier access to account details, support resources, and an in-app tutorial.

  • New Shipment

    Enables efficient scanning and logging of incoming laptop shiments. In addition to allowing users to indicate if the seal is intact which will then be sorted for easier reading.

  • Bulk - Report Damage

    Allows users to scan affected laptops and provide a brief incident description. Ideal for situations with multiple damaged devices.

  • Distribute device

    Assign laptops to individuals with custodian capture for clear accountability. Avalaible for groups (orgs/businesses) distribution.

  • View History

    Provides administrators with a comprehensive history of each laptop's movement, offering valuable insights for asset tracking and management.

  • Update Custodian

    Efficiently transfer ownership of multiple laptops to new custodians during relocation, simplifying record-keeping and preventing unauthorized access (theft). Single laptop transfers also supported.

  • Individual - Report Damage

    Allows administrators to document damage on an individual laptop.

  • Home Page

    The redesigned home page prioritizes the primary task (scanning) by removing clutter like scan history and notifications. This resulted in a 50% usability boost.

  • Notification

    Real-time notifications keep DTD administrators informed about new arrivals, event assignments, tamper seal breaches, and reported damage.

  • Settings

    A streamlined interface with smaller text provides easier access to account details, support resources, and an in-app tutorial.

  • New Shipment

    Enables efficient scanning and logging of incoming laptop shiments. In addition to allowing users to indicate if the seal is intact which will then be sorted for easier reading.

  • Bulk - Report Damage

    Allows users to scan affected laptops and provide a brief incident description. Ideal for situations with multiple damaged devices.

  • Distribute device

    Assign laptops to individuals with custodian capture for clear accountability. Avalaible for groups (orgs/businesses) distribution.

  • View History

    Provides administrators with a comprehensive history of each laptop's movement, offering valuable insights for asset tracking and management.

  • Update Custodian

    Efficiently transfer ownership of multiple laptops to new custodians during relocation, simplifying record-keeping and preventing unauthorized access (theft). Single laptop transfers also supported.

  • Individual - Report Damage

    Allows administrators to document damage on an individual laptop.

Phased Design Handover

Phased Design Handover

To facilitate a smooth development workflow, we adopted a phased design handover approach. We initially provided the developer lead with the wireframes. This enabled them to start planning the application's backend structure and defining the necessary data fields.

Once the high-fidelity prototypes were finalized, the development team could focus on integrating the UI elements (visual design) on top of the already established functional core. This approach streamlined the development process and ensured efficient utilization of time and resources.

Future Opportunities

Future Opportunities

Their is no current application within the Los Angeles County that is similar to M.I.T. With that said we have been told by other department heads and our stakeholders there's a growing possibility of the application being adopted by other departments within the Los Angeles County to manage their specific inventory needs. This potential expansion highlights the scalability and adaptability of the M.I.T. application which will assist more than 2,000+ employees.

Their is no current application within the Los Angeles County that is similar to M.I.T. With that said we have been told by other department heads and our stakeholders there's a growing possibility of the application being adopted by other departments within the Los Angeles County to manage their specific inventory needs. This potential expansion highlights the scalability and adaptability of the M.I.T. application which will assist more than 2,000+ employees.

Personal Growth and Learnings

Personal Growth and Learnings

Adapting to Change

Adapting to Change

The initial team size of 15 members, including myself, fluctuated due to unforeseen circumstances.  This challenged us to adapt by redistributing tasks efficiently, leveraging each team member's strengths to ensure progress with our team of 9 designers.

Inclusive and Empowering Team Leadership

Inclusive and Empowering Team Leadership

Built an inclusive, learning-focused team. Rewarding to see everyone contribute to design, even newcomers.

Expanding Skillset

Expanding Skillset

Project expanded my skillset through hands-on design, research, and development. Gained invaluable real-world knowledge.

Importance of Setting Boundaries

Importance of Setting Boundaries

Effectively managing client/stakeholder expectations was a crucial learning experience. I learned the importance of assertiveness in managing scope creep by politely declining additions that could potentially derail the project timeline.

Annahi Paez © 2023.

Annahi Paez © 2023.