Design Upgrade of USLBM’s Mobile and Web App

Design Upgrade of USLBM’s Mobile and Web App

Design Upgrade of USLBM’s Mobile and Web App

Giving the USLBM app a visual refresh and enhancing its usability for a better experience, helping their customers do business seamlessly with them 24/7.

Giving the USLBM app a visual refresh and enhancing its usability for a better experience, helping their customers do business seamlessly with them 24/7.

Giving the USLBM app a visual refresh and enhancing its usability for a better experience, helping their customers do business seamlessly with them 24/7.

The app is now live - check it out here!

MY ROLE

MY ROLE

MY ROLE

As a UX designer on this project, my role was to identify challenges, design wireframes and visuals, co-build a design system, perform UI governance and lead the project in the second half.

As a UX designer on this project, my role was to identify challenges, design wireframes and visuals, co-build a design system, perform UI governance and lead the project in the second half.

As a UX designer on this project, my role was to identify challenges, design wireframes and visuals, co-build a design system, perform UI governance and lead the project in the second half.

THE TEAM

THE TEAM

THE TEAM

UX Designer (me),
Senior UX Designer

UX Designer (me), Senior UX Designer

UX Designer (me),
Senior UX Designer

SKILLS

SKILLS

SKILLS

UX Design

Design Systems
Prototyping

UX Design, Design Systems, Prototyping

UX Design

Design Systems
Prototyping

TIMELINE

TIMELINE

TIMELINE

April 2021 - Oct 2021
24 Weeks

April 2021 - Oct 2021, 24 Weeks

April 2021 - Oct 2021
24 Weeks

Project Overview

Project Overview

USLBM is one of the largest building products distributors in the United States. Through their local divisions, they provide a wide range of building materials to custom home builders and national builders. Customers currently use their app to conduct tasks like tracking orders and viewing invoices on a regular basis. In this project, I delivered a redesigned USLBM app with a design system.

USLBM is one of the largest building products distributors in the United States. Through their local divisions, they provide a wide range of building materials to custom home builders and national builders. Customers currently use their app to conduct tasks like tracking orders and viewing invoices on a regular basis. In this project, I delivered a redesigned USLBM app with a design system.

USLBM is one of the largest building products distributors in the United States. Through their local divisions, they provide a wide range of building materials to custom home builders and national builders. Customers currently use their app to conduct tasks like tracking orders and viewing invoices on a regular basis. In this project, I delivered a redesigned USLBM app with a design system.

I HAD A FAIR SHARE OF DESIGN AND BUSINESS CONSTRAINTS:

I HAD A FAIR SHARE OF DESIGN AND BUSINESS CONSTRAINTS:

Limited User Research

Since direct user interaction was not feasible, I had to rely on existing research data.

Since direct user interaction was not feasible, I had to rely on existing research data.

Testing Constraints

Being in a consulting setting with client deadlines, user testing became difficult.

Being in a consulting setting with client deadlines, user testing became difficult.

Scalability First

The app required a scalable design for 13 white-label sub-apps under USLBM.

The app required a scalable design for 13 white-label sub-apps under USLBM.

Get in touch for the full case study to learn how I navigated these constraints.

Get in touch for the full case study to learn how I navigated these constraints.

Get in touch for the full case study to learn how I navigated these constraints.

Project Outcome

Project Outcome

The solution drove operational efficiency for USLBM teams while significantly improving the app’s core usability. Using agile methodologies in the design process, I created a unified experience by streamlining the app structure, ensuring it is fully responsive, and reducing information overload.

The solution drove operational efficiency for USLBM teams while significantly improving the app’s core usability. Using agile methodologies in the design process, I created a unified experience by streamlining the app structure, ensuring it is fully responsive, and reducing information overload.

The solution drove operational efficiency for USLBM teams while significantly improving the app’s core usability. Using agile methodologies in the design process, I created a unified experience by streamlining the app structure, ensuring it is fully responsive, and reducing information overload.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

PROBLEM STATEMENT

USLBM aimed to bridge the gap between how users actually conducted operations and how the app was designed to support them. The goal was to redesign the experience to make workflows intuitive, cohesive, and scalable across its many sub-divisions.

USLBM aimed to bridge the gap between how users actually conducted operations and how the app was designed to support them. The goal was to redesign the experience to make workflows intuitive, cohesive, and scalable across its many sub-divisions.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

USLBM aimed to bridge the gap between how users actually conducted operations and how the app was designed to support them. The goal was to redesign the experience to make workflows intuitive, cohesive, and scalable across its many sub-divisions.

The Collaboration Constellation

The Collaboration Constellation

The Collaboration Constellation

UX Design

Designit (Wipro)

UX Design

Designit (Wipro)

UX Design

Designit (Wipro)

Frontend dev

Topcoder (Wipro)

Frontend dev

Topcoder (Wipro)

Frontend dev

Topcoder (Wipro)

Client (Marketing, Biz)

USLBM

Client (Marketing, Biz)

USLBM

Client (Marketing, Biz)

USLBM

Client Partner

Wipro

Client Partner

Wipro

Client Partner

Wipro

Backend dev

Wipro

Backend dev

Wipro

Backend dev

Wipro

The Core Challenge

The Core Challenge

USLBM already had an application for conducting daily operations, yet most users continued to rely on phone calls, chats, and emails to get work done. The main issue was a disconnect between the app’s design and its intended functionality. Usability gaps made key tasks cumbersome, preventing the app from meeting both user needs and business goals, ultimately making a redesign essential.

USLBM already had an application for conducting daily operations, yet most users continued to rely on phone calls, chats, and emails to get work done. The main issue was a disconnect between the app’s design and its intended functionality. Usability gaps made key tasks cumbersome, preventing the app from meeting both user needs and business goals, ultimately making a redesign essential.

USLBM already had an application for conducting daily operations, yet most users continued to rely on phone calls, chats, and emails to get work done. The main issue was a disconnect between the app’s design and its intended functionality. Usability gaps made key tasks cumbersome, preventing the app from meeting both user needs and business goals, ultimately making a redesign essential.

The USLBM app serves four kinds of personas:

The USLBM app serves four kinds of personas:

The USLBM app serves four kinds of personas:

DESIGNING FOR USLBM TEAMS

DESIGNING FOR USLBM TEAMS

👨🏻‍💼

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Wants to get a quick view

of customer deliveries

Wants to get a quick view of customer deliveries

🧑🏽‍💻‍

Back Office Manager

Back Office Manager

Manage customer’s account information and invoices

Manage customer’s account information and invoices

AND FOR USLBM’S CUSTOMERS

AND FOR USLBM’S CUSTOMERS

👷🏽

Field Manager

Field Manager

View orders and ensure that material is being delivered

View orders and ensure that material is being delivered

‍👷🏻

General Contactor

General Contactor

Wants an overview of their invoices and billing

Wants an overview of their invoices and billing

Over the course of 24 weeks, I did...

Over the course of 24 weeks, I did...

2 weeks of discovery,

16 weeks of design sprints,

6 weeks of governance

2 weeks of discovery,

16 weeks of design sprints,

6 weeks of governance

Project discovery

Understanding the scope, the company & their ecosystem, what their app does, and its structure.

UI design & prototypes

Roadmap for the design

Crafting a design system, designing and prototyping mobile & web screens based on wireframes - for 16 weeks.

Planning out design sprints, conducting research, defining a new user flow and driving decisions based on research.

Roadmap for the design

Wireframes and style guide

Planning out design sprints, conducting research, defining a new user flow and driving decisions based on research.

Wireframe as well as visual language explorations to build a style guide navigating the design direction.

Technical inputs

UI design & prototypes

Close collaboration with the frontend and backend dev teams to better understand development feasibility.

Crafting a design system, designing and prototyping mobile & web screens based on wireframes - for 16 weeks.

Wireframes and style guide

Technical inputs

Wireframe as well as visual language explorations to build a style guide navigating the design direction.

Close collaboration with the frontend and backend dev teams to better understand development feasibility.

Design governance

UI Governance for all the sprints and additional design support throughout the implementation phase.

Design Research Activities

Design Research Activities

Design Research Activities

Ecosystem Mapping

Ecosystem Mapping

Mapped the USLBM ecosystem to understand stakeholders, roles, and workflows using the app.

Mapped the USLBM ecosystem to understand stakeholders, roles, and workflows using the app.

Mapped the USLBM ecosystem to understand stakeholders, roles, and workflows using the app.

Sitemap Creation

Sitemap Creation

Created a detailed sitemap to define the app’s structure and scope after reviewing its current state.

Created a detailed sitemap to define the app’s structure and scope after reviewing its current state.

Created a detailed sitemap to define the app’s structure and scope after reviewing its current state.

Competitive Study

Competitive Study

Reviewed similar apps to understand UX, design decisions, though access limitations restricted depth.

Reviewed similar apps to understand UX, design decisions, though access limitations restricted depth.

Reviewed similar apps to understand UX, design decisions, though access limitations restricted depth.

Style Guide Development

Style Guide Development

Built a style guide to unify design elements and bring visual clarity and consistency across the app.

Built a style guide to unify design elements and bring visual clarity and consistency across the app.

Built a style guide to unify design elements and bring visual clarity and consistency across the app.

Web Design and Responsiveness

Web Design and Responsiveness

Web Design and Responsiveness

I designed the web app in a way that it felt like an extension of the mobile application, fostering a sense of continuity & familiarity as they navigate between devices.

I designed the web app in a way that it felt like an extension of the mobile application, fostering a sense of continuity & familiarity as they navigate between devices.

Design System Documentation

Design System Documentation

Design System Documentation

I created and maintained a component library to achieve hygiene in the designs. It empowered me to implement and replicate elements in the UI, having over 400 screens.

Key

Key

Key

moments

moments

moments

Billing

Billing

Restructuring the billings page to ensure data confidentiality, so that a customer can only view relevant details pertaining to themselves.

Restructuring the billings page to ensure data confidentiality, so that a customer can only view relevant details pertaining to themselves.

Deliveries

Deliveries

The most extensively used, yet complex part of the app is now simplified allowing for a easier navigation.

The most extensively used, yet complex part of the app is now simplified allowing for a easier navigation.

Billing Details

Billing Details

Redesigning the page to declutter and create digestible chunks of information.

Redesigning the page to declutter and create digestible chunks of information.

Promotions

Promotions

Improving the visibility of this page and creating a new, simplified card.

Improving the visibility of this page and creating a new, simplified card.

To sum up,

TO SUM UP,

TO SUM UP,

The solution enabled a projected increase in operational efficiency for the USLBM teams across the company by 80%, significantly improving its core usability.

The solution enabled a projected increase in operational efficiency for the USLBM teams across the company by 80%, significantly improving its core usability.

The solution enabled a projected increase in operational efficiency for the USLBM teams across the company by 80%, significantly improving its core usability.

30k+

30k+

30k+

Builders, contractors, and customers impacted

Builders, contractors, and customers impacted

Builders, contractors, and customers impacted

400+

400+

Unique screens designed for mobile and web.

Unique screens designed for mobile and web.

Get in touch for a detailed case study

Get in touch for a detailed case study

Get in touch for a detailed case study