Bakery Enterprise Application

From a sketch on a whiteboard to prototype and test, I helped this company re-imagine the way they worked and delivered.

Process

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The team and I decided to use a Human Centered Design/Data-based design process. This is a creative approach to problem solving that starts with people and ends with innovative solutions that are tailor made to to suit their needs.

Based on the IDEO framework,the Field Guide to Human-Centered Design says, “When you understand the people you’re trying to reach—and then design from their perspective—not only will you arrive at unexpected answers, but you’ll come up with ideas that they’ll embrace.”

This is the central philosophy that human-centered design revolves around. Whether you’re designing physical or digital solutions, the process is the same and it consists of six phases:

  1. Observation
  2. Ideation
  3. Rapid Prototyping
  4. User Feedback
  5. Iteration
  6. Implementation

Problem Statement

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Several different software systems (including Excel), were used to manage the operations of this bakery. We started with the estimation that HCB was shorting profits by up to 22% dues to this level of inefficiency. Responsible for creating, baking, and delivering all the baked goods for Starbucks across North America, this company needed a solution that could:

  • Collect and test recipe creation and manage that IP
  • Order raw goods based on current availability
  • Manage operations
  • Track goods from creation through delivery

Observation + Research + Insights

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I lead a brand new team through this initial phase of empathy and user understanding.  We conducted several types and levels of user research before we got started. The technical architects and programmers accompanied me on several site visits so that they could breath the air and taste the water- really jump in and understand who we were creating this system for... users and the business owners.

Prototype + Feedback + Iterate

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We continued the research and observation activities throughout the product life cycle. Our prototype and test goals included:

  • Fail early and often (before “work” and well before deployment or UAT).
  • Socialize the solution design
  • Determine feasibility of functionality before development begins and throughout the project life cycle.
  • Ensures client confidence and consensus that we have successfully gathered all requirements for a balanced, holistic system design that goes beyond business requirements and delights the users.
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Release + Results

This project launched on time, well-within budget and everyone on the project team had a really great time. I lead a 6 person delivery team consisting of:

  • Project Manager
  • Technical Architect
  • 3 Developers
  • Delivery Manager

The client is still using and updating this system. My last effort was to extend this application to mobile devices to be used in the warehouse facilities.

 

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