PlanT
PlanT
PlanT
Reducing Plant Waste: Designing an Inventory Management System for Landscaping Companies
Reducing Plant Waste: Designing an Inventory Management System for Landscaping Companies
Reducing Plant Waste: Designing an Inventory Management System for Landscaping Companies
by zheng
by zheng
by zheng
web app
mobile app
SaaS system
design system
web app
mobile app
SaaS system
design system
my role
my role
my role
design lead
design lead
design lead
user researcher
user researcher
user researcher
ux designer
ux designer
ux designer
ui designer
ui designer
ui designer
deliverables
deliverables
deliverables
design system
design system
design system
user interview
user interview
user interview
high fidelity
high fidelity
high fidelity
full stack website
full stack website
full stack website
team
team
team
3 developers
3 developers
3 developers
4 designers
4 designers
4 designers
time
time
time
2024.5 - 2024.8
2024.5 - 2024.8
2024.5 - 2024.8
13 weeks
13 weeks
13 weeks
project summary
project summary
project summary
In the fast-paced world of landscaping, small-to-medium businesses often grapple with plant waste, inflated costs, and inefficient workflows. Over a 13-week period at Langara College, I collaborated with a team of three developers and three other designers to tackle these challenges head-on. Our mission was clear: create a comprehensive, web-based inventory management system that empowers landscaping companies to reduce plant waste, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline their operations.
In the fast-paced world of landscaping, small-to-medium businesses often grapple with plant waste, inflated costs, and inefficient workflows. Over a 13-week period at Langara College, I collaborated with a team of three developers and three other designers to tackle these challenges head-on. Our mission was clear: create a comprehensive, web-based inventory management system that empowers landscaping companies to reduce plant waste, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline their operations.
In the fast-paced world of landscaping, small-to-medium businesses often grapple with plant waste, inflated costs, and inefficient workflows. Over a 13-week period at Langara College, I collaborated with a team of three developers and three other designers to tackle these challenges head-on. Our mission was clear: create a comprehensive, web-based inventory management system that empowers landscaping companies to reduce plant waste, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline their operations.
my mission
my mission
my mission
As a design lead, I took charge of all the quality control of our design, including user-flow, wireframes, components and design system. As a UI/UX designer, I took the responsibility to create the ‘stock’ section which integrates the feature of plant market, inventory management, procurement, and package builder. The following works will specifically demonstrate my design flow in creating the stock section to solve clients’ problem and bloom their business.
As a design lead, I took charge of all the quality control of our design, including user-flow, wireframes, components and design system. As a UI/UX designer, I took the responsibility to create the ‘stock’ section which integrates the feature of plant market, inventory management, procurement, and package builder. The following works will specifically demonstrate my design flow in creating the stock section to solve clients’ problem and bloom their business.
As a design lead, I took charge of all the quality control of our design, including user-flow, wireframes, components and design system. As a UI/UX designer, I took the responsibility to create the ‘stock’ section which integrates the feature of plant market, inventory management, procurement, and package builder. The following works will specifically demonstrate my design flow in creating the stock section to solve clients’ problem and bloom their business.
problem definition
problem definition
problem definition
‘Unearthing the Roots of Inefficiency’
‘Unearthing the Roots of Inefficiency’
‘Unearthing the Roots of Inefficiency’
To build a solution that truly addresses the needs of landscaping businesses, we immersed ourselves in their world. We conducted interviews with business managers, surveyed employees, and analyzed existing workflows.
To build a solution that truly addresses the needs of landscaping businesses, we immersed ourselves in their world. We conducted interviews with business managers, surveyed employees, and analyzed existing workflows.
To build a solution that truly addresses the needs of landscaping businesses, we immersed ourselves in their world. We conducted interviews with business managers, surveyed employees, and analyzed existing workflows.
key findings:
key findings:
key findings:
Inefficient Inventory Tracking: Companies struggled with real-time tracking of plant inventory, leading to over-ordering and waste.
Procurement Challenges: Managers lacked a system to prioritize plant purchases based on project deadlines and plant availability.
Disjointed Processes: Frequent toggling between different platforms to manage inventory, market prices, and client orders resulted in workflow inefficiencies.
Inefficient Inventory Tracking: Companies struggled with real-time tracking of plant inventory, leading to over-ordering and waste.
Procurement Challenges: Managers lacked a system to prioritize plant purchases based on project deadlines and plant availability.
Disjointed Processes: Frequent toggling between different platforms to manage inventory, market prices, and client orders resulted in workflow inefficiencies.
Inefficient Inventory Tracking: Companies struggled with real-time tracking of plant inventory, leading to over-ordering and waste.
Procurement Challenges: Managers lacked a system to prioritize plant purchases based on project deadlines and plant availability.
Disjointed Processes: Frequent toggling between different platforms to manage inventory, market prices, and client orders resulted in workflow inefficiencies.
solution
solution
solution
‘Planting the Seeds of Innovation’
‘Planting the Seeds of Innovation’
‘Planting the Seeds of Innovation’
With these insights, we set out to design an integrated inventory management system focusing on:
With these insights, we set out to design an integrated inventory management system focusing on:
With these insights, we set out to design an integrated inventory management system focusing on:
Market Integration: A platform to check and compare real-time market prices of plants.
Enhanced Inventory Management: Real-time tracking of inventory status, including stock levels, requirements, and shortages.
Optimized Purchase Orders (PO): Streamlined generation of POs based on actual inventory needs.
Package Builder: A tool to create customizable plant packages, promoting high-stock or high-profit plants to clients.
Market Integration: A platform to check and compare real-time market prices of plants.
Enhanced Inventory Management: Real-time tracking of inventory status, including stock levels, requirements, and shortages.
Optimized Purchase Orders (PO): Streamlined generation of POs based on actual inventory needs.
Package Builder: A tool to create customizable plant packages, promoting high-stock or high-profit plants to clients.
Market Integration: A platform to check and compare real-time market prices of plants.
Enhanced Inventory Management: Real-time tracking of inventory status, including stock levels, requirements, and shortages.
Optimized Purchase Orders (PO): Streamlined generation of POs based on actual inventory needs.
Package Builder: A tool to create customizable plant packages, promoting high-stock or high-profit plants to clients.
Designing the experience: From concept to reality
Designing the experience: From concept to reality
Designing the experience: From concept to reality
ideation
ideation
ideation
Introducing the To-Buy List: Addressing Urgency Levels
Introducing the To-Buy List: Addressing Urgency Levels
Introducing the To-Buy List: Addressing Urgency Levels
Understanding the critical need for prioritizing plant procurement, I conceptualized the “To-Buy List” within the Market section, designed around three stages of urgency:
Understanding the critical need for prioritizing plant procurement, I conceptualized the “To-Buy List” within the Market section, designed around three stages of urgency:
Understanding the critical need for prioritizing plant procurement, I conceptualized the “To-Buy List” within the Market section, designed around three stages of urgency:
Basic Stage: Immediate access to the quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly on the shopping page.
Second Stage: Sorting plant needs by project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Final Stage: Adjustable sorting logic based on plant types and market trends, enabling bulk purchasing and cost savings.
Basic Stage: Immediate access to the quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly on the shopping page.
Second Stage: Sorting plant needs by project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Final Stage: Adjustable sorting logic based on plant types and market trends, enabling bulk purchasing and cost savings.
Basic Stage: Immediate access to the quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly on the shopping page.
Second Stage: Sorting plant needs by project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Final Stage: Adjustable sorting logic based on plant types and market trends, enabling bulk purchasing and cost savings.
basic stage
basic stage
basic stage
To eliminate the inefficiency of toggling between pages, I integrated real-time data displays on the shopping page. Managers could now see the exact number of plants needed for all ongoing projects at a glance.
To eliminate the inefficiency of toggling between pages, I integrated real-time data displays on the shopping page. Managers could now see the exact number of plants needed for all ongoing projects at a glance.
To eliminate the inefficiency of toggling between pages, I integrated real-time data displays on the shopping page. Managers could now see the exact number of plants needed for all ongoing projects at a glance.
Feature Highlights:
- Real-time updates of required plant quantities.
- Direct addition of plants to the PO from the Market section.
Feature Highlights:
- Real-time updates of required plant quantities.
- Direct addition of plants to the PO from the Market section.
Feature Highlights:
- Real-time updates of required plant quantities.
- Direct addition of plants to the PO from the Market section.
second stage
second stage
second stage
To address varying project deadlines, I introduced sorting options by project completion dates. This allowed managers to prioritize purchases for projects nearing their deadlines.
To address varying project deadlines, I introduced sorting options by project completion dates. This allowed managers to prioritize purchases for projects nearing their deadlines.
To address varying project deadlines, I introduced sorting options by project completion dates. This allowed managers to prioritize purchases for projects nearing their deadlines.
Feature Highlights:
- Sortable list of plants based on project urgency.
- Visual indicators of approaching deadlines.
Feature Highlights:
- Sortable list of plants based on project urgency.
- Visual indicators of approaching deadlines.
Feature Highlights:
- Sortable list of plants based on project urgency.
- Visual indicators of approaching deadlines.
third stage
third stage
third stage
Recognizing the benefits of bulk purchasing, I enabled custom sorting by plant types and incorporated market trend data.
Recognizing the benefits of bulk purchasing, I enabled custom sorting by plant types and incorporated market trend data.
Recognizing the benefits of bulk purchasing, I enabled custom sorting by plant types and incorporated market trend data.
Feature Highlights:
- Sorting by plant category to consolidate orders.
- Market trend indicators to anticipate price changes.
- Insights into popular plants to inform proactive purchasing.
Feature Highlights:
- Sorting by plant category to consolidate orders.
- Market trend indicators to anticipate price changes.
- Insights into popular plants to inform proactive purchasing.
Feature Highlights:
- Sorting by plant category to consolidate orders.
- Market trend indicators to anticipate price changes.
- Insights into popular plants to inform proactive purchasing.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
There’s an unexpected development setbacks due to team availability issues.
There’s an unexpected development setbacks due to team availability issues.
There’s an unexpected development setbacks due to team availability issues.
new challenge
new challenge
new challenge
Our team operated under the Agile methodology, embracing its principles of flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. During one of our daily stand-up meetings, a cornerstone of our Agile practice, we identified a significant blocker. One of our frontend developers was facing a family emergency, which limited his ability to contribute to the project. This unforeseen event jeopardized our plan to implement the full scope of the To-Buy List feature, specifically the third level involving adjustable sorting by plant types and market trends.
Our team operated under the Agile methodology, embracing its principles of flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. During one of our daily stand-up meetings, a cornerstone of our Agile practice, we identified a significant blocker. One of our frontend developers was facing a family emergency, which limited his ability to contribute to the project. This unforeseen event jeopardized our plan to implement the full scope of the To-Buy List feature, specifically the third level involving adjustable sorting by plant types and market trends.
Our team operated under the Agile methodology, embracing its principles of flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. During one of our daily stand-up meetings, a cornerstone of our Agile practice, we identified a significant blocker. One of our frontend developers was facing a family emergency, which limited his ability to contribute to the project. This unforeseen event jeopardized our plan to implement the full scope of the To-Buy List feature, specifically the third level involving adjustable sorting by plant types and market trends.
solution
solution
solution
Leveraging Agile practices, we promptly addressed the issue through open communication and adaptive planning.
Leveraging Agile practices, we promptly addressed the issue through open communication and adaptive planning.
Leveraging Agile practices, we promptly addressed the issue through open communication and adaptive planning.
Stand-Up Discovery:
Stand-Up Discovery:
Stand-Up Discovery:
The developer’s situation was brought to light during our stand-up, allowing the team to quickly acknowledge the impact on our sprint goals.
The developer’s situation was brought to light during our stand-up, allowing the team to quickly acknowledge the impact on our sprint goals.
The developer’s situation was brought to light during our stand-up, allowing the team to quickly acknowledge the impact on our sprint goals.
Sprint Adjustment:
Sprint Adjustment:
Sprint Adjustment:
We held an impromptu sprint planning session to reassess our priorities and adjust our backlog.
We held an impromptu sprint planning session to reassess our priorities and adjust our backlog.
We held an impromptu sprint planning session to reassess our priorities and adjust our backlog.
Feature Prioritization:
Feature Prioritization:
Feature Prioritization:
Together, we decided to focus on delivering the most critical components of the To-Buy List for our upcoming beta launch:
- Basic Level: Displaying real-time quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly within the shopping page.
- Second Level: Enabling sorting of plant needs based on project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Together, we decided to focus on delivering the most critical components of the To-Buy List for our upcoming beta launch:
- Basic Level: Displaying real-time quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly within the shopping page.
- Second Level: Enabling sorting of plant needs based on project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Together, we decided to focus on delivering the most critical components of the To-Buy List for our upcoming beta launch:
- Basic Level: Displaying real-time quantities of plants needed for ongoing projects directly within the shopping page.
- Second Level: Enabling sorting of plant needs based on project completion dates to prioritize urgent purchases.
Backlog Refinement:
Backlog Refinement:
Backlog Refinement:
We moved the third level—the adjustable sorting by plant types and integration of market trends—to our backlog for development in a future sprint when resources would allow.
We moved the third level—the adjustable sorting by plant types and integration of market trends—to our backlog for development in a future sprint when resources would allow.
We moved the third level—the adjustable sorting by plant types and integration of market trends—to our backlog for development in a future sprint when resources would allow.
outcomes
outcomes
outcomes
By embracing the Agile methodology, we adapted our plan without derailing the project. This approach ensured that we still delivered valuable features to our users on time while acknowledging our team’s capacity constraints.
By embracing the Agile methodology, we adapted our plan without derailing the project. This approach ensured that we still delivered valuable features to our users on time while acknowledging our team’s capacity constraints.
By embracing the Agile methodology, we adapted our plan without derailing the project. This approach ensured that we still delivered valuable features to our users on time while acknowledging our team’s capacity constraints.
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
web app
mobile app
SaaS system
design system