Ocean Network Express (ONE), a global shipping company, sought to modernize their legacy mobile app to better align with their brand message and provide a more user-friendly experience for their customers. The existing app was outdated and lacked the features and functionality required to meet the evolving needs of the shipping industry.
ONE sought to modernize their legacy mobile app, providing a more user-friendly and efficient experience for their customers. The existing app was outdated and lacked the features and functionality required to meet the evolving needs of the shipping industry.
UXphoria was tasked with conducting a comprehensive redesign, encompassing UX research, UX design, UI design, and usability testing. This case study outlines the process and outcomes of UXphoria's engagement with ONE to revitalize their mobile app.
We conducted an in-depth analysis of ONE's brand identity, mission, and values. This included reviewing their website, marketing materials, and customer feedback. We aimed to understand the essence of their brand and how it resonated with their target audience.
We analyzed competing shipping company apps to identify best practices and areas for innovation. This included evaluating their user interfaces, features, and overall user experience. We focused on identifying features that were particularly valuable to users and areas where ONE could differentiate themselves.
To gain a deeper understanding of ONE's customers, we created detailed user personas representing different segments of their target audience. These personas included shipping professionals, logistics managers, and individual customers.
We mapped out the typical customer journey, from initial app discovery to using the app for various tasks such as tracking shipments, requesting quotes, and accessing corporate news. This helped us identify pain points and areas for improvement.
1. Difficulty finding information: Users struggled to locate specific information, such as shipment status or contact details.
2. Complex user interface: The app's interface was cluttered and difficult to navigate, leading to confusion and frustration.
3. Limited functionality: The app lacked essential features, such as the ability to schedule inquiries or access corporate news.
4. Slow performance: The app experienced performance issues, particularly during peak usage times, leading to frustration and a negative user experience.
We conducted a heuristic evaluation of the existing ONE mobile app to identify usability issues and areas for improvement. This involved assessing the app against established usability guidelines, such as Jakob Nielsen's Heuristics. We evaluated factors such as visibility of system status, match between system and the real world, user control and freedom, consistency and standards, error prevention, recognition rather than recall, flexibility and efficiency, aesthetic design, and help and documentation.
1. Lack of clear navigation: The app's navigation structure was confusing, making it difficult for users to find what they were looking for.
2. Inconsistent design elements: The design elements were inconsistent, leading to a disjointed and confusing user experience.
3. Insufficient feedback mechanisms: The app provided limited feedback to users, making it difficult for them to understand the status of their actions or troubleshoot issues.
4. Lack of context-specific help: The app's help and documentation was not always relevant or helpful to users, making it difficult for them to find the information they needed.
We created user stories to define the goals and needs of different user personas. For example, "As a shipping professional, I want to easily track the status of my shipments and receive real-time updates."
We developed a feature roadmap to prioritize the most important features and functionalities for the redesigned app. This roadmap helped us focus our development efforts and ensure that we were delivering the greatest value to users.
We created detailed user flows to visualize the user journey through the app. This helped us identify potential pain points and ensure a seamless user experience.
We carefully organized the information within the app to create a clear and intuitive structure. This involved grouping related content, using appropriate labels, and providing clear navigation paths.
Ideation and Exploration: We utilized UX sketching to quickly generate and explore various design concepts. This low-fidelity approach allowed us to rapidly iterate on ideas and visualize different layout options without committing to a final design.
Communication and Collaboration: UX sketching facilitated effective communication and collaboration among team members. By sketching out ideas, we were able to share our thoughts and receive feedback from stakeholders in a more tangible and understandable way.
Rapid Iteration: Sketching enabled us to experiment with different design approaches and rapidly iterate on ideas. This allowed us to identify the most promising concepts and refine them further.
We started with low-fidelity wireframes to quickly iterate on different design concepts and gather feedback from stakeholders.
Visual Design Choices: We developed a visual design style guide that aligned with ONE's brand identity. This included color palette, typography, iconography, and overall aesthetic.
Branding Elements: We incorporated key branding elements, such as the ONE logo and tagline, into the app's design to reinforce brand recognition.
Accessibility Considerations: We ensured that the app was accessible to users with disabilities by following accessibility guidelines and incorporating features such as high-contrast modes and screen reader compatibility.
We conducted A/B tests to compare different design variations and identify the most effective solutions. This involved creating two or more versions of a design element (e.g., a button, a navigation menu) and testing them with different groups of users.
The importance of user research: A deep understanding of your users is essential for creating a successful mobile app. By conducting user research, we were able to identify key pain points and tailor the design to meet their specific needs.
The value of iterative design: Our iterative design process allowed us to continuously refine the app based on user feedback and testing. This ensured that the final product met the highest standards of usability and user satisfaction.
The importance of accessibility: Designing for accessibility is crucial for ensuring that your app is usable by a wider range of users. By incorporating accessibility features, we were able to make the ONE mobile app more inclusive.
The benefits of remote collaboration: Our remote-first approach enabled us to collaborate effectively with the ONE team, regardless of location. This streamlined the design process and allowed us to leverage the expertise of a diverse team of designers.
Personalized Recommendations: Explore integrating AI-powered recommendation systems to provide users with highly personalized shipping suggestions based on their past behavior and preferences.
Integration with Other Systems: Explore integrating the app with other logistics systems and platforms to streamline workflows and provide a more seamless experience for users.
Enhanced Tracking Features: Implement advanced tracking features, such as real-time updates, notifications, and the ability to track multiple shipments simultaneously.
Document Management: Provide a platform for users to securely store and manage shipping documents, such as invoices and customs forms.
Community Features: Consider incorporating social features, such as forums or discussion boards, to foster a sense of community among users and allow them to share information and experiences.