Designing an IoT Platform for Efficient Alert Management
Team: 2 Designers, 1 User researcher, 2 Product Managers, 8 Engineers.
Platform: Web
Timeline: 6 month
My role: Product design lead
Platform: Web
Timeline: 6 month
My role: Product design lead
As a UX Design Lead, I spearheaded the transformation of the Spark IoT platform into an intuitive, robust, and scalable solution designed to meet the diverse needs of a broad customer base. This platform empowers users to effortlessly monitor and manage IoT devices on-site and remotely across dynamic environments such as construction sites, food production facilities, office spaces, and healthcare settings. By addressing intricate user requirements, I ensured the platform's scalability, adaptability, and enhanced usability, delivering a seamless experience that caters to varied customer scenarios while positioning the product for long-term growth.
The video below showcases a POC prototype for the refactored Spark IoT platform. While the detailed artifacts and design solutions remain confidential as the strategy and framework are still under implementation, I will outline my process and approach in crafting this comprehensive framework.
The video below showcases a POC prototype for the refactored Spark IoT platform. While the detailed artifacts and design solutions remain confidential as the strategy and framework are still under implementation, I will outline my process and approach in crafting this comprehensive framework.
Pain points
Scalability Challenges: Although the product was effective for smaller clients, it lacked the scalability needed to support larger, more complex operations.
I collaborated closely with the research and data science teams to gain deep insights into user behavior. Additionally, I conducted comprehensive sessions with customers to observe their interaction patterns. Through this process, I gathered crucial information and identified key pain points that were negatively impacting both the user experience and the business.
Scalability Challenges: Although the product was effective for smaller clients, it lacked the scalability needed to support larger, more complex operations.
I collaborated closely with the research and data science teams to gain deep insights into user behavior. Additionally, I conducted comprehensive sessions with customers to observe their interaction patterns. Through this process, I gathered crucial information and identified key pain points that were negatively impacting both the user experience and the business.
Misalignment of Product Scope
Initially designed to meet the needs of small businesses, the product focused on immediate constraints and led to high satisfaction. However, as we expanded to serve larger enterprises with distinct requirements, new challenges emerged.
Unmet Needs for Larger Enterprises
Large businesses required advanced features such as custom reporting, actionable communication, and proactive alerts, which our product did not fully accommodate.
Information Flow Gaps
While small businesses with fewer devices could easily recall details and locations, larger organizations with multiple sites and devices needed a system that mirrored their asset management structure. Gaps in how information flowed between users and the product created significant inefficiencies.
Job-to-be-Done (JTBD) Gaps
Users received alerts within the product but still had to rely on external tools, such as maps and floor plans, to locate devices on-site. This added unnecessary complexity and frustration to the user experience.
Solution
Interactive map
Inspired by insights gathered from user research and customer feedback, I identified that monitoring real-time device status is the primary job-to-be-done (JTBD) for all users. Users expressed a strong dislike for context switching and desired a single destination to efficiently complete their tasks. In response, I envisioned a solution—a “Interactive Map”—designed to address these pain points, while also ensuring the product’s scalability and readiness for future needs.
Interactive map
Inspired by insights gathered from user research and customer feedback, I identified that monitoring real-time device status is the primary job-to-be-done (JTBD) for all users. Users expressed a strong dislike for context switching and desired a single destination to efficiently complete their tasks. In response, I envisioned a solution—a “Interactive Map”—designed to address these pain points, while also ensuring the product’s scalability and readiness for future needs.
Real time data and alerts
Devices monitoring
Device information
Site management
Floor and 3D maps
Intuitive UI
Based on user research, users clearly understand the meaning of colours, which effectively communicate the device status.
Based on user research, users clearly understand the meaning of colours, which effectively communicate the device status.
