Case Study:

ACE Retail – Mobile Point of Sale Application

 

Overview

The task was to innovate and create a highly functional mobile solution for ACE Retail, a reputed name in providing Point of Sale (POS) solutions to numerous retail businesses. ACE Retail needed a robust mobile Point of Sale (POS) solution that would complement their existing products while adding the advantage of mobility and ease of use for their customers.

Objective

Our goal was to design a mobile POS system that streamlined a variety of tasks, including inventory management, order processing, sales, purchases, shipping, and barcoding. Moreover, we aimed to ensure that the product functioned seamlessly as a standalone application and could integrate with ACE’s Retail POS, QuickBooks, or Sage 50.

Deliverables
  • App Design
  • UI
  • UX
Programs
  • Adobe XD
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop
Client

Ace Retail

Year

2017

The Challenge

To create a mobile inventory management application that could seamlessly integrate with ACE Retail's existing systems while providing a user-friendly experience for a diverse range of users. This involved designing an intuitive UI/UX, ensuring compatibility with various barcode scanning methods and devices, and offering offline functionality for remote locations. Balancing affordability with comprehensive functionality, gathering and incorporating user feedback, and providing effective training and support were all critical components of overcoming this challenge. The ultimate goal was to develop a mobile solution that would enhance retail inventory management, streamline operations, and meet the specific needs of ACE Retail's customers.

Understanding Our Users

To better understand our target users, we engaged with ACE Retail’s clients, who sign up for the POS system to manage their retail businesses. These clients vary in business size, type, and tech proficiency. By speaking directly with them, we aimed to gain insights into their daily operations and how they interacted with the existing website and mobile app.

Identifying Pain Points

Conversations with ACE Retail’s clients revealed several pain points related to the website and mobile app. One major issue was the lack of user-friendliness, causing frustration and inefficiency in their retail operations. Clients struggled with complex interfaces and a steep learning curve.

Improving the User Experience

The redesign process began with the recognition that both the website and mobile app needed significant improvements to cater to the diverse needs of ACE Retail’s clients. Our research included an analysis of user-friendly interfaces from other platforms, emphasizing simplicity, ease of navigation, and clear presentation of information.

Questions

How might we?” questions that could have been used during the Research & Analysis phase to frame design thinking and problem-solving:

  1. How might we streamline inventory counting for ACE Retail’s customers, reducing the time and effort required to maintain accurate stock levels while minimizing errors and discrepancies?
  2. How might we facilitate seamless integration with ACE Retail’s existing systems (ACE Retail POS, QuickBooks, Sage 50) to ensure real-time data synchronization, improving overall operational efficiency?
  3. How might we prioritize and design the most essential features and functionalities in the mobile inventory management application to meet the specific needs and preferences of ACE Retail’s diverse user base, ensuring a user-friendly and efficient experience?”

The Problem

The main problem addressed in this scenario is the user difficulties and frustrations experienced by ACE Retail's clients when using the old software and mobile app for their Point of Sale (POS) system. These difficulties have led to an increase in customer service inquiries and have hindered clients' ability to efficiently manage their retail businesses. The primary goal is to reduce these customer service burdens by enhancing the user experience and making the software and app easy and intuitive to use.

The Redesign Process

 

Usability Testing

We conducted usability testing with ACE Retail’s clients to identify specific issues and pain points within the website and mobile app. Their feedback informed our design decisions.

Internal Feedback

We gathered insights from ACE Retail’s internal teams to understand common client challenges and potential areas for improvement.

The MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

We designed a simplified and intuitive interface for mobile app, focusing on ease of use, clear data presentation, and efficient navigation. After soft-launching with actual clients, we observed increased user satisfaction and a reduction in support inquiries.

Typography

Roboto Bold

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Roboto Regular

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

The Execution

In execution, the redesign process focused on simplifying the user interface, improving navigation, and enhancing the overall user experience of ACE Retail's website and mobile app. Usability testing and client feedback were instrumental in identifying pain points and guiding design decisions. The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) aimed to deliver a user-friendly interface, and the iterative process allowed for continuous improvements. Despite resource and time constraints, the team prioritized practical design enhancements that provided tangible value to clients. The successful execution resulted in increased user satisfaction, reduced support inquiries, and set the foundation for ongoing improvements to better serve ACE Retail's diverse clientele.

Iterate, Iterate, and Iterate

 Based on user feedback, we continuously iterated the design to enhance data accessibility, streamline navigation, improve user guidance, and enhance communication features.

Challenges and Compromises

Resource and time constraints posed significant challenges. We prioritized design improvements that could be realistically implemented within these constraints, ensuring they provided tangible value to clients. For example, we focused on simplifying the user interface rather than developing complex features.

Next Steps

We recognize the importance of continuous improvement. Future enhancements may include further personalization options and additional features to address specific retail needs. The redesign has laid a strong foundation, allowing us to build on it and provide an even better experience for ACE Retail’s diverse clientele.

The Rebrand

The initiative to redesign ACE Retail's promotional materials, including banners, brochures, and advertisements, was undertaken with the goal of revitalizing their visual identity and enhancing their market presence. The process involved a comprehensive analysis of their existing materials, a deep understanding of their target audience, and aligning the design with ACE Retail's brand values. The redesigned materials featured a cohesive and modern aesthetic, with a focus on clear messaging and compelling visuals to captivate their audience. The result was promotional material that not only showcased ACE Retail's products and solutions effectively but also left a lasting impression on potential clients, reinforcing the brand's reputation as a trusted partner in retail solutions.