StoreAlloc Design, a product-to-store allocation platform - Case Study

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT

Most of this material is protected by a non-disclosure agreement, so I have omitted confidential information in this case study.

BRIEF

Context

Global fashion retailer FashionX struggled with inefficient merchandise allocation, leading to overstocked stores, missed sales, and complexities amplified by their diverse store network.

FashionX employees responsible for stock allocation faced a complex task, having to juggle a spreadsheet system, a legacy allocation tool, and a supplier portal. This extended training timelines and increased operational friction.

StoreAlloc emerged as the streamlined solution, consolidating supplier-to-store tasks to ensure efficiency and excellence across FashionX’s diverse stores.

Project Summary

March 2022 – October 2022

United Kingdom

My Role

My role in the project was to create a new platform to support and facilitate store allocations. As a Senior User Experience Designer, I’ve been in charge of all the stages of product creation, from the preliminary research to the handoff for the development area.

GOALS

What are we trying to achieve?

Efficiency, Flexibility, and Optimisation.

  1. Efficiency: The primary goal was to significantly reduce the time allocation analysts spent on data analysis and decision-making. We aimed to automate as much of the process as possible to expedite allocation.
  2. Flexibility: FashionX needed a system that could accommodate the diverse needs of its various stores. We aimed to introduce store clustering to allow for more targeted allocation strategies based on store characteristics.
  3. Optimisation: To address the challenge of limited inventory for high-demand products, the goal was to ensure that these products were consistently available in the right stores. This would maximise revenue for these items.
Design Process

Transforming Store Allocation: The Human Touch for Better Results

The Design Thinking Journey: From Problem to Solution
1. Discover
user research

Expert Analysis and Benchmarking

I conducted customer research (through interviews) and market research (through benchmarking) to drive the planning phase. I gained a lot of information and more clarity on where to target the product and which features to focus on.

Expert Interview Discussion Guide
KEY INSIGHTS

Principal Task: Creating Instructions

Legacy systems made creating and maintaining automated stock allocation orders extremely difficult for users. We began by analysing how users interacted with these order processes.

Main User: Allocations Analyst

FashionX’s allocation analysts ensure the right products reach the right stores at the right time by analysing sales, inventory, and demographics.

 
user journey

A Day in the Life of an Allocation Analyst

The initial research and interview sessions allowed me to draft a user journey.

The aim was to delve into the understanding and current expectations of the user regarding StoreAlloc. This allowed us to generate ideas and outline the design of the experience for the upcoming version.

User Journey for Creating and Mantaining Instructions
pain points

StoreAlloc’s Legacy Issues: Unpacking User Frustrations

  • Slow Training & Onboarding: StoreAlloc’s complexity means new analysts need months of training. This creates bottlenecks when onboarding large groups.
  • Interface Complexity: Too many features, tabs, and visual elements overwhelm users and hinder their work.
  • Poor Workflow: The task of creating and maintaining instructions should be logical and streamlined. StoreAlloc’s design forces unnecessary back-and-forth, disrupting flow.
  • Lack of Guidance: The interface offers little help, leading users to create workarounds in other tools – a sign of the system’s failure.
  • Confusing Language: Overly technical terminology and poor organisation make finding necessary information difficult.
2. Describe
challenge

‘How Might We…’ Questions for Improvement

After analysing the research data, several recurring themes emerged. To prioritise improvements, we conducted a session with the product and development team. We considered factors like user experience impact, technical complexity, and business goals. Here are the prioritised themes that will shape the upcoming version of StoreAlloc:

  • Reduced Information Overload: We’ll focus on user-friendliness and clarity by allowing analysts to customise views and simplify data presentations. This minimises information overload and lets them focus on relevant products.
  • User-Centered Language: We’ll replace technical jargon with clear, understandable language. This ensures analysts can work efficiently, regardless of experience level, and fosters better communication.
  • Logical Workflow: By creating a logical progression for tasks, we aim to minimise unnecessary back-and-forth within the application. This streamlines the user experience and improves efficiency.
Ideas and Inspiration for Improvements
3. Design
solution

The Brainstorming Blueprint: Ideation for Impact

After transforming the problem statements into questions that stimulate idea generation, I conducted an ideation workshop to generate creative solutions while keeping the team focused on the right problems to solve.

Opportunities Identified During the Ideation Workshop
user flow diagram

Visualising the Process

To help me and the team visualise and identify the different elements of the process, and the interrelationships among the various steps, I created a diagram flow as a graphical representation of the system.

User Flow Diagram of the Allocation System
4. Build
key features

Features for Faster, Smarter Allocations

Onboarding and Training

  • Demo Mode and Templates: New analysts learn by doing with a demo version filled with sample data. 
  • Rethought Training: We break training into focused modules that happen after analysts understand the business.
  • Summary Page: A personalised dashboard gives analysts instant access to key items and tools, saving time and effort.

Efficient and Adaptable Workflow

  • Clear Actions and Statuses: Visual cues like badges and alerts instantly communicate order status, saving time and guesswork.
  • Decluttered Interface: We removed distractions and streamlined the layout for a focused, efficient workspace.
  • Progress Trackers: Breadcrumbs and progress indicators clarify where analysts are within complex tasks, reducing errors and ensuring future adaptability.
  • Notifications: Timely alerts about important changes foster collaboration and fast decision-making, helping the system adapt to the company’s needs.
prototype

Bringing Ideas to Life: Building an Interactive Prototype

When creating the new user interface for StoreAlloc, my steps were:

  1. Create low-fidelity wireframes (on iPad): the main objective was to create the product’s structure and define features. 
  2. Create a style guide to keep the UI consistent (colors, fonts, structure, basic components, etc).
  3. Create high-fidelity wireframing in this step I defined how a product will look at project completion.
  4. Create the prototype, before moving on with the development process we decided to make a quick prototype to validate the usability and overall value of the solution design.
test

Measuring Success: A/B Testing Analysis

Design isn’t finished until somebody is using it

After launching the new version, we conducted A/B testing to verify whether the objectives were achieved. 

Before

After

outcomes and impact

Time Saved, Revenue Gained, Adaptability Enhanced

  • Efficiency: Allocation analysts experienced a 50% reduction in the time to make allocation decisions. Automation of data analysis and forecasting significantly expedited the process.

  • Flexibility: The introduction of store clustering allowed allocation analysts to tailor allocation strategies to specific store groups. This improved stock availability, reduced overstock and ensured that each store received merchandise tailored to its unique needs.

  • Optimisation: High-demand products, which were previously challenging to allocate effectively, saw a 15% increase in revenue. These products were consistently available in the right stores, resulting in higher sales.
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