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Case Study 1

Modernizing Dashboards and Work Tracking for Non-Available Inventory (Satair - Airbus Subsidiary)

Role: UX Researcher

Client: Satair (Airbus)

Period: February 2022 - April 2022

Overview

I participated in this project as an interim UX Researcher via Atos, supporting Satair (Airbus subsidiary), a leading aircraft component manufacturer.

To address significant usability and efficiency challenges faced by Satair employees tracking Non-Available Inventory (NAI), I led UX research within an agile Scrum team to support data engineers and scientists in developing intuitive internal dashboards and a streamlined online Work Tracking Table (WTT). These improvements significantly enhanced productivity, reducing NAI tracking time by 45%.

Problem Definition

Employees encountered several critical usability and operational challenges:

• Manual Tracking, Error-Prone, and Limited Visibility:
  The organization relied on Excel and Google Sheets for NAI tracking, causing data inconsistencies, version control difficulties, and time-consuming updates. With multiple users simultaneously editing documents, the risk of significant errors increased substantially. Additionally, conflicting information arose frequently due to scattered and manual updates, causing significant time spent reconciling data.
  
  
• Lack of Journey Mapping and Personas:
  Prior to the project, there was no documented understanding of user needs, objectives, and pain points. This absence of essential user context contributed to inefficient processes and unmet requirements.
  
  
• Poor Data Visualization:
  High-level stakeholders, including executives and operations managers, lacked centralized dashboards with forecasting capabilities, limiting their ability to quickly assess NAI status and identify bottlenecks. Consequently, timely, accurate, and actionable insights were not accessible.
  
  
• Slow and Non-User-Friendly Systems:
  The outdated approach significantly delayed updates and analyses, hindering prompt decision-making and efficient order management processes.
  

Goals & Objectives

• Centralize real-time NAI information through an online dashboard and WTT.

• Enhance user experience by reducing manual data entry and streamlining workflows.

• Promote effective communication among user groups.

• Define user journeys through persona development to address specific needs.

My Role

As the lead UX researcher in an agile Scrum team, I conducted comprehensive user research, usability testing, stakeholder management, and ensured continuous communication with high-power/high-interest stakeholders. I collaborated closely with data engineers, data scientists, business analysts, and the product owner to drive user-centered design decisions throughout each sprint.

User Research

I conducted extensive research including:

• Developed user personas based on primary roles involved

• Conducted journey mapping and defined detailed user journeys

• User interviews (12 participants)

• Contextual inquiries

• Surveys (85 responses)

• Usability testing sessions (3 rounds, 20 participants each)

• Pre-test vs. post-test using the System Usability Scale (SUS)
  
  

Key insights identified:

• Difficulty interpreting data visualizations and navigating dashboards.

• Manual Excel/Google Sheets WTT was error-prone and inefficient.

• Employees sought an integrated, centralized, and automated tracking solution.
  
  

The initial SUS pre-test score was 66, highlighting significant usability issues with the existing solution.

Ideation & Concept Development

Collaborative workshops within our agile sprints helped translate research insights into actionable design requirements. Key concepts included simplified navigation, centralized online accessibility, automation, and integrated, dynamic dashboards.

Wireframing & Prototyping Support

As part of the agile team, I closely supported data engineers through iterative sprint-based prototyping and design reviews. Continuous usability testing informed crucial improvements to dashboard navigation and online WTT functionality.

Iterative Improvements Based on User Feedback

My usability testing guided key iterations:

Development Collaboration & Implementation

I collaborated closely with developers throughout the implementation, ensuring seamless integration and fidelity to user-centric designs.

Final Solution & Visual Design

The final online dashboards and WTT app provided intuitive interfaces, clear data visualizations, and seamless integration, significantly boosting usability and productivity.

Impact & Results

The redesigned solutions delivered measurable improvements:

• 45% reduction in NAI tracking time.

• Improved SUS score from an initial low of 66 to a remarkable 89 post-implementation.

• Increased data accuracy and decreased manual errors.

• Enhanced employee satisfaction and operational efficiency.

User feedback post-launch:

“The new WTT web app saves considerable time and significantly reduces errors daily.” – Inventory Specialist at Satair

Future Directions & Trending UX Opportunities

Future enhancements could include AI-driven predictive analytics and personalized dashboards to proactively highlight critical NAI data, further automating and streamlining operations.

Personal Achievement

As the UX Researcher, my contributions significantly enhanced this transformative process. My exceptional performance was acknowledged with an award from Atos, affirming my valuable role in the project's success.

Reflections & Learnings

This project highlighted the essential role of UX researchers in agile teams, demonstrating the importance of embedding UX professionals within Scrum teams to ensure user-centered product development. My collaboration within an agile environment emphasized valuable lessons in stakeholder management, cross-functional communication, and iterative testing, reinforcing the significance of integrating user insights continuously throughout the development process.