Fire Hydrant Certification Software (SaaS) - MVP
Situation
HTC Group certifies hydrant systems as fire-ready.
Once on-site, they use spreadsheets and a cumbersome paper standard (laws) to complete the assessments.
Once on-site, they use spreadsheets and a cumbersome paper standard (laws) to complete the assessments.
Task
Build a marketable SaaS app designed for on-site assessments, enabling assessors to generate consistent, referenced reports.
During assesements the app should:
✔ Reduce assessment time,
✔ Minimise input errors
✔ Alleviate assessor stress
✔ Enhance competency
During assesements the app should:
✔ Reduce assessment time,
✔ Minimise input errors
✔ Alleviate assessor stress
✔ Enhance competency
Result
A responsive MVP mobile and desktop web app built with the MUI design system.
Simplifying assessments, it allows practitioners to quickly skip non-applicable laws, providing fast access to relevant information while organically teaching them AS 2419.
Simplifying assessments, it allows practitioners to quickly skip non-applicable laws, providing fast access to relevant information while organically teaching them AS 2419.
Key Outcomes
90%
boost in confidence when producing legally defensible reports
5 x
less stress while completing on-site assements
31%
decrease in time spent on task
Before
An excel sheet was filled out on-site using mobiles, tablets and clipboard paper.
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After
Responsive app that serves only relevant questions
Discovery
External Research
17%
of professionals are confused due to overlapping requirements from different regulatory bodies.
46%
of those using Australian Standards struggle to follow the technical language and layout of the standards.
90%
of processes in businesses aren’t formalized or established to support what the standards offer
Stakeholder Interviews
"...currently there is too much info in the AS 2419 standard, simple tasks take too long and it is prone to mistakes during use "
"...it's difficult to get trained in the standard which causes an issue in the industry; there aren't enough people able to get the job done right "
"...standards are regularly updated which requires discipline and vigilance to stay compliant "
"...you need high attention to use the documentation, which can cause errors and create a high barrier to entry for non-experts, making it inaccessible to most. "
"...and I need a process that significantly improves defensibility of the reports generated on-site "
"...we want to offer a very niche service with a small industry so reliability and up time is important to us "
User Interview Takeaways
"...and it’s inefficient during an on-site assessment because I’m constantly moving between different sections of the standard to find relevant information"
"...also, I have to take pictures of different parts of the building during an assessment. It would be great if there were a way to comment on or add photos to the current standard being assessed. "
"...then fire departments and government bodies have to follow a paper standard that is outdated and slow to move through "
Journey Map
Taken from industry, user and stakeholder interviews
Competative Analysis
From competitor websites, product reviews, customer interviews, features and capabilities, socials media, competitor data service.
Define
Project Constraints
The development team consisted of collaborating students with little to no experience in React, UI/UX design or design systems.
The students were also in the middle of the semester, which resulted in a very short turnaround time; development had already started.
The app would launch from another web app built with a different framework which required careful consideration.
Current-Personas
Job Stories
Job stories were selected over user stories as industry personas are well defined.
Ideate
Sketches
Wireframes with Key Screen
Wireframes were sketched live during the meetings, which helped gain quick approval and buy-in from the client. HTC expressed appreciation for this faster, hands-on approach, given their previous experience with app development.
User Flow
Feature Prioritisation
Now (MVP)
A report is generated easily without mistakes.
All clauses are in order, skipped as required and stored under the the correct title.
When scrolling away from active question, the RTRN button becomes active.
Next
Navigation opens and has magnet selectable sections
2nd and 3rd level questions both function and look good when indented.
Add defects list button to generate list accessible on one screen.
Later
Setup and conduct interview for first customers
Implement content and button behaviour for "info" button
Prepare app for internal HTC use and first rounds of user feedback
Prototype
Mobile Key Screens
Built as a web app (using React) and therefore usable on any device with potential for native development down the track.
Desktop Key Screens
Mobile was the first priority, but responsiveness were important because future field work could utilize multiple devices.
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Client comments
Dan Barwick
Owner of HTC
"Seeing my ideas come to life on screen with Rob was amazing. We worked through rapid, short iteration loops to perfect the design. Rob's skill and his understanding of how to implement elements easily made the whole process seamless and successful."
Brad Sandilands
Cofounder and Lead Engineer
"Rob not only created excellent professional designs in a matter of days, but also taught us a lot about the design process, and taught our developers how to quickly implement his designs using React and Material UI."