Sector
Logistics, Real-time monitoring system
Client
TMSFirst | https://tmsfirst.com/
My role
Product Design, UX Strategy
Project time
5 Weeks
My Impact:
Through the collaborative efforts and strategic execution outlined in the preceding sections, TMSFirst successfully revolutionized the logistics landscape within the oil and gas industry. The implementation of the real-time monitoring system yielded significant impacts and transformative benefits for both sand suppliers and oil pad owners.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency:
TMSFirst's risk mitigation workflow, real-time monitoring, and streamlined order management capabilities significantly enhanced operational efficiency across the supply chain.
Increased customer satisfaction
Seamless communication channels, automated notifications, and transparent order tracking fostered stronger relationships and trust between stakeholders, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.
The full scope of this project is under NDA
The case study overviews my impact, contributions, and learnings as a designer. For additional information on the project please contact me directly
The problem space: Oil and Gas Industry
In the vast and intricate landscape of the oil and gas industry, the logistics surrounding hydrofracking, commonly known as "Fracking", pose unique challenges that demand innovative solutions.
Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals into wells to fracture underground bedrock, releasing trapped oil or gas reserves. It's a complex process that requires meticulous coordination and management to ensure seamless operations.
Client background
TMSFirst is a Cloud-based Transport Management System that delivers extreme market competitiveness and seamlessly integrates the Global Supply Chain using embedded real-time business intelligence, operational process digitization and workflow management, and service levels.
Client Pain points
In the dynamic landscape of logistics, traditional methods of managing transportation processes often fall short of meeting the demands of modern businesses. For TMSFirst's client base, which includes sand suppliers serving the oil and gas industry, the challenges are particularly acute.
The manual tracking of sand deliveries to oil pads not only introduces inefficiencies but also poses significant risks to operations between the sand supplier and pad owner.
Without real-time visibility into order status, sand suppliers and oil pad owners are vulnerable to disruptions and delays, impacting productivity and profitability.
The design opportunities I identified
I aimed to address the pain points faced by sand suppliers and oil pad owners. The goal is to empower stakeholders with real-time monitoring capabilities, streamlined workflows, and predictive analytics, thereby transforming how logistics operations are managed in the industry.
Currently, the deliveries of sand to oil pads are tracked manually which does not provide the sand supplier and oil pad owner with real-time information. Sand suppliers and pad owners need to have a system in place to track orders and manage any risks associated with sand delivery.
Different ideas explored through Brainstorming
Sand Supplier Dashboard
Understanding the immediate end-user needs
Sand Supplier
Sand suppliers are integral to the logistics chain, ensuring timely delivery of sand to oil pads for drilling operations. Understanding their needs is key to designing a solution that enhances their efficiency.
Real-time Monitoring Dashboard
Sand suppliers require a dashboard offering real-time visibility into order status, alerts, visualizations, and deliveries.
Streamlined Risk Management
Managing risks like weather delays and logistical hurdles is crucial. Easy and quick risk management from the dashboard.
Predictive Analysis
Anticipating demand and optimizing inventory is vital. Predictions and Recommendations increase order efficiency & inventory management.
Pad Owner
Oil pad owners oversee drilling operations, needing a robust monitoring system for real-time insights, fleet tracking, order management and communication with the sand suppliers.
Real-time Monitoring Dashboard
Owners need a centralized dashboard aggregating data from various sources. This includes order status and delivery schedules
Efficient Order Management
Streamlining order processes is vital. Facilitating tracking deliveries, notifications, and communicating seamlessly with suppliers.
Activity Tracking
Comprehensive analytics to analyze production trends and make data-driven decisions to improve productivity and profitability.
Mapping out the critical workflows:
Risk Mitigation workflow for 'Sand Supplier'
In my role as the Product Owner, I prioritized the development of a robust risk mitigation workflow for sand suppliers, integrating fleet tracking capabilities:
Identifying Risks:
I identified potential risks such as weather conditions, traffic congestion, and equipment breakdowns. Collaborating with the stakeholder, I ensured a comprehensive understanding of potential challenges.
Assessing Risks:
After identifying risks, I evaluated their severity and likelihood. This allowed for the prioritization of risks based on their potential impact on operations, ensuring focused mitigation efforts.
Implementing Mitigation Strategies:
With risks identified and assessed, I devised tailored strategies to mitigate them. This included planning alternative routes, adjusting resource allocation, and establishing effective communication channels with drivers and partners. Integration of fleet tracking allowed for real-time monitoring of vehicle locations and status updates.
Continuous Monitoring:
Throughout the delivery process, I maintained continuous monitoring of risk factors. Real-time alerts kept stakeholders informed of any changes, enabling swift adaptation of strategies to ensure the timely delivery of sand.
Mind map for Sand Supplier
Order update workflow for 'Pad Owner'
As the Product Owner, I spearheaded the development of an efficient order update workflow for pad owners, with integrated fleet tracking functionality:
Placing Orders:
I initiated the workflow by facilitating order placement through the monitoring system. Collaborating closely with stakeholders, I ensured that orders included essential details such as quantity and delivery location. Integration of fleet tracking allowed pad owners to monitor their availability in real-time.
Confirming Orders:
Upon receiving orders, I coordinated with sand suppliers to confirm details and provide estimated delivery schedules. Pad owners received confirmation notifications and could track order status in real-time, with access to live updates on vehicle locations and expected arrival times.
Providing Real-Time Updates:
Throughout delivery, I ensured the monitoring system provided real-time updates on order status. This included estimated arrival times and any deviations from the original schedule, empowering pad owners with timely insights.
Facilitating Communication:
I facilitated seamless communication between pad owners and sand suppliers, enabling coordination and feedback exchange. This ensured pad owners could communicate changes, while suppliers provided status updates promptly.
Mind map for Pad Owner
Ideating the design solution
Wireframes
After conducting a thorough analysis of the problem and researching user needs, I initiated the wireframing process for the two workflows. Beginning with sketches on paper, I iterated through multiple versions to refine the design. Given the nature of the solution—a real-time monitoring platform with substantial data influx—prioritizing and visualizing data correctly was paramount. This ensured users could swiftly make informed decisions based on the presented information.
Building the Design System
In my role, I led the creation of a design system tailored to the solution's needs, ensuring consistency across screens. Key components included a Style Guide with carefully chosen colors, typography, and icons. This system promoted coherence, scalability, and alignment with user preferences.
Crafting the UI Design for the workflows
As a UI designer, I utilized the design system to shape the interface, focusing on a seamless user experience. Leveraging the Style Guide, I translated design principles into tangible UI elements. Each decision was driven by user insights, leading to iterative refinement and a final interface that exceeded expectations in usability and satisfaction.
Risk Mitigation workflow UI for 'Sand Supplier'
In designing the UI for risk mitigation, I focused on:
Dashboard Design: Created an intuitive dashboard with visualizations and alerts.
Interactive Maps: Integrated maps for visualizing risk factors like weather and traffic.
Alert System: Implemented alerts for timely notifications of critical risks.
Collaboration Tools: Included messaging features for team coordination.
By facilitating proactive risk management, the UI ensures smooth operations.
Order Update workflow UI for 'Sand Supplier'
For the order update UI, I:
Simplified Order Management: Designed an intuitive interface for placing and managing orders.
Real-Time Tracking: Integrated live tracking of delivery vehicles for transparency.
Automated Notifications: Implemented automated notifications for order updates.
Communication Channels: Included messaging features for seamless communication.
This UI streamlines order processes, enhancing efficiency and satisfaction.
Learnings and Outcomes
Reflections from the project.
In designing the UI for risk mitigation, I focused on:
Data Prioritization: I learned the critical importance of prioritizing data when designing for real-time monitoring systems, ensuring users have access to the most relevant information.
Information Architecture: Crafting an effective information architecture was essential in presenting data to users promptly, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Data Visualization: Utilizing proper data visualization techniques and maintaining a clean UI reduced cognitive load on users, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.