I engaged customers thanks to an IoT app
and data visualisation
Client: SPXflow
Industry: Industrial equipement
My Role: Product Designer
SPXFlow manufactures equipment for heavy industries. Unplanned downtime can cost clients up to $30,000 per hour. Parts procurement may take weeks. Customers turned to third-party
IoT for machine management.
the brief
Development brief
I was tasked with keeping customers within the SPXFlow ecosystem. The solution monitored machine vitals and forecasted failures.
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Since design was non-existent in the company, I took the lead and defined the entire strategy for the new department.
the challenge
The challenge
The main challenge was introducing a design process to a company that had never had one. Developers saw little value in design and assumed engineers didn’t need an intuitive approach. They feared it would slow operations,
and add unrealistic requirements. They questioned its overall value.
the process
The process
I developed a reusable strategy and process for future projects and maintenance. I applied a UCD approach to keep users at the core of decisions. With no initial analytics, I prioritised research to gather essential data. To reduce friction, I established a collaborative workflow. I also educated the product team, as this was their first digital product.
the research
I began with ux research, following my strategy
As part of my strategy, I made user research a key step. It revealed three major challenges:
1. Selecting participants carefully to prevent leaks.
2. Defining research focus and prioritising needs.
3. Proving design’s business value.
Addressing these challenges provided crucial insights. They shaped the product’s foundation, challenged initial assumptions, and ensured data-driven success.
workshop
to prioritise
I used insights to facilitate prioritisation workshops. I analysed the data to identify the most important features that needed to be included in the application.
Additionally, I gained an understanding of how data visualisation could be utilised efficiently.
design and validation
After mapping the features on the flow, I designed iteratively. I refined the interface and validate the solution with user testing. During the sessions, I assigned tasks, and I assessed the interaction. The feedback have shown user satisfaction and identified areas for adjustments.
Success and learning
The MVP received positive feedback from selected clients. 30% increase in requests for internal services (previously directed to third parties). This strengthened client relationships.
I learned the importance of user research while defining the right MVP. A lack of crucial features could deter user adoption, while an excess could waste resources on low-priority functionalities.
