The Problem
Developing a new ETS application was needed for Savage Services to simplify processes throughout the company. Savage recently acquired Environmental Sector (Enviroserve) and provides emergency response, environmental remediation, and waste management solutions for customers across the United States. The original application used borrowed processes and systems from various existing applications to track and manage their jobs and projects. The solution and goal was to bring all of these systems into one application with a desired outcome of providing easier workflows, processes, and completion of time sensitive projects.
Case Study.
September 2021—June 2022
Savage was in the process of developing a new Environmental Tracking Services (ETS) application, and the scope and vision of this application required resources they have never utilized on any project before. Developing new processes, prototyping, user testing, and user interface design were a few of those resources.
The first thing I was told when starting my UX/UI contract with Savage Services was that their employees and field workers live by the motto of “Get the Job Done“, and I decided to live by that same motto.
(Original ETS Application Design)
Challenges
UX/UI was never utilized in the development of the Environmental web & mobile app for Savage Services.
The current system was a band-aid fix of multiple platforms and systems to allow jobs to be tracked.
Jobs, Action Items, Approvals weren’t being completed as they should because of complexity and confusion of how to complete the job.
Needed many simpler and productive workflows to encourage fieldworkers to track jobs, keep inventory, track approvals, create action items, and track waste management as Savage Services requested.
Inventory of waste, trucks, dumpsters, and large equipment was not effective and items were being lost and unaccounted for.
The Problem
Developing a new ETS application was needed for Savage to simplify processes throughout the company. Savage Services recently acquired Environmental Sector (Enviroserve) and provides emergency response, environmental remediation, and waste management solutions for Customers across the United States. The original application used borrowed processes and systems to track and manage their jobs and projects. The solution and goal was to bring all of these systems into one application with a desired outcome of providing easier workflows, processes, and completion of time sensitive projects.
Challenges
UX/UI was never utilized in the development of the Environmental web & mobile app for Savage Services.
The current system was a band-aid fix of multiple platforms and systems to allow jobs to be tracked.
Jobs, Action Items, Approvals weren’t being completed as they should because of complexity and confusion of how to complete the job.
Needed many simpler and productive workflows to encourage fieldworkers to track jobs, keep inventory, track approvals, create action items, and track waste management as Savage Services requested.
Inventory of waste, trucks, dumpsters, and large equipment was not effective and items were being lost and unaccounted for.
THE PROCESS
Discovery
Design
Deployment
*Individual ownership of task or project
Wireframes
Based on insight from user testing and white boarding, I created various low-fidelity wireframes showing simpler workflows and processes. Throughout testing, it showed most processes and workflows could be condensed and would improve efficiency throughout fieldworkers and staff.
Typography & Colors
The original UI lacked many design fundamentals to allow a better user experience. Many different fonts were being utilized, colors were washed out in outdoor situations, there was no contrast between elements to allow for visual hierarchy.
Keeping the font simple in both headers and body copy, allowed for better readability. The darker blue font allowed better contrast in outdoor situations. The splash of accent colors of purple, orange, and other brighter colors allows quick visual understanding of what actions should be made and how to accomplish a task.
THE PROCESS
Discovery
Design
Deployment
*Individual ownership of task or project
Wireframes
Based on insight from user testing and white boarding, I created various low-fidelity wireframes showing simpler workflows and processes. Throughout testing, it showed most processes and workflows could be condensed and would improve efficiency throughout fieldworkers and staff.
Typography & Colors
The original UI lacked many design fundamentals to allow a better user experience. Many different fonts were being utilized, colors were washed out in outdoor situations, there was no contrast between elements to allow for visual hierarchy.
Keeping the font simple in both headers and body copy, allowed for better readability. The darker blue font allowed better contrast in outdoor situations. The splash of accent colors of purple, orange, and other brighter colors allows quick visual understanding of what actions should be made and how to accomplish a task.
THE RESULTS
Steve brought a fresh perspective to our product team, which led us to do a full redesign of the application that we were building. During that process, Steve worked well with the team and contributed from the beginning to implementation. He always listened carefully to the feedback on his designs, and would simply resolve to find a better approach to the problem.
Ultimately a recommendation like this comes down to one question: Would I want to work with Steve again on another project? Without any hesitation, I say yes.
Tyler Snarr, Savage Services
Based on research findings and feedback from the wireframes, I took a mobile first approach for the high-fidelity designs. After final designs were approved, I took the initiative to code the mobile view in basic HTML and CSS to give development a head start on styles, code, and layout.
Overall, Savage Services fieldworkers and project managers were pleased with the outcome of the final application. Early results showed improvement in action items being completed, jobs being approved and completed, and an overall excitement of easier ways of allowing field workers to “Get the Job Done.”
THE RESULTS
Steve brought a fresh perspective to our product team, which led us to do a full redesign of the application that we were building. During that process, Steve worked well with the team and contributed from the beginning to implementation. He always listened carefully to the feedback on his designs, and would simply resolve to find a better approach to the problem.
Ultimately a recommendation like this comes down to one question: Would I want to work with Steve again on another project? Without any hesitation, I say yes.
Tyler Snarr, Savage Services
Based on research findings and feedback from the wireframes, I took a mobile first approach for the high-fidelity designs. After final designs were approved, I took the initiative to code the mobile view in basic HTML and CSS to give development a head start on styles, code, and layout.
Overall, Savage Services fieldworkers and project managers were pleased with the outcome of the final application. Early results showed improvement in action items being completed, jobs being approved and completed, and an overall excitement of easier ways of allowing field workers to “Get the Job Done.”