Enhancing Developer Work Efficiency by Improving Task Flows and Overcoming Technical Limitations
@ Eaton
Enhancing Developer Work Efficiency by Improving Task Flows and Overcoming Technical Limitations
@ Eaton
See Final Design
See Final Design
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The task of Building Packages is essential for developers and engineers to complete their daily work.
The task of Building Packages is essential for developers and engineers to complete their daily work.
Octopus is designed for developers to better manage edge devices, with Building Packages as a key workflow. Developers rely on this process daily to ensure smooth software deployment, maintain system consistency, and efficiently manage updates across devices.
Octopus is designed for developers to better manage edge devices, with Building Packages as a key workflow. Developers rely on this process daily to ensure smooth software deployment, maintain system consistency, and efficiently manage updates across devices.
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES
Two key challenges in the Building Packages workflow: only 61% task success rate and auto-save overloading cloud storage.
Two key challenges in the Building Packages workflow: only 61% task success rate and auto-save overloading cloud storage.
The 61% task success rate was low due to high cognitive load, making tasks overwhelming. Users had to input everything at once, relying on auto-save to prevent data loss. However, this overloaded cloud storage, increasing costs and forcing a rethink on data management.
The 61% task success rate was low due to high cognitive load, making tasks overwhelming. Users had to input everything at once, relying on auto-save to prevent data loss. However, this overloaded cloud storage, increasing costs and forcing a rethink on data management.
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS
Breaking Down Tasks to Reduce Cognitive Load and Eliminate Auto-Save Dependency
Breaking Down Tasks to Reduce Cognitive Load and Eliminate Auto-Save Dependency
By breaking tasks into smaller steps, we reduced cognitive load, making it easier for users to complete tasks. This also eliminated the need for auto-save, allowing manual saves and preventing cloud storage overload, improving both usability and system efficiency.
By breaking tasks into smaller steps, we reduced cognitive load, making it easier for users to complete tasks. This also eliminated the need for auto-save, allowing manual saves and preventing cloud storage overload, improving both usability and system efficiency.
Before we dive In, let me share some basics to make things clearer.
Before we dive In, let me share some basics to make things clearer.
WHAT IS EDGE DEVICE
WHAT IS EDGE DEVICE
Octopus is a product designed for developers to better manage edge devices
Octopus is a product designed for developers to better manage edge devices
Edge devices connect IoT in substations, managing sensors and electrical equipment. They bridge local infrastructure with the cloud, enabling secure data transmission, remote management, and real-time control.
Edge devices connect IoT in substations, managing sensors and electrical equipment. They bridge local infrastructure with the cloud, enabling secure data transmission, remote management, and real-time control.
WHO ARE WE DESIGING FOR?
WHO ARE WE DESIGING FOR?
Engineers are divided into two user groups, with operators as the primary users in building packages
Engineers are divided into two user groups, with operators as the primary users in building packages
WHAT IS BUILDING PACKAGES
WHAT IS BUILDING PACKAGES
Here is the task flow that operators follow when creating packages.
Here is the task flow that operators follow when creating packages.
Previous task flow
PROBLEMS
PROBLEMS
For the current workflow, operators have a very low completion efficiency, and we are also facing technical limitations.
For the current workflow, operators have a very low completion efficiency, and we are also facing technical limitations.
Operators often struggle to complete the Building Packages task, with many quitting midway. At the same time, due to budget constraints, we have to remove the auto-save feature since the company isn’t willing to spend more on cloud storage.
Operators often struggle to complete the Building Packages task, with many quitting midway. At the same time, due to budget constraints, we have to remove the auto-save feature since the company isn’t willing to spend more on cloud storage.
See how I use strategy to define the design direction.
See how I use strategy to define the design direction.
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
I observed operators' expressions and behavior while they were performing user testing.
I observed operators' expressions and behavior while they were performing user testing.
I wanted to identify where operators struggled the most, where they got stuck, and when they began to lose patience with the task. Additionally, I paid attention to signs of hesitation, repeated errors, and moments of frustration, trying to understand which steps caused the most friction in the workflow.
I wanted to identify where operators struggled the most, where they got stuck, and when they began to lose patience with the task. Additionally, I paid attention to signs of hesitation, repeated errors, and moments of frustration, trying to understand which steps caused the most friction in the workflow.
ALIGN WITH PM AND ENG
ALIGN WITH PM AND ENG
I Worked Closely with PMs and Developers to Understand Auto-Save’s Challenges and Costs.
I Worked Closely with PMs and Developers to Understand Auto-Save’s Challenges and Costs.
I discussed the auto-save feature and its challenges with developers and PMs, then researched independently to understand how different save intervals—every 30 seconds vs. every minute—impact user data and cloud storage costs. This helped me assess the trade-offs between user experience and infrastructure expenses.
I discussed the auto-save feature and its challenges with developers and PMs, then researched independently to understand how different save intervals—every 30 seconds vs. every minute—impact user data and cloud storage costs. This helped me assess the trade-offs between user experience and infrastructure expenses.
FIND THE KEY ISSUES
FIND THE KEY ISSUES
Then I found… both challenges stem from the "Add Applications" this step.
Then I found… both challenges stem from the "Add Applications" this step.
How might we break down information while ensuring smooth manual saving based on our findings?
How might we break down information while ensuring smooth manual saving based on our findings?
SOLUTIONS
Final Design
After user testing, we developed an MVP version based on two key user needs and identified three major issues: usability gaps, technology limitations, and task completion challenges, providing valuable insights for iteration.
TESTING
Testing Again
We recruited the same users from the previous testing to complete the same task again. The results showed a 16% increase in User Task Success Rate and a 12% reduction in completion time compared to the last test.
Future Strategy
Future Strategy
USER NEEDS OF ENERGY SUPPLIERS
USER NEEDS OF ENERGY SUPPLIERS
Our other user, the energy supplier, should not be overlooked.
Our other user, the energy supplier, should not be overlooked.
At this stage of our product iteration, due to time and priority constraints, we focused on solving the operator's issues first. However, in the next phase, we will address the needs of the energy supplier.
At this stage of our product iteration, due to time and priority constraints, we focused on solving the operator's issues first. However, in the next phase, we will address the needs of the energy supplier.
Energy suppliers
Energy suppliers
USER NEEDS OF OPERATOR
USER NEEDS OF OPERATOR
Four Design Guidelines help Energy Suppliers in the future
Four Design Guidelines help Energy Suppliers in the future
In stages 1 and 2, I main focus was on the user flow and experience of the operator side, but due to a lack of time, I didn't have enough opportunity to consider the user flow and experience for energy suppliers. Therefore, in the next phase, my goal is to address the needs of this second user group, making the overall product more solid and comprehensive.
In stages 1 and 2, I main focus was on the user flow and experience of the operator side, but due to a lack of time, I didn't have enough opportunity to consider the user flow and experience for energy suppliers. Therefore, in the next phase, my goal is to address the needs of this second user group, making the overall product more solid and comprehensive.
Automated Quality Checks:
Automated Quality Checks:
Automated Quality Checks:
Automated Quality Checks:
Integrate automated checks to verify package configurations and performance, ensuring compliance and speeding up assessment for energy suppliers.
Integrate automated checks to verify package configurations and performance, ensuring compliance and speeding up assessment for energy suppliers.
Enhanced Filtering and Sorting Options:
Enhanced Filtering and Sorting Options:
Enhanced Filtering and Sorting Options:
Enhanced Filtering and Sorting Options:
Enable energy suppliers to filter and prioritize packages by complexity, impact, or urgency for quick identification of critical ones.
Enable energy suppliers to filter and prioritize packages by complexity, impact, or urgency for quick identification of critical ones.
Detailed Documentation and Version Control:
Detailed Documentation and Version Control:
Detailed Documentation and Version Control:
Detailed Documentation and Version Control:
Ensure each package has clear documentation and version history for easy review and better supplier understanding.
Ensure each package has clear documentation and version history for easy review and better supplier understanding.
Alerts and Reminders:
Alerts and Reminders:
Alerts and Reminders:
Enable notifications for pending reviews and updates, keeping energy suppliers informed and preventing missed changes.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
What I learned
What I learned
Navigating Ambiguity & Decision Alignment
Navigating Ambiguity & Decision Alignment
Navigating Ambiguity & Decision Alignment
Navigating Ambiguity & Decision Alignment
Dealing with ambiguity and aligning everyone to make design decisions is important, especially for a product from 0 to 1. We need to consider enough experimentation and account for the corresponding risks, implementing appropriate risk control measures.
Dealing with ambiguity and aligning everyone to make design decisions is important, especially for a product from 0 to 1. We need to consider enough experimentation and account for the corresponding risks, implementing appropriate risk control measures.
Balancing Perfection & Constraints
Balancing Perfection & Constraints
Balancing Perfection & Constraints
Balancing Perfection & Constraints
Things cannot be as perfect as we want. The lack of user research is a regretful situation. If we had more time, I would have conducted more research to back up our design.
Things cannot be as perfect as we want. The lack of user research is a regretful situation. If we had more time, I would have conducted more research to back up our design.
Strategic Product Thinking
Strategic Product Thinking
Strategic Product Thinking
Strategic Product Thinking
Product thinking is crucial. Sometimes, it's not just about the impact of a single feature on the product; more importantly, we need to have a strategic direction and positioning to make the product irreplaceable.
Product thinking is crucial. Sometimes, it's not just about the impact of a single feature on the product; more importantly, we need to have a strategic direction and positioning to make the product irreplaceable.
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17:08:08
Last updated at Oct 15, 2024