UX CASE STUDY
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UX CASE STUDY ⬇
1Breadcrumb
Streamlining SDS Access for Rapid Response & Safety (B2B SaaS)
About 1Breadcrumb approached our team to introduce a feature that allows workers to access Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information quickly during emergencies via the app.
1Breadcrumb is a B2B SaaS startup in the construction technology industry that provides a straightforward method for workers to collect, review, and access compliance documents digitally, regardless of the project.
OverviewProblem
Working within the construction industry can be very risky and hazardous, where a serious injury can happen at any moment. To mitigate this risk, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are typically kept in a folder in the builders site office but are hard to locate and get to in a timely manner in the case of an emergency.
At present 1Breadcrumb stores SDS in a document folder within the 1Breadcrumb system backend on desktop. These are only accessible to Safety Managers and other management; this feature is not available to on-site workers using the app.
Outcome
We designed a SDS feature as prototype to allow workers to access SDS information quickly during emergencies via the existing 1Breadcrumb app. Our solution was hailed a ‘game changer’ by one user I tested and was highly praised by our client. Since presenting 1Breadcrumb has been furthering the project by presenting it to potential investors.
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Role
Project Lead
UX/UI Designer -
Team Size
4 UX/UI Designers
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Software
Figma
Figjam
Google Suite -
Scope
3 week sprint
Design Strategy, Information Architecture, Research, User Interviews, UI/UX Design, Prototyping, User Testing, Final Client Presentation -
Project Type
Client Project
PROJECT GOALS
Goal 1
To understand the current behaviours and needs of those who work in construction, manufacturing or other industries that require the management of safety documentation.
Goal 2
To provide an effective solution for workers to access SDS in the shortest amount of time possible during an emergency.
Goal 3
Enable workers to access SDS information quickly through existing 1Breadcrumb app.
KPI’s were developed to measure the success of the solution; focusing on concerns or pain points gathered from research.
Measuring Success-
Time Decrease
Emergency response rate to access the SDS decreasing, ensuring timely attendance of the injured person
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Engagement
Increase in active users' engagement with SDS before and during work.
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Injury Decrease
% decrease in chemical injuries resulting from improved accessibility to SDS on mobile
This project was heavily dependant on research.
RESEARCH FINDINGSMarket research results and findings
As part of our market research we looked into the current statistics surrounding chemical injuries onsite. We found that among Australian industries, the construction industry is the third most deadly with around twice the average fatality rate, and is ranked fifth for causing serious injury (Source: Safe Work Australia & OHS Blog).
We also found that…
12% of workers in Australia do not have PPE training or training around control measures
45% of construction workers in Australia are exposed to chemicals on the job.
This demonstrated that this solution was indeed a feature that was needed by 1Breadcrumb’s users.
User research results and findings
RESEARCH FINDINGSBecause of how niche the brief was I had to think outside of our immediate target audience and case the net wider by looking at other industries that work with safety documentation regularly and how they manage this space. I interviewed people working in our immediate target audience in construction, both large and residential, but also branching out by talking to people that work in mining, defence, and also retail such as Bunnings to gain a better understanding SDS and processes around documentation on site.
Through affinity mapping (see full map here) the insights showed that…
Insight 1:
SDS are always present on site but workers have to walk to a site office to access them. They are also text heavy and can be hard to read.
Insight 2:
Visual information is essential to convey information in a quick way as some workers may struggle with written information; pictures and visual aids make safety information more accessible.
Insight 3:
Documentation was consulted and reported on after an incident and safety documentation is created and maintained by superiors.
Insight 4:
Phones are used onsite for communication, to take pictures, and to gather infomration. However, accessibility might be limited due to wifi issues on some sites.
Meet Matty,
our worker persona.
BUILDING A PERSONA
Like many workers in the construction industry, Matty faces challenges related to accessing Safety Data Sheets (SDS). To access SDS currently, Matty must go to his supervisors office and flick through the numerous binders that are kept there. He works everyday with chemical heavy products so if he ever faces an emergency situation where he or his work mates have a reaction he needs to be able to quickly find the correct SDS and know how to treat the issue.
Goal
To take action in an emergency situation efficiently without needing to consult a manager.
Pain Points
Finds SDS text heavy and time consuming to read
Has to search through physical binders for the correct SDS
Has trouble connecting to WIFI in remote locations
Behaviours
Uses his phone on site; it’s generally in his pocket
He is aware of his surroundings while working on site
He checks the SDS documents before using any product
Matty needs to access relevant SDS information so that he knows what to do during an emergency situation.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
I had the team think about what Matty’s current process looks like when accessing SDS documents, and developing a journey map based off real accounts we heard during user interviews.
JOURNEY MAPPING
IDEATION
I time blocked 8 minutes for 8 sketches on each ‘how might we’ statement below for the team. In total we ended up with around 48 ideas each.
How might we…
Keep people safe on site?
How might we…
Highlight where to go for emergency information?
How might we…
Make SDS accessible?
COMMON THEMES FROM IDEATION
Make Information Visual
Helping users in emergency situation to digest and find information they need quickly.
Search Functionality & Voice Dictation
Use of search function with an inclusion of voice dictation for use in high pressure situations where you need information fast.
Maps/Navigation
Mapping the potential hazard on the site depending on what workers are doing that day.
Emergency Button/Folder
Quick access to emergency information or contact relevant parties.
The Winning Idea
SDS Card
My idea around pulling out important information from the SDS document such as the GHS Pictograms and treatment information was the core idea that was moved forward from this process.
Building out a task flow around the winning idea
TASK FLOW
As a team, we developed a paper wireframe which had two variations of how information on SDS card page and PDF page would be displayed.
WIREFRAMING
SDS Pop Up
Version A for SDS card page involved a pop up from the bottom of the screen while Version B involved a pop up that came up in the centre of the screen. Before moving forward we had a conversation around this flow and found that the pop up feature coming from the bottom would be more in line with 1Breadcrumb’s existing app, where pop ups already come up from the bottom.
Conclusion: We moved forward with the pop up coming up from the bottom on the screen.
SDS PDF Page: ‘Go to Section’
Moving further into the flow we also had Version A for search of section within PDF that was a drop down nav at the top of page underneath heading, or Version B where the section nav came in from the side.
Conclusion: These two options would need to be A/B tested.
Designing SDS Card Information
Due to this project being a short sprint I knew we would need to start testing our first prototype ASAP, so we promptly made rapid iterations on the SDS card design as a team using Figjam. We revisited our research findings and leveraged our insights from affinity to inform our decision-making process. Additionally, we conducted a brief survey to gain a better understanding of which text would be most comprehensible for the pop-up button.
Re-structuring 1Breadcrumb’s home page
We worked quickly to put together the two different flows we wanted to test. We placed a time pressure on the user to simulate using the app in an emergency situation. By testing the prototype we aimed to learn the following:
USER TESTING
Is there any pain point or confusion?
How much time does it takes user to get to the pop up information?
A/B testing on the full SDS page; which ‘Go to Section ‘ menu was more intuitive/easier to use?
Will they choose the ‘Read SDS’ button in the pop up or on the SDS card?
USER TESTING ITERATIONS
SDS Card Page
USER TESTING ITERATIONS
SDS PDF Page
USER TESTING ITERATIONS
Key findings from final testing round
A walkthrough of the key features of the solution & final prototype
SOLUTION
SDS Card Page
SDS Pop-up Response Precautionary Statements
The full design as prototype
A journey with Matty using our solution
We wanted to demonstrate to our client how our solution has made a positive impact on Matty by taking them on a journey with Matty once again, but this time he is using the SDS feature we have built out. This solidified our solution to our client and ended the presentation on a strong note that tied back to our KPI’s.
LESSONS LEARNED
Reflecting on the project outcomes
Reflection 1
The importance of thinking outside the immediate audience to gather a more rounded view of the problem space.
We hit our main challenge when recruiting for user interviews as we found it difficult to recruit people working in labour roles on work sites. This way of thinking of our audience was too narrow. We needed to broaden our way of thinking and gather insights from other industries and spaces that may also handle safety documentation. After thinking outside our immediate audience we found we could recruit people working in retail (Bunnings), defence industries, and mining. From doing this we were also able to recommend to the client that our proposed solution could be extended to people working in these other industries.
Reflection 2
It was a short sprint but we developed a solution with real impacts on peoples lives!
I see this project as a true example of UX Design. We stayed focused on creating a solution that spoke to the worker, our persona Matty, and in doing so we developed a simple but effective outcome for our client.
Reflection 3
Leading a team remotely.
I am proud that I was able to foster a space for my team that encouraged open dialogue and the freedom to experiment at all points of the project, especially as we were all working remotely. I developed a space where all team members felt valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique insights which led us to create a successful design outcome!