Relay - Mobile Application for reading smart meters
Research and Design
Nov 2017 - Mar 2018
The Problem
Relay tool is a desktop-based software application for reading and configuration of smart meters (in Australia) which are in the absence of internet. The electricity smart meters fail to send data when installed in the place without signal. In this case, a manual visit is scheduled every two to three months to obtain the desired reading. The primary objective was to design an intuitive mobile application and simplify the user experience, and given the role of UX designer, I was responsible for designing a mobile application for the existing desktop application.
My role
1. Gather customer insight.
2. Understand user behaviour and identify pain points
3. Create user flow and persona
4. Develop wireframes and prototypes
5. Communicate design ideas and prototypes to developers
Initial research
Brainstorm - We began the design process by taking the brief from the technical team and conducting secondary research to understand the process of smart metering in Australia.
Persona - We conducted a persona workshop to learn more about our potential users - Meter readers, Meter installers and Maintenance engineers. Through this workshop we aimed to gain a deep understanding of users' daily lives by exploring their goals, needs, experiences and behaviours.
Key opportunities
Tool management : Meter installers currently carry a desktop computer, physical files with meter details, and various instruments. Manual management of these tools is both tedious and error-prone.
Lack of meter status information : There is no real-time information on the status of meters, leading to uncertainty about whether they are registered or have encountered issues.
Manual reporting : No automated system for sending or uploading reports of read meters. This manual process can be time-consuming.
Complicated connection establishment : Establishing a secure connection between the meter and software requires additional steps, including the manual entry of meter details.
Userflow
I created the userflow to gain insights into the user's interaction journey with the application.
Conceptualisation and sketching - Sketching helped me visualise screen to screen interaction giving me a quick and rough preview of how the product will take form.
Wireframes
To convey our ideas effectively to developers and test our design, I developed interactive high-fidelity wireframes. After several design iterations, we conducted four additional testing sessions, gaining valuable feedback to refine our approach before moving into the visual design phase.
Visual Design
After weeks of design iteration, we were able to come up with a solution that made reading and configuration of smart meters easier and simpler. As the application was designed to be used on the android platform, we made sure to follow the guidelines of Material Design.
Login - To enhance program security, users are provided with an activation code along with a username and password, which can be modified after the initial login. These credentials are required during the first use of the app.
Meter Reading- The meter reader can connect the meter to the app and start the reading process by selecting preferred parameters. The app allows them to monitor the progress of the reading, displaying the parameters being tracked and estimating the time remaining to complete the process.
Meter Registration - The Meter Installer can register a meter by scanning its Serial Number and entering other necessary details. The app notifies the installer about the registration status (Registered, Failed, or In Progress) through in-app notifications.
Clickable prototype : For clickable prototype Click here
