BACKGROUND
I started working at White Cap as a graphic designer in the marketing department in 2023. I played an important role in the rebranding of Brafasco to White Cap. I have been involved in many other important marketing projects in White Cap that were designed by me. Some of these projects include print designs such as posters, flyers, brochures and catalogues, which were distributed in more than 65 locations across Canada to advertise products and promote highlight sale deals. Digital marketing materials designed by me include such as emails, social media posts, and digital advertising campaigns, as well as the White Cap website project.
Rebranding brought many redesign opportunities and ideas for me, and it was followed by a broader range of projects, such as designing booths for events and coming up with innovative product design projects, such as designing White Cap branded speakers suitable for construction sites, water bottles, and other merchandise.
Along with the stores, White Cap offers services such as On-Site Solutions, which is a service that provides accurate replenishment on customers' job sites based on their needs. White Cap associates will label and restock the job site and stock area. By providing branded bins, cabinets, shelving, vending machines, or sea containers, White Cap associates come to customers' facilities and remove (or update) their existing stock rooms or vending machines. They label, barcode, and scan orders when they visit on the scheduled days.
I found some areas to be improved in this popular White Cap service to make the journey easier and more accessible for both customers and associates.
TEAM STRUCTURE
I've been working as a generalist UX designer with the marketing team, senior visual/graphic designers, purchasing, IT team and vendors to develop the idea of stabilizing and optimizing the current service.
MY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
My task was to develop my idea, researching both user needs and market opportunities, to ideate and develop an efficient product for their market and a user-friendly platform for this service's users.
previous projects done by me at White Cap
Branded On-Site Speakers - Rendered Design
Final Modified Product
Water bottle design in collaboration with Fill It Forward
Final Modified Product
On-site solutions
Research: Business and Industry
As part of my research, I interviewed the directors and members of On-Site Solutions and other departments. This step helped me gain more knowledge about this side of the business before the ideation process.
Here is a brief report based on the interview I had with the team:
User Experience:
Target Customers: Industrial Manufacturing and Maintenance facilities, as well as Construction sites.
Service Value: Tailored for high-value businesses due to the cost and effort of regular onsite visits and physical asset deployment.
Technology & Operations:
Scanners: Utilizes Android-based scanning tools provided by MobileFrame, costing around $2,000 per unit with an annual license fee of $150.
Vending Solutions: Employs Cribmaster for automated order integration into the ERP system, supported by physical assets from vendors like Armorgard and Durham.
Current Needs:
Potentially integrating the technology into associates' personal/business devices could increase the number of scanners in use and reduce their costs.
Here's an illustration I created to show the process of "Vendor Managed Inventory" and role of On-Site Solutions in that process.
On-Site Solution Storage Products
Vending Machines
Cabinets
Bolt Bins and Shelving
Sea Containers
Stakeholders:
Mark Russell
On-Site Solutions Specialist
On-Site Solutions Specialist
Greg Williams
Sr. Manager On-Site Solutions and Proposals
Scott Heimpel
On-Site Solutions Specialist VMI
On-Site Solutions Specialist VMI
Carl Seleem
Sr. Marketing Manager
Scott Larson
Business Development Manager
Todd Wand
Sales Director of Canada
Vasken Altounian
President of Canada
Problem Statement
High Equipment Costs + Licensing Fees:
The cost of scanners is approximately $2,000 per unit, and there are around 80 units in operation. This represents a significant investment in hardware. Each scanner requires a license from MobileFrame, costing about $150 per year.
As mentioned by Greg Williams (Sr. Manager On-Site Solutions), there's a need for more scanners in the field and at a lower price point, conceivably having the technology on more associates' personal/business devices as opposed to having separate units required at additional expense.
Limited Scalability:
The current system relies heavily on dedicated hardware, which limits flexibility and scalability.
White Cap associates need to frequently visit the job-sites.
Need for Technological Integration:
There is a demand for better integration of technology, potentially using associates' personal or business devices to reduce costs and increase the number of field operatives.
Overall, it can be stated that not having a device-friendly platform is a major issue for the On-Site Solutions team and the users.
User Journey
Click to zoom
Solution and Ideations
Enhanced Software Solutions
and Application Development:
and Application Development:
My solution is to develop a robust mobile application compatible with both iOS and Android that can be installed on associates' personal or business devices, and replicate the functionality of the current scanners, reducing the need for dedicated hardware and investing in a more cost-effective scanning system.
This project builds a smooth scanning and ordering operation for both users and associates. Users can simply access the app, log in with the unique ID number/username, and use their phone camera to scan and order.
Service Flexibility:
Research has shown that it's easier to provide a service where the user can decide on what they need, not the provider. Having a user-friendly app would be a better solution for the users to simply scan and order/re-order materials based on their needs on the app, just like Amazon or Shopify. Then, White Cap associates can restock the materials for them based on their orders. Here it can be an extra membership fee option for those who need the associates to come and order the materials for them to save more time, money and energy for the company.
On-Site Solutions App
App Overview
The On-Site Solutions Mobile App is designed to streamline inventory management for the Industrial Manufacturing and Construction sectors. The app enables users to create accounts, manage storage solutions, order and track products, and schedule services, all from their mobile devices. Employers can also monitor stock levels, orders, and schedules, providing comprehensive oversight of inventory management operations all through the employee login in the same app.
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
The interface needs to be clean and intuitive, user-friendly with easy navigation and consistent design language and branding. The platform requires a responsive layout that is adaptive for optimal performance on various devices and screen sizes. Fast loading times and smooth transitions are also important to ensure a good user experience.
The user needs to be able to personalize his dashboard, which should be customizable and show key information at a glance. A feature to add widgets for quick access to frequently used features will be available on the dashboard.
Help and Support section is also very important, along with FAQs, tutorials, and customer service contact options. There will be a chatbot for instant assistance.
User Features
User Account Creation
A simple sign-up process requiring basic information, including full legal name, phone number, email, and password.
Option to log in using social media accounts or business credentials.
Location Selection
Users can choose one or multiple locations (covered by the company) where they need inventory management, and the app will automatically connect them to the closest White Cap for precise service delivery.
Storage Selection
Users can select the type of storage they need from options such as bins, cabinets, shelving, vending machines, or sea containers.
Detailed descriptions and images of each storage type to help users make informed decisions.
Service Subscription
Users can purchase and subscribe to the On-Site Solutions service directly through the app. Different subscription tiers are based on storage type and quantity.
Stock Products Selection
Users can browse a catalogue of products available for storage in an eCommerce interface. They are provided with the ability to select products and specify the quantities needed for each storage type. There are search and filter options to find specific products quickly.
Payment Integration
Secure payment options include credit cards, Apple Pay, and other popular payment methods. They can save the payment method for future orders.
Order Tracking
Real-time tracking of orders with status updates is available for users with notifications for order confirmations, shipping, and delivery.
Scheduling with White Cap Associates
Users can schedule visits from White Cap associates for setup, restocking, and regular maintenance. A calendar integration will allow users to view available dates and times.
Barcode Scanning and Re-ordering
An in-app barcode scanner allows easy material re-ordering on the user's side. Based on scanned barcodes, automatic orders will be generated.
Employer Features
Employer Login
Employers have a separate login with access to user accounts assigned to their zone. These types of accounts have role-based access control to ensure data security.
Stock Monitoring
There's an overview of stock levels across different locations and storage types. It alerts for low stock levels and automatic reorder suggestions.
Order Management
Detailed view of all orders placed by users and the ability to communicate with the customers, approve, modify, or cancel orders if necessary.
Scheduling Oversight
View and manage schedules for White Cap associate visits. There's the option to reschedule or prioritize urgent maintenance requests.
Reporting and Analytics
Comprehensive reports on inventory usage, order history, and service performance will be available, + data visualization tools to identify trends and optimize inventory management.
User Management
Ability to add or remove user accounts within the organization.
Assign roles and permissions to different users.
Assign roles and permissions to different users.
Current Stages
Most parts of the current stages cannot be displayed for confidential purposes and to prevent benefiting WhiteCap market competitors.
This project continues as a collaboration with a partner company specializing in product design and development, and that is currently being discussed. According to our latest meeting, the flow and design for Login/Signup were approved. Here's the interface and interaction design of the login/signup pages.
I will post more updates on the project once the company approves further stages of design, and allows me to share the designs.