Introduction
In the world of home improvement,Leroy Merlin, a leading retailer, caters to diverse home and gardening needs. Part of the Adeo group, their commitment to excellence is unwavering.
But, like any other industry, there are challenges that need innovative solutions. This is the design case of how Placom, a web responsive platform, that improved Leroy Merlin's commercial planning process. I assumed the role of the UX/UI designer, overseeing the entire design process for the project. The project had a duration of three months, during which I led and executed all design-related activities."
But, like any other industry, there are challenges that need innovative solutions. This is the design case of how Placom, a web responsive platform, that improved Leroy Merlin's commercial planning process. I assumed the role of the UX/UI designer, overseeing the entire design process for the project. The project had a duration of three months, during which I led and executed all design-related activities."
The problem
In every Leroy Merlin store, there's a set of products that are not just essential but also high-performing. Leroy Merlin's optimization system, Relex, generates supply proposals for these products.
However, the catch is that Brazil's vast size and diverse consumer behavior require a human touch to fine-tune these proposals. This task falls to the Category Store Managers.
The existing process is a labyrinth of manual labor, Excel spreadsheets, Google Drive uploads, and email communications. It's time-consuming, error-prone, and far from data-driven. That's where Placom, and it’s first module, steps in.
However, the catch is that Brazil's vast size and diverse consumer behavior require a human touch to fine-tune these proposals. This task falls to the Category Store Managers.
The existing process is a labyrinth of manual labor, Excel spreadsheets, Google Drive uploads, and email communications. It's time-consuming, error-prone, and far from data-driven. That's where Placom, and it’s first module, steps in.
User interviews
I embarked on a journey to understand the pain points of Category Store Managers by conducting remote interviews with 10 of them, scattered across different regions and product categories in Brazil. Their insights painted a clear picture of the problems they were grappling with.
Understanding the current Process
I rolled up my sleeves to dissect the existing manual, spreadsheet-based process.
A crucial component was collaborating closely with the supply chain team to grasp the intricacies of their operations.
A crucial component was collaborating closely with the supply chain team to grasp the intricacies of their operations.
Exploratory research
output
output
Centralize the process: We aimed to bring all relevant information and actions into a single, cohesive tool.
Seamless integration: Placom was designed to effortlessly integrate with Relex, eliminating the need for third-party communications and file uploads.
Optimal data presentation: We wanted to provide users with a rich, data-driven experience without the need for horizontal scrolling.
Boost productivity: Efficiency was a top priority. Placom had to simplify and expedite the process.
Enhance user satisfaction: Learning from past experiences, we strived to create a tool that users would find not only user-friendly but also trustworthy.
Seamless integration: Placom was designed to effortlessly integrate with Relex, eliminating the need for third-party communications and file uploads.
Optimal data presentation: We wanted to provide users with a rich, data-driven experience without the need for horizontal scrolling.
Boost productivity: Efficiency was a top priority. Placom had to simplify and expedite the process.
Enhance user satisfaction: Learning from past experiences, we strived to create a tool that users would find not only user-friendly but also trustworthy.
Userflow Mapping
Before diving into designing interfaces and prototypes, I created a userflow map. This visual representation helped to visualize the connections between the modules and the interactions required.
Prototyping
With a solid understanding of the user needs and business requirements, I crafted the Placom prototype based on Leroy Merlin Brazil design system.
Usability
Testing
Testing
To validate our proposed solution, I conducted remote moderated usability tests. Users were asked to think out loud as they interacted with the prototype, providing useful feedback.
Test
Outputs
Outputs
The presented prototype was well-received, with users experiencing little to no difficulty in comprehending the information and performing the proposed tasks.
The availability of a dedicated tool for the process elicited satisfaction, reflecting positive emotional design aspects.
Identified Improvements:
- Hide the sidebar menu on smaller resolutions.
- Replace the term "deslocamento" with "Lead + Transit time."
- Add information for "Família 36 foco" and "Novidades."
- In the proposal table, bring the filter button and the product search field closer together.
- Incorporate an export to Excel feature.
- Users expressed interest in mobile access.
Identified Improvements:
- Hide the sidebar menu on smaller resolutions.
- Replace the term "deslocamento" with "Lead + Transit time."
- Add information for "Família 36 foco" and "Novidades."
- In the proposal table, bring the filter button and the product search field closer together.
- Incorporate an export to Excel feature.
- Users expressed interest in mobile access.
These refinements will further enhance the user experience and usability of the platform.
User feedback survey
After a month of the release, I sent a survey, using Hotjar, to our full user database to collect their impressions of the new tool. Within the survey there were NPS rating, experience rating from 1 to 5.
Productivity metric
The users and supply team told us the previous process took about 2h to 4h to be completed. With the new tool on Placom users can do the task in about 30 to 50 minutes, as it's shown in google analytics data and user feedback.
