How can you use design thinking to create efficient and effective user experiences in supply chain logistics?

In a supply chain logistics we need to first empathise with the paint points employees are facing everyday, this can be done by conducting interviews, observing people in their work environment and also observing the competition to gather valuable insights. The next step would be to define the core issues based on the observations and findings and ideating on possible solutions for each. Next steps would be prototyping these solutions and testing them with the users. Iterating basis feedback and observations and finally releasing the product.

Eu dividiria em etapas: Empatia (entendendo o usuário envolvido), Defini??o de problemas (com base nas informa??es coletadas definir desafios e oportunidades), Idea??o (Reunir equipe e usar técnicas de brainstorming parar gerar ideias criativas) Prototipagem (Filtro de ideias e cria??o de protótipos de baixa fidelidade), Teste (coloque na m?o dos usuários), Itera??o (Use os feedbacks parar refinar), Implementa??o (monitore para garantir que esteja funcionando) criando uma experiência que seja n?o apenas eficientes e eficazes, mas também centradas nas necessidades reais dos usuários.

In some situation understanding the context might not necessarily mean carrying out interviews it could be carrying out research and analysis on your competitors products that way you can be able to have full idea on the product and look for ways to improve it

Aplicando el proceso de dise?o siguiendo estas etapas: 1. Empatizar con los Usuarios 2. Definir las Necesidades del Usuario 3. Idear Soluciones 4. Prototipo 5. Probar y Evaluar 6. Implementación y Escala

As one with experience within the logistics space, it’s important to understand first what you’re dealing with, and the best people to get this information from are stakeholders. Speak with them in an interview or survey or just observe their process, then you can have a better understanding of the issue at hand.

Design thinking in supply chain logistics begins by pinpointing the specific struggles users face. Data gathered while empathizing needs to be focused into clear problem statements – this might target inventory visibility pain points, delays in the shipping process, or something else. Having focused definitions ensures your solutions will actually address the core difficulties rather than creating solutions without clear targets.

Leveraging tools such as personas, journey maps, and problem statements helps create a clear and concise description of the user problem and the envisioned outcome. Additionally, prioritizing the most significant issues ensures a targeted approach, aligning them with the overarching goals and objectives of the logistics project. This phase lays the groundwork for a well-defined problem statement, providing a shared understanding that serves as a compass for the subsequent design process, guiding the creation of solutions with direct relevance to user needs and project success.

In the realm of design, "defining the problem" is our compass. Imagine it as decoding a treasure map—the better we understand it, the closer we get to that design gold. Every project has its puzzles. Is it a clunky user interface? A confusing customer journey? Pinpointing the problem is like saying, "Aha, this is where ‘X’ marks the spot!" It's the first crucial step toward crafting solutions that truly shine. ???

Focus on specific user needs: Instead of aiming for a generic "better user experience," define specific problems users face in the current logistics system. This could be difficulty tracking shipments, inefficient inventory management, or unclear documentation. Frame the problem statement: Clearly articulate the user's needs and the challenges they face in a user-centric way. For example, "How might we make it easier for warehouse staff to locate and pick items accurately?"

Pra mim, essa é a parte mais importante quando a gente usa Design Thinking como abordagem na resolu??o de problemas complexos. Fazer uma boa análise dos dados coletados (de preferência casando informa??es quantitativas com percep??es subjetivas vindas, por exemplo, de entrevistas em profundidade) e escolher o que resolver prioritariamente, fazendo o exercício de desapego de abrir m?o de outras features desejáveis, é primordial para garantir o sucesso desse processo.

In the ideation phase of design thinking, it's crucial to foster an environment where creativity is uninhibited and multidisciplinary insights are valued. Techniques like brainstorming and mind mapping are not just about quantity but also about the diversity of ideas, which can lead to innovative solutions in supply chain logistics. Encouraging a wide range of perspectives, especially from those who are on the front lines of the supply chain, can reveal unexpected opportunities for efficiency and user satisfaction.

Employing divergent and imaginative thinking techniques, such as brainstorming, sketching, mind mapping, and analogies, is essential for exploring a diverse range of options and perspectives. During this stage, it is crucial to foster a collaborative environment that encourages feedback and idea refinement among team members and users. The goal is to generate a multitude of ideas without prematurely judging or filtering them. Embracing this open-minded approach allows for the exploration of innovative and unconventional solutions, paving the way for a rich pool of ideas to inform the subsequent stages of the design process.

Now that we've mapped the terrain, let's light up the brainstorming fireworks! Generating ideas is like conjuring magic spells—only this enchantment brings designs to life. Sketching plays the role of our wizard's wand here. It's not about perfection; it's about capturing those wild, fleeting concepts on paper. Sketching is our visual brainstorm, a dance of lines and shapes that might just birth the next design masterpiece. ????

In the ideation phase, facilitate collaborative brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to generate creative ideas for addressing the identified challenges. Involve users and stakeholders in the ideation process to ensure solutions are aligned with their needs and priorities. Rapidly create low-fidelity prototypes, such as wireframes or mockups, to visualize and test potential solutions early in the design process.

In the PRIDES (Purpose, Research, Ideate, Design, Evaluate, Storytell) process and ‘Generating Ideas’ would be ‘Ideate’. Ideate is the stage when you start coming up with ideas and solutions. You can brainstorm ideas or draw storyboards, or even draw mind maps for the problem space. You can ideate alone, but if more participants join the ideation step, you will get more diverse ideas quickly. Also I want to highlight that people who are not designers can help you generate ideas from a different perspective and improve inclusive and diverse ideas. Sometimes even bad ideas can give you insights to better ideas, so try to capture everything you're thinking.

Prototyping is not just about creating visuals but also involves considering the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the proposed solutions within the specific context of the logistics challenge. It provides an opportunity to test and refine ideas before significant resources are invested in full-scale development.

Prototyping lets you try out potential solutions quickly and affordably. In this stage, 'good enough' mockups of dashboards, tracking interfaces, etc., bring concepts to life. Putting these rough drafts in front of users uncovers whether a solution truly makes tasks easier or if it adds complexity. The ability to rapidly refine and change, fueled by this feedback, is key before implementing costly large-scale tech.

In the PRIDES (Purpose, Research, Ideate, Design, Evaluate, Storytell) process and ‘Prototype’ would be the ‘Design’ step. First prioritize ideas from the Ideate step. Wish the idea you want to prototype, you can draw the user flow with the selected idea. Think about the user’s journey and experience step by step. You can write down the step and after draw each step to make a storyboard or a walkthrough. You can start with low fidelity mockups which will become high fidelity prototypes.

Develop low-fidelity prototypes: Create quick and inexpensive representations of potential solutions, such as paper mockups or basic software prototypes. Test with real users: Gather feedback from actual users on the prototypes. Observe their interactions, listen to their suggestions, and iterate on the design based on their needs.

Prototyping provides a quick and cost-effective method to test potential solutions. During this phase, preliminary mockups of dashboards, tracking interfaces, and the like, serve to materialize concepts. Presenting these initial drafts to users helps determine if a solution genuinely simplifies tasks or inadvertently introduces complexity. The capacity for swift refinement and modification, driven by user feedback, is crucial before deploying expensive large-scale technology.

One time at work, performing usability testing, surveys with actual users and building reports based on the results or feedback and resting to the stakeholders helped us to make them agree on few things which aren't user friendly.

The testing stage validates (or disproves!) those ideas that seemed amazing on paper. Direct user feedback on prototypes will quickly surface if, for example, your tracking solution has actually reduced delays. Beyond measuring pure 'success,' gather qualitative insights – did things improve because the design is easy, or did users adapt with complex workarounds? This reveals whether your concept offers meaningful, lasting changes to the supply chain user experience.

Through testing, designers can validate the assumptions and questions established in the first stage, ensuring that the solutions align with user needs and expectations. It provides a tangible means to compare the results with the project goals and objectives, helping to determine the overall success and effectiveness of the design.

After the design section is finished we need to evaluate that the design actually solves the problem. There are different ways to test the experience and measure success. For example, you can talk about qualitative studies going through the design with the people facing the problem or the target users to understand if people can successfully use and understand the experience. Also, we can take a quantitative approach by measuring usage or customer sentiment in the long run. If we find out that the designed experience has problems during the Evaluate step, don’t be afraid to go back to the Design or Ideation step. You can improve your design with the insights from the Evaluate step.

To apply design thinking in supply chain logistics, the fifth step is to test and evaluate solutions with users. First define the success criteria, create various prototypes and test them with real users. Analyse the feedback to identify where improvements are needed, iterate and repeat the process until you are satisfied. This ensures the creation of optimal user experiences in supply chain logistics.

Design thinking in supply chain logistics isn't just about solving existing problems; it's about preempting future challenges. By employing innovative techniques like predictive analytics and IoT, we can anticipate user needs and streamline operations. Tools like VR for training can enhance understanding of complex systems, leading to more intuitive UX designs. These forward-thinking approaches ensure that the logistics UX keeps pace with rapid industry advancements.

Maintain a strong focus on empathy throughout the entire process. Human-centered design principles emphasize understanding and addressing user needs and experiences. Encourage collaboration among individuals with diverse skills and perspectives. Cross-functional teams bring varied expertise, fostering creativity and comprehensive problem-solving.

ONE MORE THING, there is one last important step in PRIDES (Purpose, Research, Ideate, Design, Evaluate, Storytell), ‘Storytell’. You can share your solution to investors/leaders to fund the project or to developers to implement and ship the solution or even storytell to a bigger audience like you guys to share the insights from the project. Try out the PRIDE(S) design process! If you found the process useful or have more ideas for it let me know.

There is no ready-made formula for working with Design Thinking, it is all about a process. Being a flexible process, there are several tools that, when used together, assist in problem-solving. I believe that the main point is collaboration among team members. This makes Design Thinking work well in times of discovery, ideation, and solution testing. In addition, it allows the entire team to feel ownership and contribute to the project from the beginning.

One thing I have found helpful is that there's no one way to design. One has to be flexible and keep iterating at every stage of the design process. Design thinking is definitely a powerful approach to getting an enhanced experience for the users.