Product Distribution App

Case Study of

Pathum Enterprises

Enhancing user experience of product distribution and online order process management system.

Project Information

Project

Industry

Client

Platform

My Role

Tools Used

Developed Framework

Distribution and Order Process Management System for Biscuit Distribution Centre

Food and Beverages

Pathum Enterprises Private Limited

Responsive Web and Mobile App

UI/UX Designer & App Developer

Figma | Adobe XD | PhpStorm | MySQL | Visual Paradigm

Php Laravel 5.8

Introduction

Pathum Enterprises is a leading distribution center in Waduwegama, Sri Lanka, specializing in the distribution of Munchee Biscuits. This UX case study focuses on evaluating and improving the user experience of their Distribution and Order Process Management System. The system comprises modules such as ;

Online Order
Delivery Management
Customer Order Management

Invoicing
Stock Management
Sales Management

Customer Details Management
Reports Generation

With the inclusion of an online order facility, the system aims to provide a convenient solution for customers while ensuring controlled accessibility and information security for authorized users. The generation of reports facilitates quick and accurate decision-making.

Online Order
Delivery Management
Customer Order Management
Invoicing

Stock Management
Sales Management
Customer Details Management
Report Generation

Problem

Pathum Enterprises previously relied on a manual paper-based system to handle various transactions, including delivery management, customer details management, customer order management, invoicing, purchase order management, and stock management. However, the company encountered several issues with their current manual system, such as;

Customers get difficulties in placing orders in relation to a particular item as currently they do not have an option to place online orders.

Poor scheduling of distribution results in the cancellation of some customer orders and the accidental skipping of other orders.

Forms, reports, and document files can be misplaced or damaged, and there is not enough space to store and manage these documents inside the office.

Do not have any process to manage routes which is important in distributing goods.

There is no any efficient way to track information about returned items and the reason for returning.

Immediate retrievals of some important information or old records are time consuming activities.

Billing errors occur in relation to incorrect data insertion and data redundancy.

Unused Bill books, papers, files are getting damaged and there is a huge waste of materials.

It is time consuming to generate daily reports of distributions and orders.

Design Process

UX Research Summary

As a UX designer, the objective was to design a biscuit distribution and online order process management system for Pathum Enterprises, serving small and medium grocery shops and mini supermarkets in Waduwegama, Sri Lanka. The research aimed to understand the needs, pain points, and preferences of various user roles involved, including clients, sales representatives, stockkeepers, and managers, to ensure an intuitive and efficient system design.

To initiate the research process, an internal discussion was conducted within the team to identify the existing challenges and areas for improvement in the current distribution and order management system. This formed the basis for the research activities that followed.

User Pain Points

Complex Ordering Process

Clients, especially traditional shop owners, may find the online ordering process challenging or unfamiliar, leading to frustration and potential errors in placing orders.

Payment Flexibility

Clients may encounter difficulties when making payments, such as the lack of options for partial payments or arrears payments, which can cause inconvenience and potential financial constraints

Limited Technology Literacy

Traditional shop owners who are not familiar with technology may struggle to navigate the online ordering system, hindering their ability to place orders independently and efficiently.

Time-Consuming Sales Visits

Sales representatives visiting every shop to discuss agreements and add new clients may be time-consuming and result in delays or inefficiencies, affecting both the representatives' productivity and the clients' convenience.

Manual Report Generation

Stockkeepers or managers manually generating reports can be time-consuming and prone to errors, leading to delays in accessing critical information and hindering decision-making processes.

Paper Usage and Costs

The reliance on paper-based processes, such as order forms and reports, can result in high paper usage and associated costs, as well as challenges in managing and storing physical documents.