Creating a human-centered one-stop logistics and next-day delivery solution that enables small businesses to deliver their products easier than ever before to any location in Egypt

Creating a human-centered one-stop logistics and next-day delivery solution that enables small businesses to deliver their products easier than ever before to any location in Egypt

Many people have the dream of starting their own businesses based on their ideas and dreams. They want to break free from workplace rules, politics, and the chaos that can limit their growth.

Recently, there has been a rise in small businesses in Egypt. Whether it’s an online store or a physical shop, success depends on having the right logistics supply chain. It involves various elements, from shipping packages out of the warehouse to delivering them to customers. It’s not easy to efficiently handle all orders, but it’s crucial for success.

Problem statement

Small businesses in the e-commerce industry face significant challenges in shipping and courier services, impeding their growth and hindering customer satisfaction.

Explanation: Small businesses operating in the e-commerce sector encounter numerous obstacles related to shipping and courier services. These challenges pose a threat to their overall success and ability to meet customer expectations.

Firstly, small businesses often struggle to find reliable and cost-effective shipping solutions. Limited resources and lower shipping volumes make it difficult to negotiate favorable rates with shipping providers. As a result, they may face higher shipping costs, leading to reduced profit margins or the need to pass on the expenses to customers.

Secondly, small businesses face logistical challenges in managing their shipping operations efficiently. From processing orders to packaging and labeling, coordinating with multiple carriers, and tracking shipments, the complexities of logistics management can overwhelm small business owners who often wear multiple hats.

Additionally, maintaining consistent delivery timelines becomes a challenge. Small businesses may not have the same leverage as larger companies to ensure timely deliveries, resulting in delayed or inconsistent shipment arrivals. Such delays can frustrate customers and tarnish the business’s reputation, ultimately impacting customer loyalty and repeat sales.

Furthermore, small businesses may struggle with limited visibility and tracking capabilities. Without access to real-time tracking information or robust tracking systems, it becomes challenging to provide accurate shipment updates to customers. This lack of transparency can lead to customer dissatisfaction and queries regarding order status, creating an additional burden on already stretched small business resources.

Overall, these challenges in shipping and courier services pose significant hurdles for small e-commerce businesses. To thrive in the competitive market, these businesses must find solutions to address these issues effectively, ensuring reliable and cost-efficient shipping, streamlined logistics management, timely deliveries, and enhanced visibility for customers.

Solution statement

PostEX is a startup business that aims to address the existing challenges in the shipping and courier industry by providing a comprehensive and efficient solution that caters specifically to the needs of small businesses in the e-commerce sector.

Goals

  • Simplify Logistics: Create an intuitive and easy-to-use platform that simplifies the logistics process for small businesses.
  • Next-Day Delivery: Implement a robust system that ensures next-day delivery to any location within Egypt.
  • Affordability and Transparency: Offer a cost-effective solution with transparent pricing structures suitable for small business budgets.
  • Seamless Integration: Allow seamless integration for small businesses to effortlessly access and utilize the platform.

Role

Led the design of end-to-end customer experience from first booking to pickup. I also conducted research, set up a metrics framework, and wrote usability tests for the team to use when iterating core flows.

Outcome

A comprehensive, user-centric logistics and next-day delivery solution that facilitates a seamless shipping experience, ultimately empowering businesses and customers in Egypt.

Project Duration

13

Weeks

Tools Used

      Invision App

RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY

Understanding the Problem

User Research

  • Conducted extensive interviews and surveys with small business owners in Egypt to understand their logistical challenges, needs, and pain points.
  • Identified common pain points such as high costs, lack of reliable next-day delivery , and complicated logistics management.

Competitive Analysis

  • Studied existing logistics and delivery services to identify gaps in user experience and areas for improvement.
  • Analyzed user reviews to understand common complaints and issues faced by businesses and customers.

Each competitor has its unique strengths and advantages. DHL Express Egypt and Aramex Egypt stand out for their extensive global network and reliability. Fetchr prioritizes speed and transparency, particularly in urban areas. On-Time Group focuses on timely domestic deliveries and cost-effectiveness. Understanding these competitors’ strengths can guide PostEX in identifying areas for differentiation and improvement in the Egyptian logistics and next-day delivery market.

Personas

  • Small Business Owner: An entrepreneur managing a small business, looking for a reliable and cost-effective logistics solution.
  • Customer: An individual or business in need of next-day delivery services within Egypt.
Design Process

Ideation and Conceptualization

  • Brainstormed and ideated on features that would simplify logistics for small businesses and provide efficient next-day delivery.
  • Developed user flows and mapped out the entire user journey, considering a seamless and intuitive experience for both businesses and customers.

Wireframing and Prototyping

  • Created wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to visualize the application’s structure, interactions, and user interface.
  • Conducted feedback sessions with stakeholders and potential users to refine and iterate on the design.
TESTING

Usability Testing and Iteration

  • Conducted usability tests with real users to gather feedback on the application’s usability, navigation, and overall experience.
  • Iteratively refined the design based on the feedback to improve the application’s usability and address any identified issues.
Visual language

Creating the visual design

Color Scheme

Utilized a combination of energetic yet professional colors like vibrant blue for action elements and neutral tones for balance and readability.

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Typography

Selected a clean and modern sans-serif font for improved readability and a contemporary look.

Roboto Bold

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Roboto Regular

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Philosopher Regular

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Illustrations

Designed a set of illustrations to convey a positive and reliable brand image.

Key Features and Solutions

Homepage

The homepage of PostEX represents a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, meticulously designed to engage users and swiftly guide them to essential features and services.

Intuitive Dashboard and Shipment Creation

  • Feature: Simplified Shipment Creation
  • Solution: Designed an intuitive dashboard with a straightforward shipment creation process, allowing businesses to create and manage shipments seamlessly in a few clicks.

Next-Day Delivery Tracking

  • Feature: Real-time Shipment Tracking
  • Solution: Implemented real-time tracking for next-day deliveries, providing users with accurate and up-to-date information on their shipments’ status and ETA.

Cost Estimation and Transparent Pricing

  • Feature: Instant Cost Estimation
  • Solution: Designed a cost estimation feature, allowing businesses to calculate the shipping costs upfront and providing transparent pricing to improve budgeting and decision-making.

Other pages

Designed all the other required pages for a seamless flow

TAKEAWAYS

What I’ve learnt

From the PostEX UX case study, you’ve gained insights into the design and development process of creating a user-centric, one-stop logistics and next-day delivery solution for small businesses in Egypt. Here are the key learnings:

Understanding User-Centric Design Principles:

  • The case study showcases the importance of placing users at the center of the design process, and understanding their pain points, needs, and preferences.

Problem Identification and Goal Setting:

  • The study highlights the significance of identifying the problems users face (logistical challenges for small businesses in Egypt) and setting clear design goals (simplifying logistics, ensuring next-day delivery, affordability, and seamless integration).

User Research and Personas:

  • It emphasizes the role of user research and persona creation in understanding target users’ behavior, needs, and pain points, aiding in tailoring the solution to their requirements.

Design Process Phases: Ideation, Wireframing, Prototyping, Visual Design, Testing:

  • The study walks you through the various phases of the design process, such as ideation, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and usability testing, highlighting their importance in creating an intuitive and effective user interface.

Key Features and Solutions:

  • You learn how to identify key features based on user needs (intuitive dashboard, real-time tracking, cost estimation, integration capabilities) and devise appropriate solutions to address those needs effectively.

Conclusion

PostEX aims to revolutionize logistics and next-day delivery for small businesses in Egypt. By following a human-centered design approach and understanding the unique needs of small business owners and customers, we have developed a one-stop logistics solution that simplifies the shipping process, offers reliable next-day delivery, maintains cost transparency, and seamlessly integrates with existing workflows.

Through ongoing feedback, usability testing, and iterative design, PostEX continues to evolve, providing an efficient and empowering logistics solution that supports the growth and success of small businesses across Egypt.