VERIFI In-Cab-Display
Summary: VERIFI’s in-transit concrete management system fully automates the monitoring of concrete from the moment it is loaded until it is poured at the job site. However, there was a gap in the user experience: the drivers lacked a clear, real-time communication system to stay informed about the status of the concrete load. To bridge this gap, we needed to design an intuitive in-cab display system that would seamlessly communicate critical information to the driver throughout the delivery process
Roles and responsibilities: UX Research and UX/UI Design
Early development:
From its early development stages, the in-cab display (ICD) system faced significant usability challenges. It was clunky, difficult to navigate, and had numerous accessibility issues, making it hard for drivers to effectively interact with the interface. As the product neared its market launch, I was brought on to redesign the ICD, with a focus on making the display more engaging, intuitive, and accessible, ensuring a smoother user experience before it reached customers.
“I hated driving at night with the verifi machine on. I would put a blanket over it because it was blinding.”
Field Observations:
As part of the research process for improving the in-cab display, I had the opportunity to ride along with concrete truck drivers and gather firsthand feedback about the existing system. A recurring complaint was that the display was too bright, especially at night, with the original VERIFI system offering only one fixed brightness setting. This often led to discomfort and even visibility issues for drivers during night shifts.
Based on this insight, I implemented a brightness adjustment feature within the settings, along with the addition of light and dark modes. These options allowed drivers to customize the display to their comfort level, significantly reducing eye strain, particularly for those hauling concrete during late-night hours.
Wireframes:
The first step in the redesign process was to create wireframes that focused on streamlining the interface. Given that the product was going to be fully automated, many of the previous buttons and functions were redundant and unnecessary. I prioritized simplifying the design to reduce visual clutter, particularly for when the vehicle was in motion.
A critical consideration during this process was the legal restriction that drivers could not interact with the tablet while the truck was moving, as it could lead to dangerous distractions and potential accidents. To ensure safety and compliance, I designed the interface with minimal on-screen elements, emphasizing only the most essential information that drivers would need to monitor while driving.
User Flows:
This phase of the project was the most meticulous, as I worked closely with my entire team to develop comprehensive user flows for the in-cab display. Given the complexity of the product, I had to account for every possible scenario the driver might encounter. There were numerous variables to consider, such as the truck being in motion, where certain buttons would need to disappear to prevent distraction, and changes in functionality based on environmental factors, like the platform adjusting if temperatures dropped below freezing.
Creating these user flows required careful attention to detail to ensure the display adapted seamlessly to various conditions, providing the driver with only the most relevant information at any given time.
Prototype:
The prototype for the VERIFI in-cab display was primarily designed in dark mode, featuring the branded VERIFI blue color to ensure a consistent and visually appealing interface. As part of the prototyping process, I had to incorporate a variety of conditional states to reflect real-time changes in the system.
For example, if an issue arose with the concrete load, the value would turn red to signal an error, providing immediate visual feedback to the driver. In freezing conditions, the display would adapt to show a snowflake icon and change colors to indicate the below-freezing mode. Similarly, the interface would dynamically adjust in other scenarios. These color changes and visual cues were essential in ensuring that drivers could quickly assess the status of the concrete load and respond to potential issues without needing to interact with the display unnecessarily.
Conclusion:
The design process for VERIFI was successfully completed and handed off to the development team for further implementation. At the time of my departure from the project, the product had been fully uploaded to the Google Play Store and was officially available for use. This marked the culmination of a collaborative effort to create an intuitive, user-friendly system that would improve the concrete delivery process for drivers and operators alike.