Report Generator

Stakeholders

Field Engineers

Developers

Project Manager

Product Manager

Role in this project

UX/UI Designer

Project objective

Design an internal tool for on-site engineers to efficiently generate customer reports by aggregating data from multiple sources into a unified format. The tool will enhance workflow efficiency and ensure clear communication of critical testing data, providing customers with comprehensive and actionable insights

What is it the Report Generator

What

The commissioning report generator is an internal tool developed to showcase the results of the CarbonCure mix implementation in the customer's production line. It serves as a comprehensive report illustrating the effectiveness and impact of the CarbonCure mix. This report is introduced to our customers during the commissioning stage, providing them with valuable insights into the benefits and outcomes of integrating the CarbonCure mix into their processes.

What's the problem?

01 Inconsistency in Formatting

There is no standardized format for commissioning reports, leading to variations in structure, layout, and design. This inconsistency makes it harder to maintain a cohesive and professional appearance.

02 Language and Branding Misalignment

Reports are created with inconsistent terminology, tone, and branding elements. This affects clarity, professionalism, and the company's ability to maintain a strong, recognizable identity in customer communications.

03 Lack of Organization

The absence of a structured approach results in scattered information, making it difficult to compile, review, and present data effectively. This disorganization impacts readability and comprehension for customers.

04 Delays in Report Delivery

The unstructured process slows down the creation and review of commissioning reports. Engineers spend additional time formatting and refining content, delaying the final delivery to customers.

Approach to solution

To ensure an effective solution, I focused on understanding the existing communication gaps between departments and customers. My approach involved conducting stakeholder interviews to gather insights from internal teams and reviewing secondary research to analyze industry best practices. The goal was to bridge these gaps and refine the current process of how we communicate with customers, ultimately improving clarity, consistency, and engagement.

Research Method 01

Stakeholder Interviews

Field engineers are always evolving their process, making it crucial to obtain their buy-ins and understand their B2B involvement
Communicated with other departments to identify the sources of various lab test data.
Conducted A/B testing on specific design components to optimize the Commissioning Report Generator.

Key Findings

TSS relied on Google Sheets to generate reports, but customizations were not consistently reviewed, leading to inconsistencies in report design. Additionally, report approvals required time-consuming group meetings, slowing down the process.

Research Method 02

Secondary Research

Reviewed and audited previous design
Identified issues: Previous design did not communicate all necessary information for a commissioning report.
The Commissioning Report's content is tailored to meet each customer's specific requirements. However, when tasked with generating reports containing varying content, the consistency and quality tend to diminish

Key Findings

As new features were introduced to our staff platform, additional functionalities had to be integrated into the updated Report Generator.

Research Conclusion

The reliance on Google Sheets for generating reports led to inconsistencies in report design due to a lack of standardized customization reviews. Additionally, the approval process was inefficient, requiring time-consuming group meetings. As the staff platform evolved with new features, the Report Generator needed to be continuously updated to accommodate additional functionalities. To improve efficiency and consistency, a more streamlined and scalable reporting system is necessary—one that ensures standardization, reduces manual approval bottlenecks, and seamlessly integrates new platform features

Solution

1-4
THE SOLUTION

Solution

Implement Standardized Report Templates

Design and enforce standardized report templates to ensure consistency in formatting, structure, and content. This will help maintain a professional and uniform presentation of commissioning reports for customers.

Solution

Develop a Centralized Reporting Interface

Create a unified platform for internal staff to compile and manage report data efficiently. This will eliminate the need for multiple tools like Google Sheets, reducing inconsistencies and improving workflow efficiency.

Solution

Automate Report Approval Process

Introduce an automated approval workflow to replace time-consuming group meetings. Using pre-set approval criteria and digital approvals will streamline the process and enhance productivity.

Solution

Define Key Report Components

Establish clear guidelines on the essential components of the commissioning report. This will ensure that all necessary data is included, improving clarity and reducing the need for revisions.

Wireframe

Based on the research conducted and the key findings identified, the wireframe blow represents how those insights have been translated into actionable solutions. By addressing user pain points and streamlining the experience, this design aims to create a more intuitive and efficient tool.

Report Library

Main Report Generator

Final Design

Report Library

The Report Library serves as a central hub to conveniently view all types of reports, providing users with the visibility into the status of reports categorized as in progress, pending review, and approved. Initially focused on commissioning reports, the feature is designed to expand to include other report types in the future if requested by the customer.

Creating the Commissioning Report

Users can create new reports directly from the report library by clicking on "+ Generate Report", triggering a modal to gather foundational information such as the customer's company name, the plant location and the mix group. This information is then used to auto-populate the commissioning report template with as much relevant data as possible, streamlining the reporting process.

Mix Information

Once users fill out the information on the modal, Orca will then direct the user to the Commissioning Report Generator where information will be pre-populated based on the mix group they've selected. By selecting the specified mix group this will faciliate the comparision between the customer's original concrete mix (Baseline Mix) and CarbonCure's Mixture, comparing both the strength and performance. The Testing Summary information, Mix Details, Recommendations, and Next Steps will feature pre-populated details based upon mix selection, allowing users to compare and present up to three mixes to customers seamlessly.

Data Visualization

The analysis section serves as a pivotal tool for users, offering them the capability to present visual data graphs illustrating test results. Empowering users to select the specific data to be featured in the final report. The primary goal is to showcase the performance of the CarbonCure mix design, specifically in comparison to the customer's original mix. This section has a crucial role in persuading the customer of the significant advantages of utilizing CarbonCure's mix over their baseline alternative.

Outliers

To maintain the foundational principle of clear communication, it is imperative to transparently address any outliers discovered during the analysis process. The Outlier section derives its data from a specialized feature within Orca known as Baleen. Baleen is specifically designed to detect outliers within the dataset compiled from testing both the customer's mix and CarbonCure's mix. This integration ensures that any anomalies are promptly identified and thoroughly explained, upholding the commitment to transparent communication throughout the test results

Report Status

In Conclusion

This project was challenging but rewarding to work with. This project also required a high level of collaboration with the developers because since there were so many components within the Commissioning Report Generator that would connect to the other features to sources its data, it was important to understand if it was feasible.