TaskPaddy
Role
Product Manager, UX Researcher & Designer
Tools & Methods
Team
5-person tech team (Frontend & Backend Developers)
Challenge
Finding a reliable service provider was a daunting task for customers, as most operated solely by word of mouth. To address this, the goal was to create a platform where customers could easily connect with the right service provider by simply creating a task and finding someone to complete it. The client provided initial wireframes to convey their ideas, and my role was to develop both an MVP and a scalable version of the app.
My Role
Managing and collaborating with a 5-person tech team, consisting of frontend and backend developers, holding weekly meetings to ensure alignment with the vision, strategy, and design processes. A key focus is ensuring that frontend designs are consistent with the user interface designs. I conducted extensive user research to uncover target needs, identify problems, and explore potential solutions. Additionally, I will continuously test the prototype and product with potential users in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.
The Problem
- Service providers have only a small niche and are not able to earn enough money to grow and expand their businesses.
- Customers are limited to the few Service Providers in their circle and sometimes fail to find the right one.
- Customers thus have to manage the mediocre service providers around them because there is simply no option.
- There is no warranty a stranger walking into the life of a family will compromise their safety.
Potential Solutions
- Create a platform to advertise service providers, increase their reach and widen their niche.
- Provide customers with options to hire service providers most suited to their taste.
- Create an atmosphere of competitiveness for service providers to increase the quality of services.
- Create trust between service providers and customers through features and policies that protect both parties and ensure agreements are fulfilled.
Design Principles
Simplicity
With the target market in mind, the aim is to make the flow and concepts of the app easy to understand and navigate.
Visibility and Clarity of Flow
Service providers and customers should be able to tell what inputs they have provided or should provide at any point in time.
Error Prevention
The design decisions had to make it harder for preventable user errors to occur.
Familiarity
Design decisions were made to create interfaces and patterns users are familiar with for ease of use.
Key Features
Business and Services
Ability to easily create a list of businesses, services provided and its associated prices.
Service Categorization
Ability to easily categorize services and provide the right details needed for pricing.
Dashboard
Easily accessed dashboard with details of business, upcoming tasks, total tasks and hires.
Analytics
Provide high level analytics of hires, tasks statistics and earnings made.
Heuristic Evaluation and Audit
Creating a Task - Customer
After setting up a profile, the customers creates their first task. They might need to add comments for extra information and upload pictures to assist the service provider in making the right call.
Accepting Task - Service Provider
By receiving a task request, service provider can either accept or decline the task, if they accept, it is added to the task list. Upon completion of task, the customer pays using a preferred payment method.
Grievance
The provision of service can sometimes come with grievances where a customer may not be satisfied with service provided. A feature was thus designed to take care of this if it arises.
