SmartDataValue

Overview

The Users

Utility company employees responsible for meter data management;
energy analysts focusing on data quality and integrity

My role

UI design
UX design
UX research

Tools used

Collaboration: Microsoft Teams
Research: Google Docs
Prototyping: Figma, SAP Fiori for Web Design Guidelines

Focus areas:

Problem

Facing an evolving energy sector, utility companies are challenged by the inefficient management and accurate analysis of increasing smart meter data, directly impacting operational efficiency and the reliability of billing processes

Solution

The solution entailed conducting in-depth interviews to identify key issues, followed by collaborative efforts with solution architect and developers, culminating in the design and creation of the Smart Data Value (SDV) suite to streamline and enhance energy data management.

Impact and results

I designed and prototyped the initial Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of Smart Data Value, which, after thorough beta release and testing, evolved into a more refined second version. This enhanced version was featured in the SAP BTP App Store and became one of the innovative solutions proposed by Neo Technologies

Key features

Defining profiles

Setting Criteria for Profile Analysis

Allows users to define and customize their analysis scope by selecting specific criteria such as customer segment, geographical location, and time period, ensuring a targeted approach to data quality management.

Error detection

Error Detection in Smart Meter Measurements

Empowers users to identify inconsistencies and inaccuracies in smart meter measurements based on selected criteria, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of data analysis.

Errors correction

Automated Correction of Identified Errors

Facilitates the automated correction of detected issues using predefined or custom Replacement Value Procedures (RVPs), streamlining the process of improving data quality without the need for manual intervention.

How I worked on it

Research

During the observation step, I worked closely with the client's team, using their extensive knowledge of the energy work-domain. Their valuable insights and expertise were vital to our project's success.Throughout our collaboration, we focused on understanding the unique needs and challenges the client wanted to address. By combining our efforts, we developed a comprehensive specification.

Through in-depth interviews with both functional team and domain experts, I gained valuable insights that I consolidated into a Value Proposition Canvas. This served as a valuable artifact, allowing me to effectively communicate and share the research findings with my development team. As they had limited exposure to the clients and their specific needs, the canvas helped bridge the gap and ensure shared understanding of the business objectives.

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Analyse

In the affinity diagram, I integrated notes from the specification created with the client, insights gathered during brainstorming workshops with the development team, and findings from my research of SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library.

The primary deliverable for this stage was the user flow diagram. By creating a comprehensive and well-organized user flow diagram, I aimed to:

1) Visualize user journeys: The diagram provided a clear representation of the steps users would take to accomplish their goals within the application.

2) Identify gaps and areas for improvement: Mapping out the user flow helped expose potential pain points, inefficiencies, or missing elements in the overall user experience.

3) Align stakeholders and team members: The user flow diagram served as a communication tool, ensuring that everyone involved had a shared understanding of the application's structure and functionality.

By producing a detailed user flow diagram, I was able to effectively synthesize the insights gathered during the analysis stage and set the groundwork for subsequent design iterations.

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Build

To kick off the interface creation process, I started by sketching initial designs, which enabled early collaboration with frontend developers and the solution architect. Working onsite with the team made it easy to share and discuss these preliminary sketches.

Once the sketches received approval, I proceeded to create a high-fidelity prototype using Figma and the SAP S/4HANA Web UI Kit. I closely followed the Fiori design stencils and the UI5 Demo Kit to ensure that components were used correctly and that the optimal components were selected for each intended functionality.

Throughout the development process, I maintained a constant dialogue with the development team to address any technical constraints and ensure seamless collaboration. This open line of communication allowed us to efficiently refine the prototype and address any challenges that arose.

To further optimize the user experience, I conducted user testing with domain experts provided by the client. Due to the niche nature of the application and time constraints, enlisting these knowledgeable individuals proved to be an effective method for gathering targeted feedback on the prototype's usability and functionality.

From their feedback, it became clear that one of the next steps in this project involves the unbundling of the application. By creating separate apps—one specifically designed for profile values analysis and another dedicated to seamless value replacements—the aim is to optimize the entire process. This unbundling solution will allow for the efficient management of large datasets, significantly improving the performance of the application.

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Outcome:

Version 2

Testing with real data sets revealed that the MVP of Smart Data Value needs to be unbundled due to the complexity and resource-intensive nature of integrating both analysis and value replacement processes into a single application.
I was not involved in the development of Version 2 due to changes in team composition

Learnings

During this project, I gained valuable insights into the utility sector, enhancing my understanding of its unique challenges and opportunities.
Additionally, I studied Fiori design guidelines, which introduce multiple complex and insightful patterns and UI elements. Furthermore, I learned to use the SAPUI5 SDK: Demo Kit, which demonstrates how components from the Fiori design guidelines work in context.

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