Contractor Pro

Transforming Job Management for Small Teams

Role:

  • UX Researcher

  • Product Designer

Methods:

  • Competitive Audit

  • Stakeholder Interview

  • Journey Mapping

  • User Surveys

  • Kano Analysis

  • Tech Scoping

Key Deliverables:

  • Annotated Wireframe

  • Findings & Recommendations Report

OVERVIEW

Contractor Pro needed assistance in transitioning their product to a mobile-first design. Originally optimized for desktop, Contractor Pro is a web app designed to help contractors managing teams of 1-5 workers with job management and client communication. They sought our expertise to develop new features that would enhance the user experience during this transition.

The app’s primary users are contractors who excel at their trade but struggle with the administrative side of their business. These users are often time-constrained and hesitant to learn new software unless it offers clear, immediate benefits. Our goal was to design features that are not only highly beneficial but also intuitive and easy to use, minimizing any barriers to adoption.

PROCESS:

Analyzing the Competition:

In our efforts to enhance Contractor Pro and ensure its competitive edge, we conducted an in-depth analysis of similar solutions in the market. This analysis helped us identify industry standards, user expectations, and innovative features that could be incorporated into Contractor Pro. Our primary focus was on understanding how leading applications address the needs of contractors managing small teams, particularly in terms of job management, client communication, and ease of use.

Key Findings:

  1. User-Friendly Design: Many top competitors offer intuitive interfaces that minimize the learning curve for new users. These applications often feature clean, simple layouts with easy navigation, which reduces the time users spend on administrative tasks.

  2. Mobile Accessibility: Competitors with strong mobile platforms have seen higher user engagement and satisfaction. Mobile-first designs allow contractors to manage their jobs on-the-go, which is a significant advantage for busy professionals.

  3. Integrated Communication Tools: Leading applications often include built-in messaging systems that support text, photo, and document sharing. This facilitates seamless communication between team members and clients, enhancing overall efficiency.

  4. Scheduling and Invoicing: Robust scheduling features, including calendar integrations. Additionally, integrated invoicing tools simplify the billing process, helping contractors get paid faster and more efficiently.

Understanding the stakeholders:

To gain a thorough understanding of Contractor Pro's goals and requirements for the project, we conducted a series of stakeholder meetings with the company's founders and key developers. These sessions were crucial in aligning our design proposals with their vision and technical capabilities.

We were able to gather essential information that guided our design process. These discussions ensured that our proposals were aligned with the company's strategic goals and technical realities.

Exploring the Contractor Pro Experience:

Contractor Pro caters to two distinct user groups:

  • Owner: Small business owners who primarily use the app for managing their contracting businesses.

  • Contractor: Workers or subcontractors employed by owners.

For this project, my primary focus was on improving the experience for contractors within Contractor Pro. To gain an understanding of their journey using the product, I developed a journey map. This map charts critical touchpoints along the contractor's journey. By mapping these stages, I aimed to identify pain points, streamline processes, and enhance usability to ensure contractors can navigate the platform efficiently. Furthermore, the journey map serves as a visual tool to demonstrate the potential impact of proposed enhancements on the contractor's overall user experience.

Initial Feature Ideas:

In preparation for upcoming technical scoping discussions with Contractor Pro developers, I created seven rapid low-fidelity feature cards. These cards were designed to outline initial new feature concepts and facilitate productive discussions and collaboration with developers. The goal was to refine and prioritize platform enhancements effectively through collaborative input and feedback.

Kano Analysis

Constraints & Budgeting:

During a tech scoping meeting, the lead developer walked us through the processes and constraints for each new feature idea, assessing them using the Fibonacci scale. Our development budget was limited to one sprint, equivalent to 10 points. Initially, our cohort proposed 63 new feature ideas. Post-meeting, we conducted a vote to select features for further testing via a Kano Analysis. Ultimately, we identified and budgeted 10 features to undergo testing with our primary users.

RECOMMENDATION

After analyzing the research findings, I determined that proposing a blend of recommendations within ContractorPro's allocated development points would be most effective. Working closely with the development team, we evaluated each design proposal using a value scale based on estimated effort and time costs:

  • Contractor Invoicing: 5 points

  • Team Chat: 3 points

  • Document Scanner: 2 points

This approach ensured alignment with Contractor Pro’s resources while prioritizing key features essential for enhancing user experience. According to the Kano Analysis, these features align well with users' primary goals and usage scenarios. Despite the limited budget of 10 points, I justified the allocation to these features based on their significant impact and alignment with user needs.

To support ContractorPro's mobile-first strategy, I aimed to design these features with a focus on seamless integration into the existing mobile interface. This decision acknowledges the importance of mobile usability and aims to streamline future development efforts.

High Fidelity Wireframes

SCREEN 1

Document Scanner

SCREEN 2

Contractor Invoicing

SCREEN 1

Team Chat

SCREEN 3

SCREEN 2

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Summary & Next Steps

This case study aimed to enhance Contractor Pro by transitioning it to a mobile-first design, focusing on simplifying job management and client communication for contractors managing small teams. Through comprehensive stakeholder meetings, competitive analysis, and user research, we identified key areas for improvement and developed features that address the primary pain points of the users. Our proposed features, including the contractor invoicing system, document scanner, and team chat, are designed to enhance usability, streamline administrative tasks, and improve overall user experience.

By prioritizing user-friendly design and incorporating feedback mechanisms, we have ensured that the new features align with both user needs and business goals. The collaboration with Contractor Pro's founders and key developers has been instrumental in crafting solutions that are technically feasible and strategically sound.

Next Steps:

  1. Implementation of Proposed Features:

    • Begin development of the contractor invoicing system, document scanner, and team chat features.

    • Ensure that the development aligns with the technical constraints and resources available.

  2. User Testing and Feedback:

    • Conduct usability testing with a select group of contractors to gather feedback on the new features.

    • Iterate on the designs based on user feedback to ensure the highest level of usability and satisfaction.

  3. Continuous Improvement:

    • Implement feedback mechanisms within the app to continually gather user insights.

    • Use this data to refine and enhance the app’s functionality over time.

  4. Future Enhancements:

    • Explore the feasibility of additional features such as AI chatbots for customer support, advanced scheduling tools, and GPS integration.

By following these next steps, we can ensure a smooth transition to the mobile-first design and continually improve Contractor Pro to better serve its users. The ultimate goal is to provide a seamless, efficient, and user-friendly experience that empowers contractors to focus on their trade while efficiently managing their business operations.

Read Full Report

I've attached my full report for your review. This comprehensive document provides an in-depth look at the methodologies I employed, detailed findings from my research analysis, and insights derived from user feedback. It offers a thorough exploration of the process and results, shedding light on how we arrived at the proposed solutions for enhancing Contractor Pro.