My Framer Site

Duration:

4th December 2024 - 8th January 2025
(6 weeks)

UX Case Study

Home Assistant

Product Overview

Home Assistant is expanding its capabilities beyond home automation to become a platform that connects users with errand runners for various tasks like shopping, house hunting, and pet sitting. This project aims to integrate a user-friendly interface where users can post errands, select from a pool of vetted errand runners, manage the entire process from start to finish, and provide feedback, all within the Home Assistant ecosystem.

The Home Assistant Errand Runner Service aims to redefine convenience by merging home automation with personal service orchestration, creating a new paradigm in how we manage our daily lives from our homes.

Tools

Figma

Excalidraw

Miro

LucidChart

Google Docs

Problem Statement

Develop a mobile application that connects community members needing assistance with nearby individuals willing to help, fostering a reliable support network through transparent task posting, streamlined communication, and real-time notifications.

Goals

Convenience: Ensure users can quickly find and hire reliable assistants for their errands.

Trust and Safety: Build a trusted platform where users feel safe hiring and interacting with assistants.

Ease of Use: Design an intuitive and user-friendly interface that even non-tech-savvy users can navigate.

Design Process

Begin with discovery and research to understand user needs, define personas, and analyze the market. Move into ideation with brainstorming and sketching to generate solutions. Define the project through user stories, information architecture, and user flows. Design involves creating wireframes, prototypes, and detailed UI mockups, followed by usability testing and iteration based on feedback. Post-launch, continue with design refinements, beta testing, and ongoing improvements based on user feedback and analytics.

Design Timeline

1st week

2nd week

3rd week

4th week

5th week

6th week

Understand

User Research, User Interview, Competitve Analysis

Define

User Personas, Empathy Map, User Journey

Ideate

User flow, Card sorting, Information Architecture

Design

Wireframe, HI-Fi Design, Prototype

Test

Feedbacks, Conclusion, Future Concept

Target Audience

Busy Professionals Individuals with demanding jobs or long working hours

Homebound Individuals; This includes elderly people, those with mobility issues, or anyone who can't easily leave their home.

Urban Dwellers: People living in cities where errand running might be time-consuming due to traffic or public transport reliance.

Tech-Savvy Young Adults: Millennials or Gen Z who are comfortable with technology, often living in shared spaces or apartments.

User Research

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Competitive Analysis

Unique Features

Real-Time Errand Tracking

Smart Errand Suggestions

Customizable Errand Packages

Community and Trust Building

AI-Driven Personalization

In-App Payment and Financial Management

Virtual Assistance for Errands

Empathy Map

Thinks

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Feels

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Does

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Says

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Thinks

I hope this app can handle everything without me having to double-check.

Will the pet care service be trustworthy? My dog is like family to me.

Can I really save time and effort by using this app, or will it just add more stress?

What if I forget something crucial while customizing my grocery list or gift order?

Feels

Stressed: Overloaded by her work schedule and personal errands

Frustrated: With inefficient processes and unreliable services from other apps.

Relieved: When she finds an all-in-one solution that simplifies her errands.

Excited: About the idea of using a tool that can free up her weekends and reduce her mental load.

Does

Spending weekends running between grocery stores and shopping malls.

Scrolling through multiple platforms for last-minute gift ideas and deliveries.

Asking coworkers for pet sitter recommendations, often settling for unreliable options.

Bookmarking apartments online but postponing visits due to lack of time.

Says

I’m worried about leaving my dog alone when I travel for work.

Finding a new apartment feels overwhelming—I don’t even know where to start.

I barely have time to shop for groceries, I want a seamless experience for ordering groceries

I need a service that’s quick and reliable because I can’t afford delays.

Pain Points

Time Management

Jane struggles to balance work and errands, leaving her weekends packed with tasks like shopping, deliveries, and house hunting.

She finds it overwhelming to use multiple platforms for different services, wasting time switching between apps.

Reliability Concerns

She worries about the trustworthiness of pet care services, fearing her dog may not receive proper care.

Delivery delays or incorrect orders frustrate her, especially when dealing with time-sensitive errands like gifts or food.

Lack of Customization

Jane feels limited by apps that don’t allow her to tailor services, such as adding specific delivery instructions or selecting preferences for groceries.

She dislikes apps that don’t remember her past orders or preferences, making every request feel like starting from scratch.

Overwhelmed with House Hunting

Searching for apartments is stressful, with no clear way to prioritize options or schedule visits around her busy life.

She feels unsupported in comparing properties or estimating costs within her budget.

Financial Concerns

She worries about hidden fees or overpriced services, especially for repeat needs like grocery shopping or pet care.

Balancing her budget while managing these services feels like a challenge, and she wishes for transparency in costs.

Complexity of Current Solutions

Jane finds many apps cluttered or difficult to navigate, leading to frustration when she’s in a hurry.

She’s discouraged by platforms that don’t integrate services, forcing her to manage separate accounts and logins.

User Persona

Jane Taylor

Marketing Manager

Age

Occupation

Marketing Manager

Uses Daily

Trello

Facebook

Uses Often

Pumble

Tech-Savvy Level: High

Story

Jane is a busy marketing manager with a packed schedule. She struggles to find time for personal errands due to her demanding job and family commitments.

Goals

Find reliable and trustworthy errand runners to handle tasks efficiently.

Save time and reduce stress by outsourcing errands. Challenges:

Ensuring the tasks are done correctly without having to micromanage.

Trusting someone else with personal and sometimes sensitive errands. Personality:

Efficient, detail-oriented, and a bit of a perfectionist. He values reliability and professionalism. Tech-Savvy Level: High; frequently uses technology to streamline his work and personal life. Interests: Enjoys spending time with family, playing sports, and exploring new technologies.

Needs

A dependable and efficient service that understands his high standards.

Transparent pricing and clear communication from the errand runner.

Frustrations

Difficulty finding reliable services that meet his expectations.

Having to micromanage or follow up on tasks to ensure they are done correctly.

Fears

Tasks not being completed to his standards, leading to inconvenience.

Privacy and security concerns when entrusting someone with personal errands.

Personality

Efficient, detail-oriented, and a bit of a perfectionist. She values reliability and professionalism.

Location

Nairobi, Kenya.

Eileen Njoki

Surveyor (Home Assistant as a side hustle)

Age

Occupation

Quantity Surveyor

Uses Daily

Twitter

Facebook

Uses Often

Slack

Tech-Savvy Level: Moderate

Story

Eileen is a dedicated and detail-oriented surveyor who takes pride in her main job. She recently started running errands through Home Assistant to earn some extra income and add variety to her routine.

Goals

Efficiently manage her time between her surveying job and side hustle.

Provide exceptional service to her clients, ensuring they become repeat users. Challenges:

Balancing her demanding primary job with the errand-running side hustle.

Maintaining high standards of service despite her busy schedule. Personality:

Organized, proactive, and friendly. She loves meeting new people and finds fulfillment in helping others. Tech-Savvy Level: Moderate; comfortable using mobile apps and digital tools for task management. Interests: Enjoys outdoor activities, community involvement, and learning new skills.

Needs

Flexible scheduling to balance both jobs.

Easy-to-use app interface to manage errands and client communication.

Frustrations

Juggling her primary job and side hustle can be stressful.

Inconsistent or last-minute requests that disrupt her schedule.

Fears

Failing to meet client expectations, which could affect her reputation.

Burnout from managing both her main job and side hustle.

Personality

Organized, proactive, and friendly. She loves meeting new people and finds fulfillment in helping others.

Location