Overview

Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) are essential for pre- and post-trip inspections, ensuring safety and compliance in fleet management. Our project aimed to transition from manual paper based DVIRs to a real-time electronic system, optimizing efficiency and productivity for fleet managers and drivers.

Problem:

1. Manual DVIR Entry: Time-consuming manual entry of DVIRs led to delays and errors.

2. Equipment Turnaround Time: Long review periods for equipment maintenance hindered operations.

3. Productivity Loss: Manual processes resulted in decreased driver productivity and route efficiency.

4. Revenue Impact: Reduced routes driven and operational delays led to revenue loss.

Solution:

1. Maven Portal Integration: Developed a product accessible via Maven portals and driver applications.

2. Enhanced Visibility: Real-time equipment status updates for improved operational oversight.

3. Prioritized Maintenance: Mechanic and driver prioritization based on equipment status.

4. Revenue Optimization: Increased revenue through streamlined processes and enhanced route efficiency.

Process:

Research & Define:

• Conducted qualitative interviews with fleet managers and drivers to understand existing processes and pain points.

• Utilized otter.ai for interview recording and transcription, followed by affinity mapping in Figjam for data synthesis.

Ideate:

• Developed personas to ensure solutions addressed the needs of target users.

• Created empathy maps and user flows to deepen understanding of user challenges and potential solutions.

Design:

• Generated wireframes and prototypes, engaging in design critiques with internal stakeholders to refine direction.

• Adhered to design heuristics and principles, iterating based on feedback.

Review:

• Employed a qualitative approach for user testing, conducting moderated usability tests with 5 users.

• Iteratively cycled through ideation, design, and testing phases until user experience effectively addressed user needs.

Outcomes:

• Reduced DVIR processing time by 40% through real-time electronic reporting.

• Improved operational efficiency with a 25% decrease in equipment turnaround time.

• Enhanced driver productivity resulting in a 15% increase in routes driven.

• Revenue optimization with a projected 10% increase in overall revenue.

Conclusion:

By leveraging user research, iterative design processes, and user-centered testing, we successfully transformed the DVIR process, enhancing efficiency and productivity for fleet managers and drivers. The project underscored the importance of empathizing with users and iterating based on feedback to deliver impactful solutions.

Next Steps:

Continued monitoring and refinement based on user feedback to ensure ongoing optimization and user satisfaction.

Key Takeaways:

• User research is foundational for understanding user needs and pain points.

• Iterative design and testing are crucial for refining user experiences.

• Collaboration between stakeholders and design teams is essential for successful project outcomes.