va-Q-tec
Web Application
Responsive layout
Microservice Architecture
The Challenge
va-Q-tec are one of the worlds largest passive temperature control solutions companies. Headquartered in Germany their UK subsidiary provides air freight containers for customers to rent or buy. Their business boomed during the pandemic as the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies sought their services to transport vaccines in an environmentally sustainable way. However this exposed limitations to their systems and processes which struggled to cope with demand.
Our challenge was to first assess the options, make a business case for an approach, then design and deliver a solution.
The Solution
Streamline processes, remove duplication, and design interactions to support the context of use.
At the outset of the project we interviewed stakeholders and mapped va-Q-tec's processes and systems to gain a deep understanding of the situation. The picture that emerged revealed processes that relied on paper, tasks that were often missed, duplication of data entry, and three systems: one bespoke PHP application and two customized versions of Microsoft Dynamics that did not integrate well or meet the operational needs of users.
Working with a cross-functional team consisting of software engineers, project managers, quality assurance engineers, and business analysts, as well as in partnership with the team at the UK subsidiary, we successfully made the business case for the project to the stakeholders at the parent company in Germany. The solution we proposed was to build a new microservices application that would gradually replace the legacy systems as each module designed for a specific domain was delivered.
The new microservices application would be web-based and optimized for desktop use, except for a module used by operators in approximately 30 operational across the globe, which would be optimized for tablets. We planned to use a co-design approach, where end users would work together with the team and I in dozens of workshops to design the application. This approach would ensure that not only did we meet their needs, but that the project had buy-in from the start.
The Outcome
After 6 months of initial design and consultation, followed by 18 months of development with 7 agile teams working in parallel, the application went live across a global set of users located in over 30 operating centres stretching from North America to Europe, the Far East, and Australia.
The impact of the project is still being measured, but in the months following the go-live, both sales and customer satisfaction have increased. Furthermore, operational issues such as incorrect order details or invoices have been almost entirely eliminated.
Interface Design
This shows the design of three of the modules. Importantly the User Experience of each page was created to specifically support the users job role. Prior knowledge of the industry and operations of va-Q-tec is likely needed to fully understand the interface, however in this context (as opposed to a B2C) that is not only acceptable, but desirable.