Work
Switch-to-Circuit Field Tools
A cost-effective electrical metering system, mapping electrical circuits to room lighting switches under a pay-as-you-save model.
My Role
- UI/UX Product Designer & Project Manager
My Contribution
- User Research
- User Journey Mapping
- Prototypes
- Design System
Project Introduction
The Switch-to-Circuit lighting logger project was developed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of commercial lighting installations. Traditionally, the installation process required an electrician, was time-consuming, and was prone to errors in measuring baseloads and loads.
The lack of a streamlined digital workflow made the process inefficient, leading to potential underbilling or overbilling. We developed a Field Tools iPad application as a user-friendly commissioning and installation tool to address this challenge.
The Challenges
- Technical Complexity: The installation process required highly trained personnel, increasing costs.
- Inefficient Workflow: No standardised digital system for tracking lighting installation and configurations.
- Limited Mobility and Accessibility: Traditional methods lacked an intuitive mobile solution.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Needed to drive enthusiasm and ensure executive buy-in for the digital transformation.
An electrical switch panel with circuit transducers (CTs) connected to lighting circuits. Wireless CTs connect to the gateway which feeds back to the Field Tools app.
My Contribution
As the UI/UX Product Designer and Project Manager, my responsibilities encompassed designing the user interface, managing workflows, leading prototyping sessions, gathering requirements, creating the product roadmap, and ensuring engineering alignment through sprints and scrums.
The Objectives
- Develop an Intuitive iPad App: Streamline the installation workflow and improve efficiency.
- Reduce Installation Time: Easy-to-use interface and mobile accessibility.
- Minimize reliance on technical personnel: Designing a system that non-technical users could operate.
- Validate feasibility through live-data prototypes: Ensuring early stakeholder engagement and confidence.
The Product Workflow
Press the Room tab. This contains the facility audit organized by room and switch.
Open first room panel so that information including fixture description is visible just for that room.
Add/remove fixtures, rooms, or switches accordingly to match audit to real conditions.
Press Test In tab. You can see live readings from all circuits, and only the selected room will be open on the left-hand switch pane.
Drag switch to the circuit that exhibited the appropriate wattage change.
- Unless it is certain that they can be tested, move all known 24/7 switches to the ‘deemed hours panel’.
When all switches are completed, press finish and enter a note with the following information.
Final Production Application
Field Tools App
A mobile application to provide small and medium-sized business owners with energy heartbeat metrics and alerts about their facility.
Key Takeways
- User-Centered Design Drives Adoption: Early prototyping and subject matter expert interviews were critical to refining the UX.
- Validate feasibility through live-data prototypes: Ensuring early stakeholder engagement and confidence.
- Agile Methodologies Ensure Continuous Improvement: Sprints and live-data testing enabled rapid iteration.
- Collaboration is Key: Cross-functional team alignment was essential to delivering a high-impact solution.
Impact on Target Market
- 35-40% Reduction in Installation Time: Streamlined workflows enabled faster and more efficient installations.
- Reduced Technical Dependencies: Lowered the need for specialized electrical engineering expertise.
- Cost Savings & Scalability: The intuitive, mobile-friendly software made expansion and deployment significantly more feasible.
- High Stakeholder Adoption: Live-data prototypes generated strong executive enthusiasm, securing long-term investment.
Conclusion & Learnings
The Switch-to-Circuit lighting logger project successfully redefined how the client executed commercial monitoring installations. The new process significantly improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
By leading product design and project execution, I ensured that the final product met the user and business objectives.
The project was successful in multiple trial programs; however, the company was acquired, leading to the discontinuation of the product and service.
Despite this outcome, the project demonstrated the target company's technological and innovative capabilities, significantly enhancing its attractiveness and value to the acquiring company.
