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Role - UX Designer | Timeline - 4 weeks | App design
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Cafeterias significantly impact workplace satisfaction and employee well-being.
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70% of employees consider cafeterias an essential workplace benefit, enhancing their productivity and job satisfaction.
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Cafeterias contribute to a positive workplace culture by fostering social interactions and collaboration.
Importance of Cafeterias in Workplace
Source - Food Management Report, SHRM
PLATOS is a smart cafeteria management platform that makes dining easier and more efficient for workplaces, schools, hospitals, and food courts. It uses technology to simplify everything from placing orders to making payments and collecting feedback, creating a hassle-free dining experience for everyone.
Innovative Solutions
for Cafeterias
OvervieW
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Pre-ordering and Real-Time Menu Updates: Employees can view and select meals in advance, reducing wait times and providing better meal planning flexibility.
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Meal Customization Options: The app can allow employees to customize meals based on dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or non-veg, ensuring a personalized dining experience.
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Seamless Digital Payments: A streamlined, digital payment system integrated with meal subsidies will enable quicker transactions, eliminating the need for manual payments and reducing friction.
challenge
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Employees face several challenges when ordering food from the cafeteria, including long wait times during peak hours, lack of menu visibility and meal customization options, and a cumbersome manual payment process.
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These issues result in reduced employee satisfaction, inefficient cafeteria operations, and a lack of real-time feedback mechanisms.
how did we solve it?
Step 1 - Discovery Phase
Stakeholder Interview
We interviewed 5 key stakeholders including cafeteria managers, HR representatives, IT staff, and operations leads.
Interview Questions
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What are the primary challenges in managing the cafeteria operations?
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How do you currently gather feedback from employees about the cafeteria experience?
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What features would make the cafeteria experience more efficient for both staff and employees?
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How do you manage peak hours and food availability during high-demand periods?
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What role do you think technology should play in improving cafeteria services?
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How do you handle special dietary requests and menu customization?
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What key metrics or KPIs do you use to assess cafeteria performance?
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Operational Challenges: Stakeholders noted that managing peak hours and food wastage during low-traffic periods were significant challenges.
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Feedback Mechanisms: Feedback is mostly gathered informally through surveys or suggestion boxes. Stakeholders highlighted the need for a more streamlined, real-time feedback system.
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Technology in Cafeteria Management: There is strong interest in integrating technology, particularly for order management, payments, and real-time menu updates to streamline operations.
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Peak Hour Management: Stakeholders expressed that pre-ordering systems could help mitigate congestion and improve efficiency during lunch hours.
Insights
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80% are willing to use mobile apps or kiosks for ordering and payments.
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Pre-ordering systems significantly reduce congestion and wait times.
-
Real-time menu updates via apps provide convenience and satisfaction.
Technology Integration in Cafeterias
Source - Gallup Workplace Analytics
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Long Wait Times: Congestion during peak hours leads to average waiting times exceeding 10 minutes.
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Menu Availability Issues: Employees are frustrated by items being unavailable or inconsistent menu updates.
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Payment Methods: Limited cash-only or non-digital payment options inconvenience employees.
Challenges Faced by Employees
Source - Workplace Study by Deloitte
Secondary Research
We conducted secondary research to gather valuable insights into employee cafeteria experiences, focusing on key trends, challenges, and preferences. This research helped us understand the common pain points and expectations employees have from workplace cafeterias.
Following a Design Process ensured that the end result was user-centered, met project goals, and led to better collaboration and more efficient decision-making.
UX Design Process
Role - UX Designer | Timeline - 4 weeks | App design
OvervieW
Innovative Solutions
for Cafeterias
PLATOS is a smart cafeteria management platform designed to make dining at workplaces easier, faster, and more convenient. It uses technology to simplify the entire process, from browsing menus and placing orders to making payments and sharing feedback. With this app, employees can enjoy a hassle-free dining experience that saves time and reduces wait times, while cafeterias can operate more efficiently.
challenge
how did we solve it?
Pre-ordering and Real time orders: Employees can pre-order meals in advance or order in real-time, helping them avoid long wait times and plan their meals better.
Meal Customization Options: The app lets employees customize their meals based on preferences like vegetarian or non-vegetarian, offering a personalized dining experience.
Seamless Digital Payments: A smooth digital payment system, integrated with meal subsidies, makes transactions quick and hassle-free, removing the need for manual payments.
-
Employees face several challenges when ordering food from the cafeteria, including long wait times during peak hours, lack of menu visibility and meal customization options, and a cumbersome manual payment process.
-
These issues result in reduced employee satisfaction, inefficient cafeteria operations, and a lack of real-time feedback mechanisms.
Design Process
Following a Design Process ensured that the end result was user-centered, met project goals, and led to better collaboration and more efficient decision-making.
Step 1 - Discovery Phase
We interviewed 5 key stakeholders including cafeteria managers, HR representatives, IT staff, and operations leads.
Stakeholder Interview
Interview Questions
-
What are the primary challenges in managing the cafeteria operations?
-
How do you currently gather feedback from employees about the cafeteria experience?
-
What features would make the cafeteria experience more efficient for both staff and employees?
-
How do you manage peak hours and food availability during high-demand periods?
-
What role do you think technology should play in improving cafeteria services?
-
How do you handle special dietary requests and menu customization?
-
What key metrics or KPIs do you use to assess cafeteria performance?
Operational Challenges: Stakeholders noted that managing peak hours and food wastage during low-traffic periods were significant challenges.
Feedback Mechanisms: Feedback is mostly gathered informally through surveys or suggestion boxes. Stakeholders highlighted the need for a more streamlined, real-time feedback system.
Technology in Cafeteria Management: There is strong interest in integrating technology, particularly for order management, payments, and real-time menu updates to streamline operations.
Peak Hour Management: Stakeholders expressed that pre-ordering systems could help mitigate congestion and improve efficiency during lunch hours.
Insights
Secondary Research
We conducted secondary research to gather valuable insights into employee cafeteria experiences, focusing on key trends, challenges, and preferences. This research helped us understand the common pain points and expectations employees have from workplace cafeterias.
Importance of Cafeterias in Workplace
-
Cafeterias significantly impact workplace satisfaction and employee well-being.
-
70% of employees consider cafeterias an essential workplace benefit, enhancing their productivity and job satisfaction.
-
Cafeterias contribute to a positive workplace culture by fostering social interactions and collaboration.
Source - Food Management Report, SHRM
Challenges Faced by Employees
-
Long Wait Times: Congestion during peak hours leads to average waiting times exceeding 10 minutes.
-
Menu Availability Issues: Employees are frustrated by items being unavailable or inconsistent menu updates.
-
Payment Methods: Limited cash-only or non-digital payment options inconvenience employees.
Source - Workplace Study by Deloitte
Technology Integration in Cafeterias
-
80% are willing to use mobile apps or kiosks for ordering and payments.
-
Pre-ordering systems significantly reduce congestion and wait times.
-
Real-time menu updates via apps provide convenience and satisfaction.
Source - Gallup Workplace Analytics
Step 2 - Ideation
Brainstorming Sessions
We conducted a brainstorming session to explore innovative solutions for improving the employee cafeteria experience. This collaborative effort helped generate ideas to address key challenges and enhance operational efficiency.
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What are the biggest challenges faced in the current cafeteria experience for employees?
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How can we manage peak-hour congestion more effectively?
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What improvements can we make to the menu to enhance usability and engagement?
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What payment methods or features would simplify the transaction process for employees?
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How can we encourage employees to share feedback and act on it effectively?
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What technology features (e.g., mobile apps, kiosks) would best solve common cafeteria pain points?
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What additional features or services can make the cafeteria experience enjoyable and engaging?
Outcomes
User Flow
Step 3 - Final Designs
Onboarding Flow
The user flow begins with a splash screen, followed by a series of onboarding screens introducing the app's features and benefits. Users then proceed to verify their phone number and enter a unique cafeteria code to select their designated cafeteria. Once setup is complete, they can seamlessly browse through the list of available food partners and explore menu options.
Real-time Order
Once the user selects a specific food partner, they can browse through a variety of food options from the menu and add their choices to the cart. For payment, users have multiple options including card, UPI, cash, and their Platos wallet. After placing the order, users can easily track the status of their order in real-time, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free dining experience.
Users are presented with two options: Real-time ordering and Pre-ordering. When they select Pre-order, they can choose a date for their meal and explore a variety of food options. Users can then select a time slot for pickup or delivery. Once they add the desired quantity of food items, they can proceed to payment and complete the transaction. After placing the pre-order, the order will be visible in their Future Orders section, allowing them to track the scheduled meal.
Pre-Order
ALL SCREENS
Step 3 - Final Designs
The user flow begins with a splash screen, followed by a series of onboarding screens introducing the app's features and benefits. Users then proceed to verify their phone number and enter a unique cafeteria code to select their designated cafeteria. Once setup is complete, they can seamlessly browse through the list of available food partners and explore menu options.
Once the user selects a specific food partner, they can browse through a variety of food options from the menu and add their choices to the cart. For payment, users have multiple options including card, UPI, cash, and their Platos wallet. After placing the order, users can easily track the status of their order in real-time, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free dining experience.
Users are presented with two options: Real-time ordering and Pre-ordering. When they select Pre-order, they can choose a date for their meal and explore a variety of food options. Users can then select a time slot for pickup or delivery. Once they add the desired quantity of food items, they can proceed to payment and complete the transaction. After placing the pre-order, the order will be visible in their Future Orders section, allowing them to track the scheduled meal.
Pre-Order
Real-time Order
Onboarding Flow
ALL SCREENS
Onboarding Flow
Users are greeted with a splash screen displaying the app's logo, followed by a series of onboarding screens highlighting the app's features and benefits. These onboarding screens are skippable, allowing users to proceed directly to the verification screen to get started quickly.
Verification
Users enter their contact number for verification, followed by entering a unique cafeteria code to select their designated cafeteria. Once completed, they are directed to the home screen, where they can browse through available food partners and explore menu options.
Real-time Order
In the Real-Time Order option, users can browse the menu, add items to their cart, and pay using their preferred payment method. Once the order is placed, they can track it in the Ongoing Orders tab.
Pre-Order
In the Pre-Order option, users can select a date and time slot, browse the menu, add items to their cart, and pay using their preferred payment method. Once placed, the order is stored in the Future Orders tab for easy tracking.
Rewards
Users can earn cashback or points through the app’s rewards system with each purchase. These points or cashback can be redeemed for discounts on future orders, promoting customer retention and rewarding consistent usage.
Help & Support
The Help and Support screens provide users with easy access to FAQs, troubleshooting tips, and contact information for customer support. Users can quickly find answers to common queries or reach out to the support team for personalized assistance.
Loyalty program
The Loyalty Program rewards users for regular engagement with the app. Users can earn points on each purchase, which can be redeemed for discounts or special offers, encouraging continued use and enhancing their dining experience.
Dev Handoff
Step 4 - Testing & Iteration
Reflection
Understanding the diverse needs of employees and administrators helped craft an intuitive interface that simplifies complex cafeteria operations while enhancing the user experience.
User-Centered Design
Designing features like pre-ordering and real-time orders taught me how to simplify complex workflows while maintaining a user-friendly experience.
Simplifying Complex Processes
Regular user testing and feedback helped refine the design, proving that iteration is essential to meet user expectations and deliver a seamless experience.
Iterative design
Test Questions
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Was it easy for you to find the menu items?
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How would you rate the overall navigation of the app? Did you encounter any confusion while moving between sections?
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Was the checkout process quick and straightforward? Did you experience any obstacles when placing an order?
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Did you receive enough feedback when performing actions, such as placing an order or loading content?
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Did you feel the app was visually appealing? Was there anything that looked confusing or overwhelming?
During usability testing, we received valuable feedback from users regarding their experience with the app. Based on their input, we identified key areas for improvement and incorporated these changes into the design. By addressing their concerns, such as improving navigation, streamlining the checkout process, and enhancing visual clarity, we created a more intuitive, user-friendly, and efficient interface tailored to their needs.
Incorporating User Feedback into the Design
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