Primary Research
Primary Research
Overview
Overview
This ERP platform is for SMEs to streamline end-to-end business operations. The system provides a centralised solution & tracking for managing the entire business in one place.
Whether it's Sales, Purchases, Inventory, Accounts, Production and many more.
I have designed 10+ modules for this ERP. But in this case study, I'll discuss only a few modules. Dashboard | Purchase | Sales | Inventory
This ERP platform is for SMEs to streamline end-to-end business operations. The system provides a centralised solution & tracking for managing the entire business in one place.
Whether it's Sales, Purchases, Inventory, Accounts, Production and many more.
I have designed 10+ modules for this ERP. But in this case study, I'll discuss only a few modules. Dashboard | Purchase | Sales | Inventory
My Role
My Role
I collaborate with multiple stakeholders, business heads to translate their pain points into solutions that enhance the overall user experience.
I was the sole designer of this project, where I was responsible for the end-to-end design solution & including User Research, Ideation, and delivery of the platform, including its user experience.
I was responsible for the end-to-end design solution & including User Research, Ideation, and delivery of the platform, including its user experience.
Collaborate with multiple stakeholders, business heads to translate their pain points into solutions that enhance the overall user experience.
Timeline - 03 Months
Impact created
Impact created
Increased business efficiency by 40%
Increased business efficiency
by 40%
Reduces wastage and increases visibility by 100%, displaying Inventory and its audit trails.
Reduces wastage and increases visibility by 100%, displaying Inventory and its audit trails.
Onboarded 10+ SMEs in a quick time.
Onboarded 10+ SMEs in a quick time.
Why This ERP Needed…
Why This ERP Needed…
To support business expansion and the onboarding of future clients, we designed a flexible internal tool that could be easily customised. The plan was first to use it internally, then sell it to external clients on a subscription model.
To support business expansion and the onboarding of future clients, we designed a flexible internal tool that could be easily customised. The plan was first to use it internally, then sell it to external clients on a subscription model.
The question for us was
The question for us was
"How might we structure and connect ERP modules to enable seamless navigation and provide clear, real-time visibility into business structure"?
"How might we structure and connect ERP modules to enable seamless navigation and provide clear, real-time visibility into business structure"?
To gain a deeper insight about the business & user pain points, we conducted user interviews with multiple department heads, including the purchase, sales and admin teams. This allowed us to understand their current processes and expectations for the new ERP solution.
We wanted to understand multiple stakeholders' viewpoints about the business needs, their style of working behaviour, and the processes which help us to create a better solution. So, accordingly, we have framed the questions to get better insights.
To gain a deeper insight about the business & user pain points, we conducted user interviews with multiple department heads, including the purchase, sales and admin teams. This allowed us to understand their current processes and expectations for the new ERP solution.
We wanted to understand multiple stakeholders' viewpoints about the business needs, their style of working behaviour, and the processes which help us to create a better solution. So, accordingly, we have framed the questions to get better insights.
Business teams struggle to get quick insights, hindering their ability to manage the business efficiently
Poor production planning results from the unavailability of raw materials and a lack of timely updates.
There is no audit trail for items, making it impossible to track where they were consumed, sold, or scrapped.
Pain Points
“I need to call everytime inventory manager to ask about the current inventory for production.”
Pain Points
Business teams struggle to get quick insights, hindering their ability to manage the business efficiently
Poor production planning results from the unavailability of raw materials and a lack of timely updates.
There is no audit trail for items, making it impossible to track where they were consumed, sold, or scrapped.
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
We studied some of the competitors in the market to understand how they approach the situation, what benefits they provide to users, and what opportunities exist for us to improve.
We studied some of the competitors in the market to understand how they approach the situation, what benefits they provide to users, and what opportunities exist for us to improve.
Zoho
Zoho
Across all modules creates a seamless user experience.
Across all modules creates a seamless user experience.
Support faster adoption for new users.
Support faster adoption for new users.
Improve workflow efficiency and reduce context switching.
Improve workflow efficiency and reduce context switching.
Unified dashboards & cross-app navigation.
Unified dashboards & cross-app navigation.
ClearOne
ClearOne
A very simple, task-focused interface reduced the learning curve for SMEs.
A very simple, task-focused interface reduced the learning curve for SMEs.
Optimised for core transactional tasks rather than full ERP complexity
Optimised for core transactional tasks rather than full ERP complexity
Minimal customisation keeps UX consistent but limits flexibility.
Minimal customisation keeps UX consistent but limits flexibility.
Let's Tranzact
Let's Tranzact
Extremely simple, task-focused interface, reduces learning curve for SMEs.
Extremely simple, task-focused interface, reduces learning curve for SMEs.
Priortises core business needs over visual polish.
Priortises core business needs over visual polish.
Faster on-boarding for industry-aligned users due to familiar workflows.
Faster on-boarding for industry-aligned users due to familiar workflows.
Key Addition in our Flow
Key Addition in our Flow
No ERP has an option for multiple GST under one organisation.
No ERP has an option for multiple GST under one organisation.
Interlink the module to get the complete status for each document & clear Navigation, like Purchase Cycle for any Item is Purchase Order > Delivery In > Bills, and for Sales cycle Sales Order > Dispatch Order > Invoice.
Interlink the module to get the complete status for each document & clear Navigation, like Purchase Cycle for any Item is Purchase Order > Delivery In > Bills, and for Sales cycle Sales Order > Dispatch Order > Invoice.
Visual Dashboard for Business Teams to get quick insights.
Visual Dashboard for Business Teams to get quick insights.
Whom I am designing for
Since ERP Systems are used by people across different departments with unique goals and challenges, I have created multiple personas of the users.
User Persona
Note: Dummy Images created from ChatGPT
Ideate the Solutions
Whom I am designing for
Based on our research and insights, we brainstormed solutions as a team and prioritised features. We then created a roadmap and broke the features into sprints, focusing on the modules that had the most significant business impact.
Since ERP Systems are used by people across different departments with unique goals and challengers, So I have created multiple personas of the users.
Information Architecture
User Persona
How will user complete the Purchase Cycle?
Created multiple user journeys for the user, creating a Purchase Order, Receiving Delivery, and recording a bill to complete the purchase cycle.
Create Purchase Order
Create Delivery In against Purchase Order
Record Bill against Purchase Order
Ideate the Solutions
Based on our research and insights, we brainstormed solutions as a team and prioritised features. We then created a roadmap and broke the features into sprints, focusing on the modules that had the most significant business impact.
Information Architecture
Final Solution Purposed
Final Solution Purposed
Let's discuss the solution for each module we created, one by one. We have made lot's of iteration before final design, get user feedback & then we come to the final solution.
Let's discuss the solution for each module we created, one by one. We have made lot's of iteration before final design, get user feedback & then we come to the final solution.
Login Flow & Dashboard
Login Flow & Dashboard
Centralised Overview - All key business metrics (Invoices, Purchase Orders, Sales Orders are available at a glance, reducing time spent switching screens.
Centralised Overview - All key business metrics (Invoices, Purchase Orders, Sales Orders are available at a glance, reducing time spent switching screens.
Real-Time Insights - Live comparison of sales and dispatch data helps in making quick, informed decisions.
Real-Time Insights - Live comparison of sales and dispatch data helps in making quick, informed decisions.
Business-Oriented Messaging - Key product benefits are highlighted at login, reinforcing value before entry.
Business-Oriented Messaging - Key product benefits are highlighted at login, reinforcing value before entry.
Scalable Design - Responsive and minimal design ensures quick loading and accessibility on any device.
Scalable Design - Responsive and minimal design ensures quick loading and accessibility on any device.
Impact Created
Impact Created
Centralised data reduces time spent gathering information, enabling quicker business actions.
Centralised data reduces time spent gathering information, enabling quicker business actions.
Real-time order and payment tracking helps address bottlenecks immediately.
Real-time order and payment tracking helps address bottlenecks immediately.
Data-driven monitoring allows optimisation of pricing, sales strategies, and resource allocation.
Data-driven monitoring allows optimisation of pricing, sales strategies, and resource allocation.
Eliminates password reset requests, freeing IT resources.
Eliminates password reset requests, freeing IT resources.
Purchase Module
Purchase Module
Streamlined forms and auto-suggestions reduce manual effort and chances of error.
Streamlined forms and auto-suggestions reduce manual effort and chances of error.
The user can track PO approval, Pending deliveries, and payment status at a glance, leading to faster decisions.
The user can track PO approval, Pending deliveries, and payment status at a glance, leading to faster decisions.
Easy linking of Po with requisitions, goods received, and invoices improves traceability and accountability
Easy linking of Po with requisitions, goods received, and invoices improves traceability and accountability
Clear distinction between important information (Vendor, Delivery Date, Total Cost_ and supporting data enhances usability.
Clear distinction between important information (Vendor, Delivery Date, Total Cost_ and supporting data enhances usability.
Impact Created
Impact Created
Reduced PO lookup and verification time by 30–40%
Reduced PO lookup and verification time by 30–40%
Minimized cross-team confusion over order status or financials
Minimized cross-team confusion over order status or financials
Improved transparency across procurement, accounts, and warehouse teams
Improved transparency across procurement, accounts, and warehouse teams
Enabled smoother handoffs with complete context per PO
Enabled smoother handoffs with complete context per PO
Sales Module
Sales Module
Get Complete visibility of All Sales Orders, Current dispatch order status, & Payment status at one place.
Get Complete visibility of All Sales Orders, Current dispatch order status, & Payment status at one place.
Track the dispatch status of all sales orders, verify payment terms, and review the Order Amount for each order.
Track the dispatch status of all sales orders, verify payment terms, and review the Order Amount for each order.
Sales Order can be filter by their status, like Active, Completed, In progress etc.
Sales Order can be filter by their status, like Active, Completed, In progress etc.
User can check the payment status of each sales order and follow up with clients accordingly.
User can check the payment status of each sales order and follow up with clients accordingly.
Consistent design patterns across screens improve navigation speed and usability.
Consistent design patterns across screens improve navigation speed and usability.
Impact Created
Impact Created
40% improvement in dispatch order with clear item-level visibility and pricing.
40% improvement in dispatch order with clear item-level visibility and pricing.
60% reduction in back-and-forth between sales and ops teams, due to centralisation of order, invoice, and dispatch data.
60% reduction in back-and-forth between sales and ops teams, due to centralisation of order, invoice, and dispatch data.
25% faster billing and invoice generation.
25% faster billing and invoice generation.
Inventory
Gives procurement and QA teams complete traceability of materials.
Gives procurement and QA teams complete traceability of materials.
Supports FIFO based strategies with batch aging information.
Supports FIFO based strategies with batch aging information.
Help finance and audit teams reconcile stock values per batch
Help finance and audit teams reconcile stock values per batch
Enables better decision-making during stock transfers or adjustments.
Enables better decision-making during stock transfers or adjustments.
Impact Created
Impact Created
60% improvement in batch traceability. All active and consumed batches are traceable by number and date.
60% improvement in batch traceability. All active and consumed batches are traceable by number and date.
45% reduction in stock mismanagement errors by enabling the view of exact batch quantities and unit prices
45% reduction in stock mismanagement errors by enabling the view of exact batch quantities and unit prices
30-35% faster decision-making on stock transfers and adjustments using batch-level value comparison
30-35% faster decision-making on stock transfers and adjustments using batch-level value comparison
25% improvement in valuation reconciliation for finance and audit teams
25% improvement in valuation reconciliation for finance and audit teams
Learning & Takeaways
User-Centric Approach: I learned that a successful solution must be built on a deep understanding of user pain points and daily workflows, not on assumptions.
User-Centric Approach: I learned that a successful solution must be built on a deep understanding of user pain points and daily workflows, not on assumptions.
Data-Driven Decisions: My research and competitor analysis provided the critical data needed to make informed decisions about features and design, ensuring a robust and defensible solution.
Data-Driven Decisions: My research and competitor analysis provided the critical data needed to make informed decisions about features and design, ensuring a robust and defensible solution.
Strategic Prioritisation: By mapping the user journey, I was able to strategically prioritise features that delivered the most significant value, rather than simply building a long list of functionalities.
Strategic Prioritisation: By mapping the user journey, I was able to strategically prioritise features that delivered the most significant value, rather than simply building a long list of functionalities.
Integrated System Design: This process highlights the importance of designing a holistic system where modules are interconnected, leading to a more seamless and integrated user experience, resulting in
Integrated System Design: This process highlights the importance of designing a holistic system where modules are interconnected, leading to a more seamless and integrated user experience, resulting in
Let's Connect
Available for work
Feel free to reach out for collaborations or just a friendly hello
Let's Connect
Available for work
Feel free to reach out for collaborations or just a friendly hello