Work time: 2 days, tools: sketching, lucid.appEcoShop
A Sustainable Online Grocery Shopping Feature with Expiry Date Tracking, Discounted Items, and Waste Reduction Tools.
Problem:
Online grocery shoppers are unable to check expiry dates, which makes it difficult to assess freshness, leading to more food waste and unnecessary spending. Customers want a way to make better choices by knowing expiry dates and finding discounts on items nearing expiration.
Solution:
I designed a feature that shows expiry dates, allows users to select discounted items about to expire, and provides reminders when their food is nearing expiration. This promotes sustainability by reducing food waste while offering users better prices and an eco-friendly shopping experience.
User Flow:
I created a user flow that incorporates expiry dates into the online shopping experience. Users can easily view expiration information, choose discounted items and see proposed price for selected date. I used lucid.app to create this.
Overview:
I wanted to focus on the usability of online grocery shopping. I wondered how people actually shop online and what matters most to them during the process. I discovered that none of the current online grocery apps inform customers about expiry dates. So, I decided to combine online shopping with sustainability by providing expiry date information.
The feature I focused on allow you to see when your chosen food expires and pick items with the best prices, especially those on sale because they're expiring soon. You can compare prices, get suggestions based on what you like, and quickly scan barcodes to find out more. Plus, we'll remind you when your food is about to expire and offer different delivery options.
Users:
Budget-Conscious Consumers: Shoppers looking to save money.
Busy Individuals and Families: People with hectic schedules.
Tech-Savvy Users: People who are comfortable with using apps.
Environmentally-Conscious Shoppers: Consumers who are concerned about sustainability and want to reduce food waste.
Challenges and Obstacles:
I aimed to create a solution where sustainability and savings come together. My role involved identifying the problem, planning the strategy, and developing the solution.
During my research, I looked at apps that sell eco-friendly products and checked if their prices match the quality. This helped me understand how people shop sustainably online. However, some challenges came up. Making sure the expiry date info is accurate and getting users to trust the new feature are big concerns for me. Also, I need to work within my budget, integrate the feature smoothly, and follow food safety rules. Despite these challenges, the research gave me good insights to make online grocery shopping more sustainable and user-friendly.
Process and Outcome:
I conducted research by interviewing potential users who regularly shop for groceries, which gave me a wide range of perspectives. My main goal was to understand if people truly care about the quality of their food and if discounts are important to them. I also focused on analyzing sustainability. Knowing that environmental awareness is increasing, I asked people how important ecology is to them.
During my online research, I haven’t seen such features on different platforms. The needs of the customers are my main motivation to use this project as an example of how daily needs could face ecology and raise global awareness.
Outcome: I believe that integrating these two core principles (which are price and ecology) into the feature could greatly benefit and satisfy users. Individuals who value both quality and sustainability in their purchases aim to make a positive impact on the environment. Providing them with the option to reduce food waste while also enjoying competitive prices presents an excellent business opportunity. This not only enhances profitability but also promotes environmental conservation. Offering users the chance to contribute to environmental preservation while accessing better prices aligns perfectly with their values and desires.