BI/MI Mobile Reports
Smiths Group, a leading industrial technology company, sought to enhance its business intelligence (BI) and management information (MI) capabilities to better support decision-making across its global operations. The project focused on redesigning the existing Tableau-based reporting system to provide more accurate, timely, and user-friendly insights for executives.
London, United Kingdom
1851
Industrial technology
£3.28 billion (2019)
22,000+
Challenge
The primary challenge was to address the limitations of the existing reporting dashboard, which struggled to meet the complex needs of senior management. The project needed to ensure that the new design would be both scalable and adaptable to future business needs while improving the accuracy and accessibility of critical data.
Results
The redesigned reporting dashboard significantly improved the quality and accessibility of data for Smiths Group's executives. The new system provided real-time insights and allowed for quicker and more informed decision-making. It also laid the groundwork for future enhancements, making it a scalable solution that could grow with the company.
20%
Data Accuracy: Improvements leading to a reduction in reporting errors.
50%
Report Generation Time: Reducing the time required to generate reports by at least 50%, from several hours to minutes.
7% P/Y
Revenue Growth
Before
After
Process Overview
Problem Identification and Stakeholder Engagement
Objective: Understand the challenges with Smiths Group’s existing reporting system.
Actions: Engaged stakeholders through interviews to identify pain points in the current BI/MI reporting processes. Gathered requirements for the new system, focusing on the need for real-time data access, improved usability, and scalability.
User Research and Analysis
Objective: Gain deep insights into user needs to inform the redesign.
Actions: Conducted user research to understand how different executives and managers interact with the reporting tools. Developed personas and user journey maps to highlight critical points where improvements could significantly impact decision-making. Analyzed feedback from users to identify specific issues with the accuracy, accessibility, and timeliness of reports.
Concept Development
Objective: Create a high-level concept for the new reporting system.
Actions: Sketched initial concepts for the new dashboard, focusing on ease of use, real-time updates, and customization according to user roles. Developed wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to visually represent the proposed changes, ensuring alignment with Smiths Group's strategic goals.
Prototyping and Iteration
Objective: Refine the design based on user feedback.
Actions: Created interactive prototypes using tools like Figma or Sketch to simulate the dashboard's functionality. Conducted usability testing sessions with actual users to gather feedback. Iterated on the design, making adjustments based on user input to enhance the overall user experience.
Development Collaboration
Objective: Collaborate closely with the development team to implement the design.
Actions: Worked with developers to ensure the design was implemented accurately and efficiently. Provided detailed documentation and design specifications to guide the process. Ensured the final product was fully responsive and accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
Launch and Post-Launch Evaluation
Objective: Deploy the new system successfully and measure its impact.
Actions: Supported the launch, ensuring a smooth transition from the old system. Monitored post-launch to track user adoption and identify any issues. Gathered feedback to assess the effectiveness of the new design and identify areas for further improvement.
“I'll admit, I had doubts, but the new dashboard has changed the game for us. We're finally getting the data we need, when we need it, and it's making a real difference. ”
Sarah Johnson
Senior Data Analyst | Smiths Group
Conclusion
The successful implementation of the new BI/MI reporting dashboard marked a significant step forward for Smiths Group. It not only met the immediate needs of the business but also positioned the company to better handle future challenges through improved data-driven decision-making.