Check the video from Live beta version of the app.

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1. Project Overview:

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PWIP is an export business utility tool focusing on Rice as a commodity, comprising multiple services tailored to enhance efficiency and decision-making in international trade:

1. Export Costing Tool (EC Tool): This feature streamlines the process of estimating costs with just three clicks. Users can also customize their costing according to their specific requirements.
2. Rice Price: Stay informed with weekly updated rice price data, including a comprehensive archive spanning two years, along with detailed information on rice properties.
3. EXIM: Keep abreast of the latest trends and data in international trade through an analytical approach, facilitating informed decision-making.
4. OFC (Ocean Freight Calculator): Calculate ocean freight charges with remarkable ease, requiring just two clicks to obtain accurate estimates.
5. Orders: Seamlessly manage PWIP orders and place new ones while staying updated on order delivery status anytime, anywhere.
6. Community: Engage and collaborate within a vibrant community of users, fostering networking opportunities and knowledge sharing.

PWIP offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to empower exporters with the insights and capabilities needed to thrive in today's competitive global market.

Client: PWIP Foodtech Pvt Ltd

My role: Discover, Define, Ideate, and Design

Timeline: 2-3 Months

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2. Problem Statement:

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In the realm of export businesses, navigating the complexities of international trade poses significant challenges. From estimating costs accurately to staying updated on market trends and managing orders efficiently, exporters often grapple with a multitude of tasks that demand time and resources. Existing solutions may lack integration or fail to provide comprehensive support across various aspects of the export process, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and missed opportunities.

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1. Costing Complexity: Estimating costing for export shipments can be laborious and prone to errors, requiring manual calculations and referencing multiple sources.
2. Market Data Deficiency: Access to timely and reliable market data, such as updated commodity prices and trade trends, is often limited, hindering informed decision-making.
3. Order Management Hurdles: Coordinating orders, tracking deliveries, and staying connected with customers throughout the process can be cumbersome and fragmented.
4. Lack of Community Engagement: Exporters may feel isolated, lacking avenues for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within their industry.
5. Ocean Freight Calculation Hassles: Calculating ocean freight charges accurately can be time-consuming and complicated, leading to potential cost overruns or underestimations. </aside>

3. Goals and Objectives:

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1. Streamline Costing Processes:
   • Goal: Simplify and automate costing estimation for export shipments.
   • Objectives:
     • Reduce the time and effort required for costing calculations.
     • Enable users to generate accurate costing estimates with minimal manual input.
     • Facilitate customization options to accommodate diverse costing requirements.
2. Provide Timely Market Insights:
   • Goal: Empower exporters with up-to-date market data and trends.
   • Objectives:
     • Ensure access to weekly updated rice price data and historical trends.
     • Deliver analytical tools for interpreting EXIM data and identifying market opportunities.
     • Enable informed decision-making through comprehensive market insights.
3. Enhance Order Management Efficiency:
   • Goal: Improve order processing and tracking capabilities.
   • Objectives:
     • Enable seamless management of PWIP orders and placement of new orders.
     • Provide real-time updates on order status and delivery tracking.
     • Streamline communication between exporters and customers throughout the order lifecycle.
4. Foster Community Engagement:
   • Goal: Cultivate a collaborative environment for exporters.
   • Objectives:
     • Establish a vibrant online community where users can connect, share insights, and collaborate.
     • Facilitate networking opportunities and knowledge exchange among export professionals.
     • Encourage active participation and contribution to community discussions and initiatives.
5. Simplify Ocean Freight Calculations:
   • Goal: Expedite the process of calculating ocean freight charges.
   • Objectives:
     • Develop a user-friendly OFC tool for quick and accurate freight cost estimation.
     • Minimize the number of clicks and steps required to obtain freight quotes.
     • Enhance transparency and clarity in ocean freight pricing to avoid surprises or discrepancies.

By achieving these goals and objectives, PWIP aims to revolutionize export business operations, empower exporters with valuable tools and insights, and foster a strong and collaborative community within the industry.

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4. Research:

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Literature Review:

In the realm of export businesses, various studies and reports have shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by exporters, as well as the importance of adopting technological solutions to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. Here's a summary of the key findings from the literature:

1. Costing Complexity:
   • Exporters often encounter challenges in estimating costs accurately due to the complexity of factors involved, including transportation, customs duties, and currency fluctuations (Golovnin, 2018).
   • Manual costing calculations can be time-consuming and error-prone, leading to cost overruns or underestimations (Peng & Li, 2020).
   • Streamlining costing processes through automated tools can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy, enabling exporters to make informed pricing decisions (Zhang et al., 2019).
2. Market Data Deficiency:
   • Access to timely and reliable market data is crucial for exporters to identify market trends, assess demand, and make strategic decisions (Siddique & Chauhan, 2017).
   • However, many exporters face challenges in obtaining up-to-date market information, especially in emerging markets or niche industries (Alvarez & López, 2019).
   • Technological solutions that provide real-time market insights and trend analysis can empower exporters with actionable information, helping them stay ahead of the competition (Chaudhary & Bharati, 2021).
3. Order Management Hurdles:
   • Efficient order management is essential for export businesses to fulfill customer orders on time and maintain customer satisfaction (Yang et al., 2020).
   • However, manual order processing and communication can lead to delays, errors, and poor coordination between stakeholders (Zhang & Qi, 2018).
   • Digital platforms that streamline order processing, track shipments in real time, and facilitate communication between exporters and customers can enhance operational efficiency and customer service (Huang et al., 2019).
4. Community Engagement:
   • Community networking plays a vital role in the success of export businesses, providing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and market insights (Hennig-Thurau et al., 2019).
   • Exporters benefit from participating in industry-specific communities, where they can connect with peers, exchange best practices, and stay updated on industry trends (Yamamoto et al., 2020).
   • Online platforms and forums that facilitate community engagement can serve as valuable resources for exporters, fostering a sense of belonging and collective learning within the industry (Liao & Huang, 2017).

In conclusion, the literature underscores the significance of addressing key pain points such as cost complexity, market data deficiency, order management hurdles, and the need for community engagement in export businesses. Technological solutions that streamline processes, provide real-time insights, and foster community networking are essential for enhancing competitiveness and driving growth in the global market.

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5. Design Process:

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The design process of the PWIP app was a collaborative, iterative, and user-centered approach. Our goal was to create an intuitive and enjoyable user experience that would address the identified pain points and align with the project objectives.

Step 1: Understanding the Users and Their Needs

The first step in our design process was to understand our users, their needs, and their challenges. We referred back to the problem statement and objectives and made sure we had a clear understanding of what our users needed the most. We conducted detailed user research, interviewing potential users, mapping out their pain points, and understanding their daily workflows.

Step 2: Ideation and Sketching

Once we had a clear understanding of our users and their needs, we moved on to the ideation and sketching phase. Here, we brainstormed various design ideas, exploring different ways to solve the problems that our users faced. We sketched out rough wireframes of the app, visualizing the flow and structure of the app.

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Draft of hi-fi design

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Step 3: User Testing and Iteration