Project Description
I’m extremely proud of how this service has turned out. I worked in this as a side-project to begin with, giving some UX insights into an existing room booking system on the web. Since then, with my help on the UX front, the product has evolved to include:
Matrix Booking
The core website, managing all types of resources including rooms, offices, hot desks, car parking and auxiliary resources like equipment and catering, with real-time visibility and intelligent resource selection to reduce wastage
Matrix Mobile
A native mobile app (on multiple platforms) giving staff the ability to search and book resources on the move, receiving notifications and alerts directly to their mobile device
Matrix Welcome
Real-time digital displays on meeting rooms, shared spaces, hot desk banks and visitor interaction points, using an interactive kiosk to automatically ‘check-in’ staff and provide one-tap booking
Matrix Detect
The ability to check availability of any space in real-time while providing accurate historical and predictive analytics
Matrix Nearby
Enables Matrix Mobile users to automatically locate the nearest suitable resource using beacon technology. Users can enter their requirements and their current location is used to identify suitable resources in the area
When I first joined this project, I was simply running a usability review from a UX expert standpoint; a common practice where time and budget constraints mean user testing isn’t possible. I identified a number of opportunities for the product and was asked to continue my input into the UX design while the project extended to include mobile and kiosk solutions.
Having had experience working in different offices (some with room booking systems), I was able to put myself into users’ shoes with ease. However, I didn’t launch straight into the UX design; I wanted to complete a Service Design review and look at the entire user lifecycle. Why would they want a resource in the first place? What might they be doing? Will they want to do everything through one channel?
Once I’d gone through a number of user types and scenarios, I used the existing Matrix branding to create high-fidelity wireframes, which I loaded into InVision so that the team could add comments, ask questions, and use a working prototype. I quickly iterated designs that we agreed on, which meant that the developers could move very swiftly in creating the innovative ideas we’d come up with.
You can see more of the live service at matrixbooking.com, and in the introductory video I’ve attached below.
The Matrix Booking system has won awards for Commercial Services in the Technology in Facilities Management Awards 2015, and was a finalist in the 2015 Cloud Innovation World Cup — it has continued to win awards since, but I won’t take any credit for those!