ROCK App - Custom Template

Empowers users to create tailored templates for data computation across diverse industries and use cases

Project
Location / Boston
Timeline / 2023.10-20234.02
Team
Product Designer (me)
1 Graphic Designer
1 Hardware Engineer
3 Software Engineers
Disciplines
Product design
User Experience design
Rapid prototype
Lead Design
Keywords
Automate complex workflow
Enterprise-facing interface
Shipped   
Overview
The REEKON Custom Template is the core feature launched in ROCK App V2, empowers users to create tailored templates with defined inputs, formulas, and visual mapping capabilities, enabling efficient and accurate data computation across diverse industries and use cases.
Impact
400+

Custom templates used daily

128%

Increase in use engagement time

270K+

Measurement Taken Monthly

01
Problem Statement

Following the successful launch of the ROCK Job Site App ( See ROCK APP Initial Release ↗ ), the ROCK App now plays a larger role in driving revenue and fostering partnerships with enterprise users.This means we must prioritize enterprise feature requests and assess the most cost-effective features to implement.

02
Define Success
➊ How many feature requests can we cover?
There are 110+ feature requests from our enterprise partners. The number of requests coverage under limited timeline and budget is key here.
➋ Will our enterprise users be more rely on ROCK App?
We have developed a comprehensive set of metrics to quantify user reliance, including engagement time, single data utilization rate, and other key indicators
03
What do Enterprise Users Want?

The ROCK App serves a diverse range of construction professionals, each with unique workflow needs. With an overwhelming number of feature requests, my first step was to categorize and identify recurring themes. A clear pattern emerged

ROCK users urgently need an efficient way to process the vast amount of data within the app, without having to rely on external tools

04
Decide the right solution

Now we decide to focus on “Process Data”, three primary characteristic of enterprise workflows informed my design decisions

Apparently, creating individual features for every use case would be too narrow and unscalable. Instead, I took a modular approach, aiming to design a flexible framework that could adapt to different workflows.

05/
Introduce Custom Template

This led to the concept of a Custom Template, allowing users to:

001
Predefine input/output structures for measurement data.
002
Automate repetitive calculations within the app.
003
Integrates with existing ROCK App features
A bumpy ride to final design
First Instinct: Simplicity

Our initial instinct was that giving users full flexibility would burden them with complexity. So in my first approach, I prioritized simplicity: a step-by-step process to guide them effortlessly; A clean, minimal interface to keep things intuitive and a design favoring ease of use over complete control.

Immediately after working prototype is ready, we sent to several core partners to play test. To our surprise, both adoption data and user feedback indicated negative results, with a high drop-off rate within the first few minutes.

As we investigated further, we discovered that many users find the visuals not informative and immediately resisted the linear, sequential workflow. Even after understanding the process, they quickly reverted to their familiar CSV-style workflow, which they perceived as faster and more descriptive.

Iteration 2:
Second try: functionality and speed

Now, let's take a step back and reassess what truly matters to these professionals — control. They need:

➊ A clear and straightforward approach
➋ Higher information density for better insights
➌ Greater flexibility and customization options
➍ Enhanced efficiency to streamline their workflow

Adoption for this version has improved significantly, with several partners even requesting an earlier release to streamline their workflows and support their transformation.

But we didn’t stop there. While the professional construction industry may have a higher tolerance for usability challenges, we believe it’s our responsibility to push the boundaries—refining the interface and making the design more intuitive and easier to use.

Iteration 3
Final Design

But we didn’t stop there. We keep refining the experience by emphasizing clarity, efficiency, and usability while maintaining enterprise workflow optimization.

Reflections and Revelations:
Full Deck

For more story behind Custom Template, I'd be happy to share more insights and walk you through the journey—just let me know!