Summary
The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is a critical tool for companies seeking B Corp Certification, but its existing workflow presented challenges for users, especially over the long duration of the process. To address this, I designed a solution to streamline project tracking and reduce reliance on external tools, helping users better manage their progress within the platform.
Role: UX Design, Research, Prototyping, Usability Testing, and Collaboration with Stakeholders.
The problem
Many companies using the BIA faced significant workflow inefficiencies, as the process of completing the assessment could take anywhere from 6 months to a year. The existing platform lacked project management features, forcing users to export their data into spreadsheets to track progress, manage assignments, and create reports. This process led to misaligned data, extra work, and sometimes errors when trying to keep the platform's content aligned with the true state of the project.
Users expressed frustration with the need to constantly update both the assessment platform and external tools, leading to potential inconsistencies. The lack of project management functionality within the platform was a major pain point for users trying to keep their assessments on track.
The Solution
To address these issues, I incorporated in-platform status tracking, role-based team management, and assignment functionality. My design aimed to reduce the reliance on external tools and minimize the potential for errors. Key components included:
To address these issues, I incorporated in-platform status tracking, role-based team management, and assignment functionality. My design aimed to reduce the reliance on external tools and minimize the potential for errors. Key components included:
Status Tracking: I introduced a status feature that allowed users to monitor progress directly within the platform, eliminating the need for spreadsheet exports. This helped ensure alignment between the working file and the final submitted file.
Role-Based Permissions: I introduced team roles (team lead vs. team member) to create clear ownership and responsibility. Only team leads were able to confirm when tasks were ready for submission, ensuring better alignment and accountability.
Assignments: Users could assign tasks to team members within the platform, providing a centralized location for collaboration and tracking.
Research & Testing
To ensure the solution met user needs, I conducted user interviews and usability testing. I worked closely with stakeholders to align the design with technical requirements and ensure feasibility. After initial prototypes were developed, I tested them with users to gather feedback, refine interactions, and adjust the features for optimal usability.
To ensure the solution met user needs, I conducted user interviews and usability testing. I worked closely with stakeholders to align the design with technical requirements and ensure feasibility. After initial prototypes were developed, I tested them with users to gather feedback, refine interactions, and adjust the features for optimal usability.
Results
By integrating project management functionality directly into the platform, the solution significantly reduced the need for external tools like spreadsheets. Users were able to track their progress, manage tasks, and collaborate more efficiently within the platform. This led to fewer errors, less time spent on redundant work, and a smoother overall user experience.
By integrating project management functionality directly into the platform, the solution significantly reduced the need for external tools like spreadsheets. Users were able to track their progress, manage tasks, and collaborate more efficiently within the platform. This led to fewer errors, less time spent on redundant work, and a smoother overall user experience.
The design is set to be included in the MVP release of the new platform, which will help organizations manage their B Impact Assessments more effectively and move through the certification process with greater ease.
👉 To view the full case study reach out to me here!