Revamping product business

Revamping product business

Increased product adoption by 27% while revamping e-commerce business

Increased product adoption by 27% while revamping e-commerce business

About the company

About the company

Urban Company

Urban Company

Asias largest on-demand home service platform with

Asias largest on-demand home service platform with

10m+

10m+

Customers

Customers

100k+

100k+

Partners

Partners

04

04

Countries

Countries

Summary

Summary

Impact overview

Impact overview

Launched in all 4 countries, we tracked Q3 2022 and received promising results

Launched in all 4 countries, we tracked Q3 2022 and received promising results

+27%

+27%

Product adoption (From xx% to xx%)

Product adoption (From xx% to xx%)

+0.02pp

+0.02pp

Customer ratings (From 4.75 to 4.77)

Customer ratings (From 4.75 to 4.77)

+50%

+50%

Adoption in salon category

~8%

~8%

Auto-order adoption increased

-12%

-12%

Order related support tickets

Project Details

Project Details

Objective

Increasing product adoption, Revamp using new design system

Increasing product adoption, Revamp using new design system

Timeline

March 2022, 1 Month for design

March 2022, 1 Month for design

The Team

1 PM, 1 Data Scientist, 2 Developers, 1 Product Designer

1 PM, 1 Data Scientist, 2 Developers, 1 Product Designer

My Role

End-to-end, Product Designer

My role spanned across,

User & business Research

Wireframing

Hi-fi Designs

Prototyping

Setting brand guidelines

Usability Testing

Cross-functional collaboration

A/B Testing

My role spanned across,

User & business Research

Wireframing

Hi-fi Designs

Prototyping

Setting brand guidelines

Usability Testing

Cross-functional collaboration

A/B Testing

Business context

Business context

Bad customer experience and unmet market opportunity

Bad customer experience and unmet market opportunity

Urban Company enables its partners to buy genuine products directly from its in-app store. Since 2021, partners were shifting to cheaper after-market suppliers, driving a 9pp drop in service NPS.


Partners buying from the aftermarket were also an opportunity to gain business

Urban Company enables its partners to buy genuine products directly from its in-app store. Since 2021, partners were shifting to cheaper after-market suppliers, driving a 9pp drop in service NPS.


Partners buying from the aftermarket were also an opportunity to gain business

22%

22%

Product Adoption (Dec, 2021) North Star

Product Adoption (Dec, 2021) North Star

4.75

4.75

Average customer ratings 2021

XX cr

XX cr

Current sales from UC Store

HINDSIGHT!

HINDSIGHT!

Lower product adoption

Lower product adoption

Higher after market purchases

Higher after market purchases

Market opportunity • ₹XX cr

Brand opportunity

Unregulated brands

Unregulated brands

Bad service quality

Bad service quality

Business asked

Business asked

How to increase product adoption so that partners delivers consistent quality while we capture missed revenue?

How to increase product adoption so that partners delivers consistent quality while we capture missed revenue?

User Context

User Context

UC Partners

UC Partners

Does a specific job at customers location using products. For example, Home facial requires facial packs which can be bought from UC or from third parties

Does a specific job at customers location using products. For example, Home facial requires facial packs which can be bought from UC or from third parties

Non tech savy

Non tech savy

Local people

Local people

Culturally diverse

Culturally diverse

39,000

39,000

DAU (India), Dec 2021

2 Known problems

2 Known problems

Why are partners not buying from us?

Why are partners not buying from us?

We already know some reasons, but we didn't felt confident. Problems were,

We already know some reasons, but we didn't felt confident. Problems were,

Higher prices of UC Store

Aftermarket products were 5% cheaper on average

Higher prices of UC Store

Aftermarket products were 5% cheaper on average

Higher prices of UC Store

Aftermarket products were 5% cheaper on average

Higher prices of UC Store

Aftermarket products were 5% cheaper on average

Late order deliveries

Our delivery took 10 days on avg, which makes them buy aftermarket products

Late order deliveries

Our delivery took 10 days on avg, which makes them buy aftermarket products

Late order deliveries

Our delivery took 10 days on avg, which makes them buy aftermarket products

Late order deliveries

Our delivery took 10 days on avg, which makes them buy aftermarket products

To gain more understanding of these problems & partner behaviour, we did user interviews and ux audit.

To gain more understanding of these problems & partner behaviour, we did user interviews and ux audit.

User Interviews

User Interviews

Interviewed 10 partners

Interviewed 10 partners

User requirement
Top 3 job categories, At least 5 partners should have their earnings in the top 10%, More than 40 jobs a month, Spent at least 3 years

User requirement
Top 3 job categories, At least 5 partners should have their earnings in the top 10%, More than 40 jobs a month, Spent at least 3 years

We asked a lot of questions, and here's what most partners said

We asked a lot of questions, and here's what most partners said

UC products cost more, and I never know when they'll arrive

Cleaning Partner, Delhi

My order got cancelled a lot. I can't risk running out before a job

Salon Partner, Gurgaon

I can't find what I need in the app. The local vendor is just easier

Salon Partner, Delhi

UC products cost more, and I never know when they'll arrive

Step 1

My order got cancelled a lot. I can't risk running out before a job

Step 1

I can't find what I need in the app. The local vendor is just easier

Step 1

Problems we found

Problems we found

Key problem buckets

Key problem buckets

We found a lot of insights, pretaining to these major buckets

We found a lot of insights, pretaining to these major buckets

Problem 1

Value & savings visiblity

Price perception on UC Store is higher. Not aware of how much they can save

Problem 1

Value & savings visiblity

Price perception on UC Store is higher. Not aware of how much they can save

Problem 1

Value & savings visiblity

Price perception on UC Store is higher. Not aware of how much they can save

Problem 1

Value & savings visiblity

Price perception on UC Store is higher. Not aware of how much they can save

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

Order cancellations from supply Delivery TAT is > 10 days

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

Order cancellations from supply Delivery TAT is > 10 days

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

Order cancellations from supply Delivery TAT is > 10 days

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

Order cancellations from supply Delivery TAT is > 10 days

Problem 4

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs. Outdated content

Problem 4

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs. Outdated content

Problem 4

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs. Outdated content

Problem 4

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs. Outdated content

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time. Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time. Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time. Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time. Auto order is complex to understand

While digging deeper, we uncovered root problems

While digging deeper, we uncovered root problems

We went to UC warehouses, studied them, understood their concerns, checked data on current usage patterns, placed random orders on the app with differnet cities to check order experience, went to aftermarket shops with partners to understand how they buy. Things we found were really valuable:

We went to UC warehouses, studied them, understood their concerns, checked data on current usage patterns, placed random orders on the app with differnet cities to check order experience, went to aftermarket shops with partners to understand how they buy. Things we found were really valuable:

Value & savings visiblity

Promo & discount campaigns ran for short time

Low notification CTR engagement and low frequency of push notifications

Value & savings visiblity

Promo & discount campaigns ran for short time

Low notification CTR engagement and low frequency of push notifications

Value & savings visiblity

Promo & discount campaigns ran for short time

Low notification CTR engagement and low frequency of push notifications

Value & savings visiblity

Promo & discount campaigns ran for short time

Low notification CTR engagement and low frequency of push notifications

Trust & Transparency

Damaged products in warehouses

Creates panic and lower supply, which makes items go out of stock

60% deliveries got cancelled due to wrong current address

Trust & Transparency

Damaged products in warehouses

Creates panic and lower supply, which makes items go out of stock

60% deliveries got cancelled due to wrong current address

Trust & Transparency

Damaged products in warehouses

Creates panic and lower supply, which makes items go out of stock

60% deliveries got cancelled due to wrong current address

Trust & Transparency

Damaged products in warehouses

Creates panic and lower supply, which makes items go out of stock

60% deliveries got cancelled due to wrong current address

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time

Auto order is complex to understand

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time

Auto order is complex to understand

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time

Auto order is complex to understand

Proactive Inventory Management

Manual reordering and inventory checks consume valuable time

Auto order is complex to understand

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs

SKU Discoverability

Finding relevant SKUs

UX Audit

UX Audit

While doing the revamp, we wanted to implement new design system so we also analysed current app heuristics and identified key gaps & possible enhancements

While doing the revamp, we wanted to implement new design system so we also analysed current app heuristics and identified key gaps & possible enhancements

Key Problems

Key Problems

Major problem buckets

Major problem buckets

After going through the app and interviews, problems can be categorised into these major buckets

After going through the app and interviews, problems can be categorised into these major buckets

Problem 1

Broken IA

Ingress point is burried inside hamburger menu, which is hard to spot. Not aware of how much they can save. Key value props hidden inside at L3

Problem 1

Broken IA

Ingress point is burried inside hamburger menu, which is hard to spot. Not aware of how much they can save. Key value props hidden inside at L3

Problem 1

Broken IA

Ingress point is burried inside hamburger menu, which is hard to spot. Not aware of how much they can save. Key value props hidden inside at L3

Problem 1

Broken IA

Ingress point is burried inside hamburger menu, which is hard to spot. Not aware of how much they can save. Key value props hidden inside at L3

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

SKU content wasn’t satisfactory. Misleading brand information

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

SKU content wasn’t satisfactory. Misleading brand information

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

SKU content wasn’t satisfactory. Misleading brand information

Problem 2

Trust & Transparency

SKU content wasn’t satisfactory. Misleading brand information

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Auto order is complex to understand

Problem 3

Proactive Inventory Management

Auto order is complex to understand

Step 4

SKU Discoverability

Renaming of most SKU items is out-dated or is category specific like ‘washroom cleaning’. Search is broken, content keyword mismatched

Step 4

SKU Discoverability

Renaming of most SKU items is out-dated or is category specific like ‘washroom cleaning’. Search is broken, content keyword mismatched

Step 4

SKU Discoverability

Renaming of most SKU items is out-dated or is category specific like ‘washroom cleaning’. Search is broken, content keyword mismatched

Step 4

SKU Discoverability

Renaming of most SKU items is out-dated or is category specific like ‘washroom cleaning’. Search is broken, content keyword mismatched

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions

We brainstormed & implemented the most impactful solutions

We brainstormed & implemented the most impactful solutions

Solution 1

Solution 1

Revamping order tracking

Revamping order tracking

We bought complete clarity to partners regarding their orders. Active orders now surface upfront with real-time delivery status and clear TATs, which ensures transparency

We bought complete clarity to partners regarding their orders. Active orders now surface upfront with real-time delivery status and clear TATs, which ensures transparency

Active orders on homepage

Active orders on homepage

Real-time delivery status

Real-time delivery status

Specific delivery TATs

Specific delivery TATs

-26%

-26%

Orders related support contacts decreased

Orders related support contacts decreased

Solution 1 - Order tracking

Solution 1 - Order tracking

Solution 2

Solution 2

Low inventory prediction & its nudges

Low inventory prediction & its nudges

We introduced predictive low-inventory signals to help partners stay ahead of demand. Using a high-accuracy model, the system flags items at risk and nudges partners at the right moment.

Timely notifications make replenishment proactive instead of reactive.

We introduced predictive low-inventory signals to help partners stay ahead of demand. Using a high-accuracy model, the system flags items at risk and nudges partners at the right moment.

Timely notifications make replenishment proactive instead of reactive.

Algo predicts low inventory with 90% accuracy

Algo predicts low inventory with 90% accuracy

Notifications are sent to partners when low on inventory

Notifications are sent to partners when low on inventory

67%

67%

Low inventory nudge adoption

Low inventory nudge adoption

Solution 2 - Low inventory nudge on Homepage

Solution 2 - Low inventory nudge on Homepage

Solution 2 - Low inventory nudge on UC Store

Solution 2 - Low inventory nudge on UC Store

Solution 3

Solution 3

Smart inventory

Smart inventory

We have developed a smart system that eliminates manual effort from everyday operations. Automation handles inventory counts, low-stock nudges, and even auto-ordering at the right time. Stock checks are triggered naturally as jobs complete, keeping data fresh without extra work. By prioritizing low-stock items, partners stay prepared and avoid last-minute shortages.

We have developed a smart system that eliminates manual effort from everyday operations. Automation handles inventory counts, low-stock nudges, and even auto-ordering at the right time. Stock checks are triggered naturally as jobs complete, keeping data fresh without extra work. By prioritizing low-stock items, partners stay prepared and avoid last-minute shortages.

Replaced manual labour with automation, like inventory counts, low inventory nudges & auto ordering

Replaced manual labour with automation, like inventory counts, low inventory nudges & auto ordering

Asking for re-filling inventory when every job completes

Asking for re-filling inventory when every job completes

Higher priority to low stock items

Higher priority to low stock items

+46%

+46%

Add to cart CTR from low inventory

Add to cart CTR from low inventory

Solution 3 - Smart inventory

Solution 3 - Smart inventory

Solution 4

Solution 4

Auto-order cart

Auto-order cart

Orders automatically when inventory is low for subscribed items

Orders automatically when inventory is low for subscribed items

Savings focused, extra discounts

Savings focused, extra discounts

Improved visibility, easy subscription

Improved visibility, easy subscription

Removes manual labour of tracking & ordering inventory

Removes manual labour of tracking & ordering inventory

+12%

+12%

Auto-order adoption

Auto-order adoption

Solution 4 - Subscribing items for auto-order

Solution 4 - Subscribing items for auto-order

Solution 5

Solution 5

Making promos & discounts more prominent

Making promos & discounts more prominent

Used the new banner guidelines from ADS which focused on minimalism and clear value proposition. We also,

Used the new banner guidelines from ADS which focused on minimalism and clear value proposition. We also,

Increased sales campaigns

Increased sales campaigns

2x increase in promotion frequency

2x increase in promotion frequency

2.2x

2.2x

Promo notification CTR

Promo notification CTR

Solution 5 - New banners

Solution 5 - New banners

Solution 6

Solution 6

Increasing awareness & visibility

Increasing awareness & visibility

2x increase in frequency of push notifications related to discount/ promo campaigns

2x increase in frequency of push notifications related to discount/ promo campaigns

2x increase in low inventory item nudges

2x increase in low inventory item nudges

Improved footprint of low inventory items

Improved footprint of low inventory items

2.2x

2.2x

Promo notification CTR

Promo notification CTR

Solution 6 - More notifications

Solution 6 - More notifications

And the most important solution, we

And the most important solution, we

Revamped the homepage

Revamped the homepage

A/B tested 3 homepage variants

A/B tested 3 homepage variants

With 5% user base in 2 cities (Delhi and Bangalore)

With 5% user base in 2 cities (Delhi and Bangalore)

Control group

Control group

Linear architect

Linear architect

Order of the sections was buying flow, inventory tracking, auto-order, order tracking, promotions, value props

Order of the sections was buying flow, inventory tracking, auto-order, order tracking, promotions, value props

Decent engagement over categories

Decent engagement over categories

Low inventory had average results

Low inventory had average results

Auto-order lowest adoption

Auto-order lowest adoption

Variant A

Variant A

Focuses on low inventory

Focuses on low inventory

Order of the sections was buying flow, inventory tracking, auto-order, order tracking, promotions, value props

Order of the sections was buying flow, inventory tracking, auto-order, order tracking, promotions, value props

Low inventory had better conversion

Low inventory had better conversion

Highest Auto-order adoption

Highest Auto-order adoption

Highest purchase via categories

Highest purchase via categories

Variant B

Variant B

Segregated architechture (Tracking + Buying)

Segregated architechture (Tracking + Buying)

Tracking (Inventory, Orders, Auto-orders)

Tracking (Inventory, Orders, Auto-orders)

Buying (Purchase journey, Promotions, Value Props)

Buying (Purchase journey, Promotions, Value Props)

Focused more on buying

Focused more on buying

Tracking had low engagement

Tracking had low engagement

Lowest promotion adoption

Lowest promotion adoption

A/B Conclusion

A/B Conclusion

We choose higher engagement features and launched the new homepage

We choose higher engagement features and launched the new homepage

Highest engagement & conversion

Highest engagement & conversion

Stronger promotional lift

Stronger promotional lift

Displaying Low items in inventory directly under the SKU grid alerts partners before stockouts, reducing emergency orders.

Displaying Low items in inventory directly under the SKU grid alerts partners before stockouts, reducing emergency orders.

Final designs

Final designs

This is what it looked like after the designs.

This is what it looked like after the designs.

Intro banner

Intro banner

Puts value props infront of the user

Puts value props infront of the user

New Homepage

New Homepage

Focuses most on buying and low inventory

Focuses most on buying and low inventory

Order tracking

Order tracking

Easy order tracking & refund processing

Easy order tracking & refund processing

Auto-order

Auto-order

Auto-order enforcing before going to cart

Auto-order enforcing before going to cart

Out of stock items

Out of stock items

Put a reminder when stock is back

Put a reminder when stock is back

SKU Details

SKU Details

Clarity, trust, transparency in details

Clarity, trust, transparency in details

Impact

Impact

Impact

Impact

Launched in all 4 countries, we tracked Q3 2022 and received promising results

Launched in all 4 countries, we tracked Q3 2022 and received promising results

+27%

+27%

Product adoption (From xx% to xx%)

Product adoption (From xx% to xx%)

+0.02pp

+0.02pp

Customer ratings (From 4.75 to 4.77)

Customer ratings (From 4.75 to 4.77)

+50%

+50%

Adoption in salon category

~8%

~8%

Auto-order adoption increased

-12%

-12%

Order related support tickets

Future roadmap

Future roadmap

Product adherence

Product adherence

We want to increase product adherence using proof of work to make sure partner is using good products and customer experience is not compromised.

We want to increase product adherence using proof of work to make sure partner is using good products and customer experience is not compromised.

Learnings

Learnings

Familiarity is the biggest blind spot

Familiarity is the biggest blind spot

When I looked at the system like a first-time user, I noticed flows that technically worked but felt mentally heavy. Fresh eyes helped separate what functions from what actually feels obvious, and that was the biggest learning

When I looked at the system like a first-time user, I noticed flows that technically worked but felt mentally heavy. Fresh eyes helped separate what functions from what actually feels obvious, and that was the biggest learning

The End

The End

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