EaliX

Revolutionizing the Gig Economy through Innovative Solutions for Seekers and Owners

Background

The project is centered around addressing the challenges faced by individuals in the gig economy, including students, part-time workers, and freelancers, in finding flexible and reliable employment opportunities.

It was inspired by the growing demand for jobs that accommodate fluctuating schedules, especially among younger professionals. Additionally, small businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, struggle to efficiently fill short-term positions.

Through research, surveys, and design thinking, the project developed innovative solutions aimed at streamlining the job search and recruitment process, benefiting both job seekers and business owners. This includes a cutting-edge matching algorithm, real-time notifications, and verified profiles, which ensure ease of connection and trust between both parties​

Methodology

Scenario

I’m interested in solving the challenges individuals face in finding flexible work. This scenario seems like a perfect opportunity to combine design with practical problem-solving, which aligns well with my skills and interests.

  • Relevance

    Scenario 1 addresses a common real-world problem faced by many individuals, in my social circle particularly students

  • Impact

    Scenario 1 highlights scheduling challenges and part-time job search, offering solutions for job seekers and local businesses.

  • Complexity

    The scenario presents a complex problem involving both job seekers and employers

  • Personal Interest and Expertise

    The topic of flexible employment and part time job resonates with your interests and skills

Empathize

Target Audience Identification

In this section, we will identify the project's primary stakeholders. These stakeholders can be broadly categorized into two groups: job seekers who offer the the gig and business owners.

Job Seeks:

Job seekers in the gig economy Include a diverse range of individuals seeking flexible work opportunities.

This includes:

  • Seeking part-time employment to support their studies or gain work experience.

  • Individuals looking for supplementary income or flexible work arrangements.

  • Professionals seeking project based or contract work outside traditional employment

Business Owners:

Business owners represent the entities offering short-term employment opportunities in the gig economy.

This includes:

  • Seeking to fill shifts for servers, cooks, and other hospitality roles.

  • Requiring additional staff for events, functions, or busy periods.

  • Needing temporary help with tasks such as administrative work, deliveries, or customer service.

The Survey

Survey Type

  • Online questionnaire distributed via email and social media

    platforms

Sample Size

  • 500 respondents from diverse backgrounds, including students,

    part-time workers, freelancers, and digital nomads.

Flexibility is Key

85% of respondents indicated that flexibility in work arrangements is extremely important or very important in their job search.

Access to Diverse Opportunities

70% of participants reported finding it somewhat difficult or very difficult to discover job opportunities that align with their skills and availability

Survey Questions

  • How important is flexibility in your job search?

  • Do you find it challenging to discover job opportunities that match your skills and availability

  • What factors contribute to your sense of financial stability in short-term employment?

  • How do you prefer to search for and apply to job opportunities?

Key Findings

Convenience in Job Search

Regarding job search methods, 65% of respondents preferred using online platforms or mobile apps, citing convenience and ease of use as primary reasons

Reliability of Income

90% of surveyed individuals cited consistent payment and transparent payment processes as essential factors contributing to their sense of financial stability in short-term employmen

User Journey

Define

Problem Statement

In the gig economy, seekers, including students, part-time workers, and freelancers, face significant challenges in finding and securing flexible employment opportunities that accommodate their fluctuating schedules and preferences. Simultaneously, businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, encounter difficulties in efficiently managing their staffing needs, especially during unpredictable fluctuations in demand or unexpected staff shortages

    • Limited options for short-notice employment

    • Fluctuating schedules and availability

    • Difficulty in finding and keeping part-time and flexible work

    • Difficulty in finding suitable candidates to fill short-term vacancies, especially at short notice.

    • Operational disruptions and service quality compromises due to under-staffing

    • Lack of a streamlined process for posting job openings and managing gig workers

Sarah Jo

Persona Freelancer

Age: 22

Occupation: College Student

Sarah is a college student pursuing her degree in graphic design. She is passionate about her field but struggles to find consistent part-time work due to her fluctuating class schedule. Sarah needs a flexible job that allows her to balance her studies while earning extra income. She is specifically looking for easy part-time jobs, such as a cashier, that do not require extensive training or time commitments.

    • Find part-time work that fits around her college schedule

    • Gain real-world experience in her field of study

    • Earn extra income to cover living expenses and tuition fees

    • Difficulty in finding flexible job opportunities with short notice

    • Limited availability due to academic commitments

    • Inconsistent income streams affecting financial stability

    • Creative, ambitious, and hardworking

    • Tech-savvy with a strong interest in digital platforms

    • Open to new experiences and opportunities for growth

    • Access to a platform that connects her with short- term job opportunities

    • Reliable notification system for immediate job postings

    • Supportive community and resources for skill development and networking

David Ro.

Persona Business Owner

Age: 35

Occupation: Small Business Owner (Coffee Shop)

David owns a cozy coffee shop in the downtown area. He is passionate about providing quality coffee and excellent customer service but often faces challenges in staffing, especially during peak hours. David needs a solution that helps him quickly fill shifts and maintain smooth operations

    • Ensure adequate staffing to meet customer demand

    • Minimize disruptions caused by unexpected staff shortages

    • Improve operational efficiency and service quality

    • Difficulty in finding reliable part-time staff at short notice

    • High turnover rate among part-time employees

    • Limited resources for recruiting and training new hires

    • Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and detail-oriented

    • Customer-focused with a strong commitment to quality.

    • Willing to adopt innovative solutions to improve business operations

    • Access to a pool of qualified candidates for part-time positions

    • User-friendly platform for posting job listings and managing shifts

    • Reliable communication channels for coordinating with staff and managing schedules

Ideate

The Ideate phase is a critical part of the design thinking process, During this phase, we explore various concepts and refine them into feasible solutions for our target users gig providers (students, part-time workers, and freelancers) and business owners restaurants, cafes, and other small businesses).

  • Brainstorming Session

    Participants

    - UX Designer (me)

    - Researcher (me)

    - Stakeholders (representatives of gig provider and business owners)

  • Techniques Used

    - Mind Mapping

    - Rapid Ideation

    - Brainwriting

  • Generated Ideas

    - Real-Time Notifications

    - Profile Setup

    - Online booking

    - Project Listings

Information Architecture

Prototype

Wireframe

Mock-up

Design System

Testing Goals

Test

  • The objective of this usability testing plan is to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction of the EaLix mobile app prototype. By observing users' interactions with the app and collecting feedback

    • 3 participants representative of the target user demographic (students, part-time workers, freelancers).

    • Participants should have varying levels of familiarity with mobile apps and the gig economy

    • All participants were able to complete all tasks successfully

    • all participants are willing to use AeLix

    • 2 out fof the 3 participants like Aelix simplicity

    • All participants consider the payment gateway as important feature

  • Test product concept

  • Evaluate Ease of Navigation

  • Gather Feedback for Improvement

  • Gauge User Satisfaction

Communication Method

Participant Profiles

  • Sara M

    - 30 years old

    - house wife

    - dog walker

  • Amr Q

    - 42 years old

    - Student

    - Barista or cashier

  • S Lee

    - 32 years old

    - Taxi driver

    - Any part time job

Usability Test Plan Dashboard

Key Findings & Recommendations

  • Users are interested in viewing the distance between the gig provider and the business

  • The proposed solution is to display the distance between each user and their location on a map

Next

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