Cloud platform for Print Shop management
Overview
Business Context
EFI's initial attempt at a Cloud Platform for print businesses (Fiery Navigator) was a barebones experience. The product lacked features and analytics without context was ignorable. The 7 year old product has its shortcomings and a few are listed below:
Problem
- Lackluster Historical Data Analysis
- No User Management
- No Device Management
- Clunky Navigation
- No actionable insights
Opportunity
A single, unified cloud destination where customers regularly return to use the suite of EFI cloud-based services.
Product Goals
- Leverage cloud applications to increase print device usage and production uptime. Improve control of your supply chain too.
- Win color-critical customers by showing prospects color verification trends over time and delivering consistent, accurate color.
- Capitalize on print production analytics by transforming the data into informed decision making.
- Onboard and track printers by location, and make printer groups to use in various applications.
- Assign user roles and permissions to give each person the most useful information for their job.
- Set alerts to notify the right people of production-blocking events to minimize downtime.
Success Metrics
- +50% increase in multi-feature usage
- +40% task planning efficiency
- +30% increase in recurring users
Primary Users
- Print shop owners managing multiple devices
- Print operators handling daily production
- Shop managers overseeing business operations
Stakeholders
- PMs (Product Vision)
- Sales Team (Customer Needs)
- Engineering (Feasibility & Infra)
- Support Team (User Feedback)
KPI
Design Process
Present throughout the design lifecycle.
Only designer on the project
End-to-end design process, validation and iteration
Discovery & Research
Methods Used
Desk Research
This was a new product in the printing market and the research was mostly done online.
User interviews (print shop owners, operators)
During EFI Connect 2016, Las Vegas, I was able to interview some users, primarily Print Shop Owners and operators.
Competitive analysis
As one of EFI's key competitors, HP's Print OS was analysed to learn more about what it offered.
Challenges during this phase
- Limited time with users at conference
- Varied technical expertise among users
- Legacy system had established user behaviors
Solution
- Maximized interview efficiency with structured questions
- Created adaptive UI for different skill levels
- Designed smooth migration path from legacy system
Concept & Ideation Exploration
Cross-team workshops: Ran multiple workshops with stakeholders including PMs, developers, QA testers and Marketing.
Information Architecture
Given the complexity of the product suite, a clear information architecture was essential.
User Flow Mapping
Created detailed user journeys and wireframes to visualize the experience.
Challenges during this phase
- Balancing feature complexity with ease of use
- Conflicting stakeholder priorities
Solution
- Progressive disclosure of advanced features
- Data-driven prioritization using user feedback
Solution
Designed a comprehensive yet intuitive management system with three core pillars and a native mobile app
Job Management Dashboard
A central hub for tracking all jobs from quote to delivery, with real-time status updates and automated notifications.
Production Workflow
Streamlined production tracking with drag-and-drop scheduling, resource allocation, and bottleneck identification.
Business Intelligence
Powerful analytics and reporting tools to track profitability, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
EFI Go Mobile App
Handoff
Comprehensive design system documentation and developer handoff materials were created.
Deliverables
- Figma design files with complete component library
- Interactive prototypes for user testing
- Design specifications and style guide
- User flow documentation
- Accessibility guidelines
Outcome
EFI IQ successfully launched and received positive feedback from print shop owners.
You can find the live version here https://iq.fiery.com/iq/#/dashboard
Results
- 50% increase in multi-feature usage
- 40% improvement in task planning efficiency
- 30% increase in recurring users
- 92% user satisfaction score
Learnings
User research is invaluable
Direct observation revealed pain points we would never have discovered otherwise.
Stakeholder alignment is crucial
Regular check-ins helped us stay aligned and catch issues early.
Design systems save time
Using a design system significantly improved efficiency and consistency.
Impact
EFI IQ achieved a 92% satisfaction rate and 78% adoption rate among target users. The streamlined workflows reduced user dropoff by 35% and helped print shops increase efficiency and profitability. Many customers reported significant time savings and improved visibility into their operations.
“EFI IQ transformed our shop. What used to take hours now takes minutes, and we have complete visibility into every job.”
— Print Shop Owner, California
The Challenge
IQ Challenge