The Vision
Muzes is a digital sales tool to streamline the cumbersome and complex procurement process. Muzes integrates various procurement stages into a unified, efficient platform, including risk assessments, compliance checks, feature and function evaluations, and license management.
My vision at Muzes is to revolutionize the procurement process by creating a seamless, intuitive application that transforms complex, multi-stage operations into efficient, streamlined experiences. By leveraging cutting-edge design and technology, I aim to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce delays, empowering teams to focus on what truly matters—driving value and innovation.
The Challenge
The typical procurement process within our organization is prolonged, often lasting from six months to a year and involving up to ten stakeholders. This extended timeline creates inefficiencies and delays, hindering productivity and progress. Our challenge is to develop a solution that enables seamless connections between buyers and vendors, and subsequently streamlines the entire procurement process.
Discovery Audit
User Interviews
Stakeholder Debrief
Persona Development
Process Mapping
Journey Mapping
Feature Finding
Whiteboarding
Wireflows
The Task
Deliver an end-to-end user experience that reduces cold calls from vendors and leverages AI innovations to streamline the procurement process.
The Personas
Dylan Davidson, the requestor, submits a request for new software licenses. James Jackson, the Procurement Manager, receives Dylan's request and prepares a detailed statement of need. James then posts this need on the company’s public profile on Muzes.
Vendors, including Padma Patel, can view the posting and apply to fulfill the need. Muzes performs an automated AI-driven prescreening of the vendor submissions. If Padma’s product meets the specified requirements, the system allows her to directly communicate with James Jackson. After Padma passes the prescreening process, Susan Summers, the Security Analyst, is notified to begin the process of vetting the product to ensure it meets all company compliance and security standards.
The Procurement Manager - James Jackson / Age 39
James has over 15 years of experience in procurement within large tech companies. He holds an MBA and has extensive knowledge of contract negotiation, vendor management, and procurement strategies.
Goals:
- Streamline the procurement process to save time and reduce costs.
- Ensure all software and licenses meet company requirements and compliance standards.
- Build strong relationships with reliable vendors.
Challenges:
- Dealing with lengthy vendor evaluations and compliance checks.
- Managing multiple requests from different teams with varying needs.
- Staying updated on the latest software trends and ensuring the company’s tech stack is current.
The Security Analyst - Susan Summers / Age 56
Susan is a cybersecurity expert with a background in IT security and compliance. She has been with the company for 5 years, focusing on ensuring that all software purchases meet stringent security requirements.
Goals:
- Validate that all procured software complies with the company’s security policies.
- Ensure that any new software integrates seamlessly with existing systems.
- Minimize security risks associated with third-party vendors.
Challenges:
- Analyzing a large number of products within tight deadlines.
- Collaborating effectively with other SMEs and procurement teams.
- Keeping up with the rapidly changing landscape of security threats.
The Requestor - Dylan Davidson / Age 32
Dylan has been with the company for 3 years and is responsible for leading a team of developers. He frequently needs to request new tools and licenses to support his team’s work.
Goals:
- Quickly obtain the necessary tools and licenses to keep his team productive.
- Ensure that the requested software meets his team’s specific needs.
- Avoid bureaucratic delays in the procurement process.
Challenges:
- Navigating the procurement process efficiently without getting bogged down in unnecessary steps.
- Justifying the need for new software to higher management.
- Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
The Vendor - Padma Patel / Age 26
Padma has been in enterprise sales for over 4 years, representing various software products. She specializes in B2B sales and has a deep understanding of the procurement process from the vendor side.
Goals:
- Successfully sell software products by highlighting their value and relevance to the company’s needs.
- Build lasting relationships with key decision-makers within the company.
- Meet or exceed sales targets and quotas.
Challenges:
- Differentiating her product from competitors in a crowded market.
- Understanding and addressing the specific concerns of procurement managers and analysts.
- Overcoming objections related to price, compliance, or integration challenges.
The Results
I delivered a comprehensive document outlining the initiative, emphasizing key insights from the discovery phase. This included a detailed journey map and notable findings that would guide the development process moving forward. See a preview below.
My strategy included an experience so seekers can easily find and secure parking spots by either entering their location manually or using GPS. Once a spot is located, they receive GPS directions to meet the spot owner, complete the swap, and then rate and tip the owner via popular cash apps.
For swappers, I focused on ensuring they could easily choose the best seeker based on location and rating. After selecting a match, they share their location, wait for the seeker, complete the swap, and then receive payment, with an option to rate the experience.
ParkSwap provides a convenient, crowd-sourced solution for parking, allowing users to park closer to their destinations at a lower cost. In the end, the stakeholders were extremely pleased with the MVP and are eager to continue user experience sessions to further refine and enhance the application.
Learn how you can become a design partner y visiting www.muzes.ai
The Gallery
