Revitalizing Warehouse Operations: A Strategic Redesign of the RF (Radio Frequency) Scanner Interface
The main goal is to systematically improve the RF (Radio Frequency) scanner interface for warehouse operatives/users within warehouse operations. Using a research-driven approach, this initiative employs design methodologies to enhance overall efficiency for better work usability.
Upon examining the RF scanner use, UX/UI issues led to applying design-thinking principles. This involved a process of experimentation, thorough research, and creating modification recommendations.
The flawed RF scanner interface eventually causes habituation, with users adapting to it over time. New warehouse operatives also adjust, with frequent engagement with the task, however, frustrations still exist.
The act of warehouse operative
The responsibilities of a warehouse operative encompass the execution of tasks within a controlled environment, notably under challenging conditions. In this operational context, the operative utilizes a Radio Frequency (RF) scanner, affixed to their wrist via an infrared laser cable, facilitating enhanced precision during scanning activities.
The process unfolds as follows: upon directing attention to the RF scanner’s display, the user receives explicit location details guiding them to the specific area where an item is to be retrieved. Simultaneously, the operative manoeuvres a trolley, adeptly pushing or pulling, accommodating a payload of 12 boxes.
Upon successfully locating and securing the designated item, the RF scanner is used to scan the item’s barcode. After this scanning procedure, the RF scanner’s screen provides instructions to guide the user in placing the item within one of the 12 boxes present on the manually manoeuvrable trolley.
To conclude the assigned task and transition to the next location, the user is required to perform an additional barcode scan. This scan involves selecting from three barcodes, each identified by a colour — Red, Blue, and Green — attached to each box, ensuring proper categorization and subsequent logistical movement.
Simple on the surface with a few holistic technicalities.
Example:
-The constant act of searching.
-Finding accurate location and item.
-The role of recognition and memorization affects the speed and completion of tasks.
The physical duration and frequency of lifting the arm to reduce the proximity of the Rf scanner on the wrist to eye level, for better readability.
With the help of research, user interviews, questioning, observations and tryouts the redesign within this case study intends to tackle all of these issues:
Specific Problem identifications
the main focus will be within this screen’s interface. Once the operative has picked up an item and scanned it with the RF scanner, this screen appears.
.The typography is small, bland and hard to read from a low hip distance.
.Wasted information that users become habituated to eventually.
.No clear distinction when aisle location has changed and the user has to go to the next aisle to collect the item.
.When the physical barcode is incorrect users have to physically type in difficult conditions.
.When scanning more than one item confusion can occur with the information displayed as 0/3 1/3 2/3, with no 3/3.
.After an item is scanned, the box location is presented in small-size typography forcing the users to lift their arm to eye level for better readability, especially when the RF scanner becomes loose on the wrist.
.Overall task count on the screen doesn’t inspire the completion of the task.
.Manoeuvring around other operatives with their 12-box trolley.
All problems will be addressed with basic redesign recommendations.
Solution Goals:
Improve readability
Aid better recognition and memorization
Reduce time duration looking at RF scanner
Decrease the proximity needed to look at the gun from eye level.
Reduce mild confusion when changing aisle lanes
Better mobility around other workers
Ui wireframes redesign:
Enlarged Number
Explicitly using the aid of visual colouring for which barcode colour needs to be scanned on a box, creates quick introjection of the information even with the wrist (RF scanner) being far away from eyesight level, not having to rely on small text typography.
Text on Number
Maintaining a bit of scepticism is important, therefore I questioned the impact this could hypothetically have on long-term warehouse operatives. Alternating from colour recognition to the more natural approach of reading the number and text colour within the original design, could somewhat create the Stroop effect. The idea is that the human mind reads text faster than colour recognition. (Although, unlike the Stroop test, the operative doesn’t have to actually say the colour out loud.) Nevertheless, to reduce cognitive inertia and better adjustability for long-term users, I thought it best recommended to implement the text of the colour. The process of recognizing Six and 6 is pretty level when conducting some tests with people. Although everyone has their own subjective experiences, putting the text ‘Six’ on ‘6’ felt pointless in comparison to the text’s colour ‘green’ on the colour green.
It’s difficult to implement an objective form of memorization techniques for all operatives to find beneficial, however, there are universal basic techniques that could be applied. The goal was to allow the operative to see the next item location on this screen for quick introjection. Also to make the first digit out of the three to be less significant and more colour-visual for better recognisation. For example, instead of 437B, the 4 would be smaller with its own isolated colour. The reason is that the first digit changes less frequently than the last two digits and letters when the operative is working. Remembering only 37B and visually recognizing the first digit due to its number colour (workers within time will adapt to numbers and colour recognition for 1–6 first digits) would aid memory for the current location and the next location.
Next Location Blinking
Just after an item is scanned, or during scanning, the next location number will blink 3 or more times. Once again studies have suggested flashing information grabs attention quicker which may aid recognition, therefore aiding location number memorization.
Aisle Color Change
UX redesign for the second screen.
When the item’s location is within a different aisle, the aisle colour location will change. Once the operative is within that location, the text will go back to black to reduce visual information distraction. The goal once again is to grab attention to reduce confusion. From new user observation, they will collect the wrong item from being within the wrong aisle location.
Scan Bag
A green checkmark is shown straight after the scanned item. Aesthetically pleasing.
Wrong Barcode and Typing
Typing can be difficult and frustrating even with the aid of a stylus. Therefore, a simple copy and paste would save so much time and frustration for the user. This may occur when the RF scanner laser is not scanning due to errors with the item's logistics or damaged barcode, therefore the user must go manual.
Aisle Item Count
Initially, the goal was to show the overall item's task count decreasing as an operative collects items to better incentivize the completion of their task quicker. However, the incentive to finish a task quicker because of such information seemed very mild when questioning users. Therefore, the focus was on items remaining within an aisle section. One of the elements within this task is operatives have to navigate among themselves within a tight-squeeze environment. An operative knowing how many items they have remaining within an aisle section could better help with mobility around each other.
Item Remaining
Previous interface: 0/3 1/3 2/3. Users unfamiliar with this will continue staring there waiting to scan the next item until they see 3/3. Showing the items' remaining count will better aid warehouse operatives to move on to the next item. The goal is to implicitly spend less time looking at the RF scanner’s screen.
First Line
The line between Location and Next Location’s first colour digit is to create that quick recognition visual aid so users would not even have to spend much attention on the first number. 86A 99C. Once again these recognition and memory techniques are not universal and without user testing, flaws can occur. However, with time this could be visually useful and they’re subtle enough to be used or ignored. delete./…
Data collected:
Data collected:
Far from a conventional qualitative method, data was collected through..
-Subjective testing
-Naturalistic Observation.
-Questioning operatives to better understand their experiences and frustrations.
-Very limited but enough to make needed intuitive improvements to the RF Gun interface.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, these design recommendations are solely based on and for new users/operatives. Based on observation experienced users have developed a sense of familiar aptitude on how to intuitively coordinate themselves with the RF scanner. For example, just after scanning an item, an experienced operative would be looking for the next location before the screen interface changes. Although all users should benefit from at least a few of these changes.
Aesthetically pleasing improvements within the interface only as a byproduct of the functionality. Not a redecoration but a design reflection of aiding the users to better utilize the RF scanner. Designs are simple enough without thinking about a whole system change.
Holistically would it improve overall performance without changing the hardware? This is something which would need to be further analyzed with rigorous user testing, feasibility analysis and performance measurements.
Final Remarks on Visual Item Aid Implementation
Final Remarks on Visual Item Aid Implementation.
I had ongoing conversations with business operatives who mentioned the new RF scanner will implement pictures of items. No doubt visual aid of an item on the RF gun interface will better improve recognition and accuracy significantly. However, the location number will still be needed. Therefore this could slow down overall performance when the memory now has to hold on to additional visual information.
Design Flaws with adding image implementation.
— Some items may still be boxed up, making the visual aid pointless if these items are not explicitly on display.
— Second, some items hidden on top of one another or side to side would once again defeat the purpose of displaying the item’s image on the screen.
Conclusion. The human brain naturally reads faster than visual aids, especially items one may be unfamiliar with. Consider that the physical positioning of the item may not create the instant image recognition that appears on the RF scanner due to perspective.
Automation..
The future of robotics automation within the freezer department. It was concluded that without a full rethink and redesign, going fully automated would be difficult simply because of the unstructured environment, which needs a large amount of mobility.
However, there are a few possibilities, one being a semi-automated robotic trolley that follows a line throughout the floor aisle, aided by colour tracking, infrared sensors, cameras, and localization mapping. This trolley would then move to the next location when an operative scans an item with the RF scanner.
This would:
-Eliminate the pushing and pulling of the trolley.
-Give the ability for one operative to work with a larger semi-automated trolley during a full task run, more than doubling the item collection amount with a lot less physical effort.
The basic functionality is that the semi-automated trolley will navigate on its own and carry twice as much load.
Problems: Avoidance and manoeuvring around other operatives with their robotic trolleys. Breakdowns.
Solution: An AI system would take into consideration the speed and efficiency of each particular warehouse operative based on their performance and use this data to avoid traffic, with overtaking, delays, or switching users to a different semi-automated robotics trolley.
Missing information and images due to confidentiality.
Thanks for reading
