DISCOVER
BACKGROUND
The Power-Strip Inventory app empowers Data Center analysts and project managers to effortlessly manage, edit, and remove power-strips across Cisco’s global Data Centers. By automating tasks that were once manual, it streamlines operations, saving valuable time for Cisco personnel. Moreover, transitioning the process to a production environment enhances security, reducing vulnerability.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
2 individuals bore the responsibility of overseeing more than 2,500 power strips. Should any physical issues arise with these strips, personnel from the 15+ data centers must physically enter to effect changes. Additionally, the existing alert system operates within a lab environment, heightening the risk of vulnerabilities.
UNDERSTANDING OUR USERS/PERSONAS
I've chosen our primary users for the Power-strip dashboard. Below, you'll find profiles for both technical and non-technical users. Click on each user to view their detailed information.
DISCOVER: USER-CENTERED DESIGN
I conducted multiple interview sessions to grasp the users' requirements. In the short term, our users aim to establish a dedicated area for accessing and downloading all applications and devices housed within our Data Centers. Looking ahead, clients expressed a desire to have the flexibility to exclude specific data columns from the extensive dataset in the long term. Additionally, we delved into discussions about the preferred platform and the availability of any existing UI presence.
DESIGN
Following the initial interviews, I crafted detailed notes and commenced crafting both low and high-fidelity wireframes. Leveraging the existing UI toolkit, we maintained consistency with the familiar aesthetics of Cisco products. Upon completion, I conceptualized ideas and shared them with the development team within our customary two-week sprint cycle. Once the final approval was secured, I provided the team with a high-fidelity prototype, demonstrating the actual user interactions expected with the product. Below, you'll find the creative design process outlined in detail.
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TEST & ITERATE (T&I)
Assisted by our front and back-end developers, we successfully rolled out the initial iteration of the UI design into the development environment, enabling stakeholders to explore the new platform.
I enlisted specific participants to record their usage of the tool while verbally expressing their thoughts, highlighting preferences, criticisms, and any concerns they encountered.
Following the feedback, we initiated a cycle of "continuous improvement," revisiting steps 2 (design) through 4 (testing and implementation) iteratively.
RESULTS
The Power-Strip platform empowers our layer one technicians to autonomously manage their local strips. This application enables them to delete, edit, and modify strips by automating backend processes, resulting in savings of up to 180 hours upon implementation. Additionally, it facilitates further savings during future power strip installations. Deployed globally across four regions, the application ensures users can confidently make changes in a production environment.
180
Hours
Saved up to
