Bridging Digital & Physical Waste Management
OVERVIEW
SPCTA is an integrated waste management company, committed to promoting sustainability through innovative waste collection, processing, and recycling solutions.
To streamline operations at its Material Collection Centre (MCCs), SPCTA required a robust web application that digitises daily activities, enhances efficiency, and provides real-time oversight. The MCC Web Application was designed to serve multiple stakeholders, from MCC owners monitoring overall performance to attendants managing waste collection and supervisors overseeing daily operations.
MY ROLE
I collaborated closely with the product manager and key stakeholders to research and design the MCC Web Application. My role involved understanding operational workflows, identifying user needs, and translating them into an user friendly, scalable digital solution.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The primary challenge was to translate the day-to-day activities of SPCTA’s pilot Material Collection Centres (MCCs), which engage in processing different types of waste materials, into a seamless web application. This required capturing and digitising workflows to ensure smooth operations, including waste collection, categorisation, and logistics coordination.
RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS
The primary research approach involved conducting meetings with stakeholders at various levels to gain a comprehensive understanding of the workflows, pain points, and goals associated with the pilot MCC operations. These discussions provided critical insights into the needs of different user groups, which were then synthesised into distinct personas to guide the design process. Additionally, the MCCs were currently handling three types of waste, plastics, aluminium, and oil, each following a slightly different recycling process.
Through stakeholder engagement, several critical insights emerged:
IDEATION AND STRATEGY
With clear research insights, the next step was to map out the user flows to visualise how different personas would interact with the MCC web application. The initial approach focused on designing waste-based user flows, aligning each step with the waste recycling process for plastics, aluminium, and oil.
However, after discussions with the team, it became evident that a process-based flow would be more effective. This shift ensured that:
Process-based user flow diagram (Plastic)
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
With a clear structure in place, the next step was to translate the defined workflows into a user-friendly design. To ensure that the digital interface mirrored the real-world MCC experience, specific UI elements were chosen to align with how attendants physically interact with waste collection and processing.
OUTCOMES
The digitalisation of SPCTA’s workflow led to the creation of a seamless web application that could be efficiently deployed across multiple Material Collection Centres (MCCs). By streamlining processes and improving accessibility for various user roles, the web app enhanced operational efficiency and minimised training costs. Additionally, the improved structure and scalability of the platform positioned SPCTA for growth, helping the organisation secure additional funding to expand its impact in waste management and recycling.