eBay Variations
Overview
Ebay allows sellers to create a single listing composed of separate items from the same product line. Monsoon Marketplace's lack of eBay variation support had been identified as a critical sales blocker, as it prevented customers from listing on eBay. While this feature had been on our road map for years, it moved to our top priority when one of our key customers informed us that without variation support, their investors would insist on leaving us. My role was to design a solution that would meet this customer's immediate needs while laying the framework for a full feature implementation.
I approached this problem with the following method:
Define the problem
A brief was imperative, as this was a huge project that could mean different things to different people. I gathered all stakeholders and facilitated a workshop that fed into the creation of this problem statement.
Ebay allows sellers to create a single listing composed of separate items from the same product line. Monsoon Marketplace's lack of eBay variation support had been identified as a critical sales blocker, as it prevented customers from listing on eBay. While this feature had been on our road map for years, it moved to our top priority when one of our key customers informed us that without variation support, their investors would insist on leaving us. My role was to design a solution that would meet this customer's immediate needs while laying the framework for a full feature implementation.
I approached this problem with the following method:
- Define the problem
- Customer research
- Create a glossary
- Sketch options
- Prototype
- Story Map
Define the problem
A brief was imperative, as this was a huge project that could mean different things to different people. I gathered all stakeholders and facilitated a workshop that fed into the creation of this problem statement.
Manufacturers and resellers need a workflow in Monsoon Marketplace to create eBay variation listings that can be integrated into their current workflow.
Customer research
The Product Owner and I identified five target customers. I remotely observed their workflows for creating listings on both Amazon and eBay. I created company profiles based on my observations.
The Product Owner and I identified five target customers. I remotely observed their workflows for creating listings on both Amazon and eBay. I created company profiles based on my observations.
Company Profiles
The Manufacturer - produces proprietary products to sell
- Adds products to Amazon's catalog using proprietary UPCs
- Uses spreadsheet workflows
The Reseller - orders products from other manufacturers
- Lists against items that are already in Amazon's catalog, only creates a product with variations when the product isn't in Amazon's catalog
- Must comply with the manufacturers listing requirements
- Uses spreadsheet workflows
The Hybrid Reseller - combines products from other manufacturers into custom kits
- Custom kits need to be added to Amazon's catalog
- Uses spreadsheet workflows
The Customizer - personalizes products from other manufacturers (ie. engraved jewelry)
- Needs to keep track of is stages of work
- Uses spreadsheet workflows
The Media Seller - sells items like books, music, and videos
- Lists against items that are already in Amazon's catalog
- Uses Monsoon Marketplaces UI workflows
Our target customers were identified as the manufacturer and the reseller. This definition so focused design on a spreadsheet-based workflow.
Create a glossary
I identified the need to establish a common language and created the following glossary with input from the development team.
Create a glossary
I identified the need to establish a common language and created the following glossary with input from the development team.
Sketch options
Thumbnail Sketches
To explore many different designs, I started by sketching six rough ideas.
Thumbnail Sketches
To explore many different designs, I started by sketching six rough ideas.
Choosing Direction
Refined the thumbnail sketches to three distinct options. Understanding that this is a place in the UI that people will not spend much time in, I worked with the development team to find a solution with the quickest implementation. We chose a hybrid approach, using the dialog from Option 1 with the grid from Option 3.
Refined the thumbnail sketches to three distinct options. Understanding that this is a place in the UI that people will not spend much time in, I worked with the development team to find a solution with the quickest implementation. We chose a hybrid approach, using the dialog from Option 1 with the grid from Option 3.
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Option 1
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Option 2
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Option 3
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Prototype
Created the following annotated wireframes to be used as a reference for the Product Owner and developers.
Story Mapping
Once we had an idea of the solution we were going after, we needed to figure out how to deliver the most basic value to our key customer. The Product Owner and I worked with the development team to plan slices of functionality to provide incremental value to our customer.
Results
The Product Owner, UX Writer, and I designed a solution that met the most basic functionality into the hands of our key customer, while setting up the framework for a full solution. We delivered small, incremental releases, providing us with a constant feedback loop and ensuring we were meeting the most basic needs of our customers.
Once we had an idea of the solution we were going after, we needed to figure out how to deliver the most basic value to our key customer. The Product Owner and I worked with the development team to plan slices of functionality to provide incremental value to our customer.
Results
The Product Owner, UX Writer, and I designed a solution that met the most basic functionality into the hands of our key customer, while setting up the framework for a full solution. We delivered small, incremental releases, providing us with a constant feedback loop and ensuring we were meeting the most basic needs of our customers.