Challenge

FarmX had developed a web-first commercial farming ERP platform. However, as the user base expanded and operational demands became more mobile, there was a growing need to provide field-level access through a dedicated mobile application. 

The original platform was designed with a strong emphasis on functionality over user experience, meaning there was limited visual design consistency, no style guide, and minimal reusable UI components. While this made the transition to mobile more complex, it also provided an opportunity to carry out a ground up design

Approach

We led the design of the mobile application from the ground up, ensuring it was both user-centric and technically aligned with existing backend systems. Our approach included:

• User discovery sessions with field hands, farm managers, and back-office staff to understand user roles, the context in which the application would be used, and pain points in the existing system.
  
• Defining which functions within each module of the ERP were essential for mobile and working with the client to prioritise feature delivery based on operational impact.
  
• Integration mapping, evaluating existing API compatibility with mobile use cases and scoping necessary backend adjustments.
  
• UX/UI design, including high-fidelity prototypes tested iteratively with key users to validate usability, accessibility, and fit for real-world scenarios.
  
• Technical documentation, translating features into clear user stories and acceptance criteria for the development team to implement efficiently.
  
  

Result

We collaborated closely with the client’s engineering team to roll out the mobile application in phased sprints, following an agile, roadmap-driven delivery model. New features were released every two weeks, allowing continuous feedback loops and enabling rapid iteration. The final product was a well-received mobile app that significantly improved data entry accuracy and consistency in the field. It also reduced reliance on informal or fragmented workflows, increasing real-time visibility and traceability across farm operations.

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