Reducing Data Anxiety of Superintendents
Through a “Simplified Dashboard Experience”

Reducing Data Anxiety of Superintendents
Through a “Simplified Dashboard Experience”

Reducing Data Anxiety
of Superintendents Through a
“Simplified Dashboard Experience”

Quick Summary
with Final Redesigned Dashboard

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Quick Summary
with Final Redesigned Dashboard

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Quick Summary with Final Redesigned Dashboard

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Problem: Outdated legacy dashboard not delivering actionable insights in a clear and efficient manner.


Action: Reduced data anxiety of superintendents with sensible data & simplified visuals.

Outcome: Improved adoption + confident decision making.

Impact: Improved work efficiency + Saved nearly billion dollars in revenue.

Problem: Outdated legacy dashboard not delivering actionable insights in a clear and efficient manner.


Action: Reduced data anxiety of superintendents with sensible data & simplified visuals.

Outcome: Improved adoption + confident decision making.

Impact: Improved work efficiency + Saved nearly billion dollars in revenue.

Overview
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Overview
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Overview
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Company

Company

MISC Group

MISC Group

Product

Product

Propeller - Shore Portal

Propeller - Shore Portal

Type

Type

Inventory Analytics 
Desktop Application

Inventory Analytics 
Desktop Application

My Role

My Role

Product Designer (UI/UX)

Product Designer (UI/UX)

The Team

The Team

Product Manager - 1
Product Designer (UI/UX) - 1
Frontend Developers - 2
Backend Developers - 2
Quality Assurance - 1

Product Manager - 1
Product Designer (UI/UX) - 1
Frontend Developers - 2
Backend Developers - 2
Quality Assurance - 1

Timeline

Timeline

24 Weeks

24 Weeks

Let’s understand the basics of the project

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Let’s understand the basics of the project

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Let’s understand the basics of
the project

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What is propeller shore portal?

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What is propeller shore portal?

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Propeller Shore Portal is a dashboard designed to “manage and monitor spare parts required for vessel operations”. It provides visibility into inventory stored on-board vessels.
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The platform tracks the lifecycle of spares from procurement through purchase orders to final consumption via work orders. This helps “superintendents, procurers, and PMOs” monitor inventory movement and manage maritime logistics more efficiently.

Propeller Shore Portal is a dashboard designed to “manage and monitor spare parts required for vessel operations”. It provides visibility into inventory stored on-board vessels.
​
The platform tracks the lifecycle of spares from procurement through purchase orders to final consumption via work orders. This helps “superintendents, procurers, and PMOs” monitor inventory movement and manage maritime logistics more efficiently.

Who are superintendents?

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Who are superintendents?

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When I first came across the “Shore Portal,” my immediate focus was understanding the users — who the primary users were and who the product was being designed for. Through this process, I learned more about “Superintendents” and their operational responsibilities.

Superintendents oversee vessel or fleet operations and are responsible for monitoring inventory levels, tracking critical spares, managing transformations, and reviewing vessel spending against allocated budgets to ensure both operational and financial efficiency.

When I first came across the “Shore Portal,” my immediate focus was understanding the users — who the primary users were and who the product was being designed for. Through this process, I learned more about “Superintendents” and their operational responsibilities.

Superintendents oversee vessel or fleet operations and are responsible for monitoring inventory levels, tracking critical spares, managing transformations, and reviewing vessel spending against allocated budgets to ensure both operational and financial efficiency.

Problem that

Superintendents are Facing.

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Problem that

Superintendents

are Facing.

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Problem that

Superintendents are Facing.

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Superintendents relied on the shore portal dashboard to monitor “critical operational and procurement activities”, but the legacy experience failed to surface actionable insights in a clear and efficient manner. Important information was fragmented & hidden across multiple sections forcing users to spend significant time gathering and validating reports, emails data before making decisions.

The lack of information hierarchy, real-time visibility, and basic visualizations increased cognitive load and created data anxiety during high-pressure operational workflows. As a result, critical decisions related to spare procurement, budget tracking, and transformation deadlines were often delayed, impacting operational efficiency and overall business performance.

Superintendents relied on the shore portal dashboard to monitor “critical operational and procurement activities”, but the legacy experience failed to surface actionable insights in a clear and efficient manner. Important information was fragmented & hidden across multiple sections forcing users to spend significant time gathering and validating reports, emails data before making decisions.

The lack of information hierarchy, real-time visibility, and basic visualizations increased cognitive load and created data anxiety during high-pressure operational workflows. As a result, critical decisions related to spare procurement, budget tracking, and transformation deadlines were often delayed, impacting operational efficiency and overall business performance.

My Experience
with Dashboard Landing Page

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My Experience
with Dashboard Landing Page

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My Experience
with Dashboard Landing Page

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"To understand the current state of the “Propeller - Shore Portal Landing Page”. First, I understood the data displayed on the page and evaluated through heuristics.

"To understand the current state of the “Propeller - Shore Portal Landing Page”. First, I understood the data displayed on the page and evaluated through heuristics.

After understanding the existing landing page experience, I conducted a series of ”one-on-one” user interviews to better understand user pain points and requirements. Through these discussions, I identified — and users consistently expressed — that the information available on the landing page was insufficient to provide a complete view of inventory operations. Users also requested a “more analytical and insight-driven dashboard experience” that could support “faster and more informed decision-making”.

After understanding the existing landing page experience, I conducted a series of ”one-on-one” user interviews to better understand user pain points and requirements. Through these discussions, I identified — and users consistently expressed — that the information available on the landing page was insufficient to provide a complete view of inventory operations. Users also requested a “more analytical and insight-driven dashboard experience” that could support “faster and more informed decision-making”.

These are the frustrations of the users while using dashboard and even i experienced as well as understood that there is a “broken user experience and the unfulfilled expectations as well”.

These are the frustrations of the users while using dashboard and even i experienced as well as understood that there is a “broken user experience and the unfulfilled expectations as well”.

Key Challenges Identified

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Key Challenges Identified

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Key Challenges Identified

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  • Low visibility into inventory levels, critical spares and ROB movements across vessels on dashboard landing page.


  • Lack of quick and clear insights into allocated budgets versus actual spend.


  • Superintendents often don't hold one vessel but sometimes multiple vessels or entire fleet of vessels.


  • No centralised view to track and analyse transformation-related data on landing page.


  • Poor visibility into purchase order status, including requisition, issued, and delivered stages.

  • Low visibility into inventory levels, critical spares and ROB movements across vessels on dashboard landing page.


  • Lack of quick and clear insights into allocated budgets versus actual spend.


  • Superintendents often don't hold one vessel but sometimes multiple vessels or entire fleet of vessels.


  • No centralised view to track and analyse transformation-related data on landing page.


  • Poor visibility into purchase order status, including requisition, issued, and delivered stages.

Creating User Persona

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Creating User Persona

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Creating User Persona

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It is important to frame a user persona using research findings, user goals, and pain points. It gives me clarity for whom I’m solving the problem and helps me stay focused without making assumptions.

It is important to frame a user persona using research findings, user goals, and pain points. It gives me clarity for whom I’m solving the problem and helps me stay focused without making assumptions.

Improving James User Journey

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Improving James User Journey

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Improving James User Journey

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At this stage, it was the right time to focus on improving the James Willison user journey. I mapped the existing journey using the legacy application and then designed a future-state journey to address key pain points and create a more efficient user experience.

At this stage, it was the right time to focus on improving the James Willison user journey. I mapped the existing journey using the legacy application and then designed a future-state journey to address key pain points and create a more efficient user experience.

So, What is required to get us there?

So, What is required to get us there?

At this stage i have decided to move forward because

i got enough data which clarify's the problem.

At this stage i have decided to move forward because i got enough data which clarify's the problem.

Design Strategy

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Design Strategy

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Design Strategy

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  • Simple, contextual & easy-to-understand data visualisations that communicate insights clearly and make the data meaningful at a glance.


  • Prioritise Transformation Data & ROB Movement Data, highlighting the most critical metrics and movements that drive business decisions.


  • Consolidated & presentation-ready data that is structured, organised, and easy to analyse without requiring additional effort.


  • Seamless Share & Download capabilities to enable easy circulation of reports and insights among stakeholders and decision-makers.


  • AI-driven insights & recommendations that reduce the time spent analysing data, allowing stakeholders to focus more on decision-making and taking action.

  • Simple, contextual & easy-to-understand data visualisations that communicate insights clearly and make the data meaningful at a glance.


  • Prioritise Transformation Data & ROB Movement Data, highlighting the most critical metrics and movements that drive business decisions.


  • Consolidated & presentation-ready data that is structured, organised, and easy to analyse without requiring additional effort.


  • Seamless Share & Download capabilities to enable easy circulation of reports and insights among stakeholders and decision-makers.


  • AI-driven insights & recommendations that reduce the time spent analysing data, allowing stakeholders to focus more on decision-making and taking action.

Since i have a clear understanding of the data visuals & features

required to address user needs, I initiated multiple design explorations and iterated on them

to refine the structure and content.

Since i have a clear understanding of the data visuals & features

required to address user needs, I initiated multiple design explorations and iterated on them to refine the structure and content.

Since i have a clear understanding of the data visuals & features

required to address user needs, I initiated multiple design explorations and iterated on them to refine the structure and content.

Iterations

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ROB Movement & Transformation

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I redesigned the “ROB Movement” and “Transformation” data from a graph-based format to a card-based layout, as users found it challenging to analyse vessel-level data through multiple graphs. By introducing a consolidated view across all vessels, I improved data clarity while still enabling access to detailed insights within individual vessel cards.
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Given the importance of this data across user groups, I prioritised its placement at the top of the layout to ensure immediate visibility and accessibility.

Critical Spares

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Through discussions with superintendents and procurers, I identified that presenting only critical spares data was insufficient, as users frequently needed access to related procurement information. To improve usability, I introduced a consolidated vessel-level view of “In Progress” and “Pending Delivery” data, along with a “Raise Request” CTA to streamline actions.

Financial Data

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Superintendents were spending significant time manually gathering financial data from multiple sources (POs, invoices, etc.) and compiling it in MS Excel to analyze vessel-level spending. However, this data already existed within the Propeller database.
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To eliminate this inefficiency, I introduced a “Cost Overview” section on the landing page, providing a centralized view of financial data and enabling faster, more informed decision-making.

AI Recommended Insights

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Although the data was available, it was highly fragmented. To unlock its value, we explored an option of using AI to analyze the data and generate meaningful, business-relevant insights. This led to the introduction of a dedicated section where AI-driven recommendations surface key insights for users.

Fixing Top Navigation

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We have feature "Selection of Vessels" & data point "Last Import timestamp" which are constant through out the dashboard and all data & features are dependent on these, So decided to have them inside "Top Navigation" to give a sense of highest importance to the user.

Get Ready for Testing

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Get Ready for Testing

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Get Ready for Testing

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From a range of design iterations, we shortlisted the one that showed the most potential and best aligned with user needs.

From a range of design iterations, we shortlisted the one that showed the most potential and best aligned with user needs.

Putting Things Together

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Putting Things Together

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Putting Things Together

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After validating the new “data-driven dashboard & reporting system” with the team, I presented the final screens to stakeholders to gather feedback. I closely observed how they interacted with and navigated the flows, identifying what worked well, what didn’t, and capturing insights on missing elements as well as features they particularly appreciated.

After validating the new “data-driven dashboard & reporting system” with the team, I presented the final screens to stakeholders to gather feedback. I closely observed how they interacted with and navigated the flows, identifying what worked well, what didn’t, and capturing insights on missing elements as well as features they particularly appreciated.

Goal 1: Test whether users are able to “Scan & Understand” the landing page.

Goal 2: Test whether users are able to read “Transformation status & ROB Movements”.

Goal 3: Test whether users are able to “Rise Req” for procurement of “Critical Spares”.

Goal 4: Test whether users are able to understand “Insights & Opportunities” generated with AI.

Goal 5: Test whether users are able to “Share & Download” the reports from the landing page.

5/5 - Completed scanning & understanding of landing page.


5/5 - Completed reading of transformation & ROB Movement.


3/5 - Requested to remove “Rise Req” CTA, Since “Standard Operating Procedure” has changed.


2/5 - Said that need share and download features for PO Overview and need more simple UI.


5/5 - Said they liked the over all experience and its easy to navigate and understand.

Key Takeaways

3/5

Requested to remove “Rise Req” CTA, Since “Standard Operating Procedure” has changed.

Remove “Rise Req” CTA from the card and make critical spares more simplified and detailed.

2/5

Said that need share and download features for PO Overview and need more simple UI.

Redesign “PO Overview” visual card and provide share and download option for PO Reports.

Revisions and Refinements

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Revisions and Refinements

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Based on usability testing, the redesigned Shore Portal was a significant and well-received change for users. While they appreciated the improved experience, testing also revealed a few areas that could be improved.

Based on usability testing, the redesigned Shore Portal was a significant and well-received change for users. While they appreciated the improved experience, testing also revealed a few areas that could be improved.

Several Superintendents requested a change in the visual representation of the Purchase Orders overview, as they preferred a simpler and more intuitive way to interpret PO data. Based on this feedback, I redesigned the section using a pie-chart-style visualization with clear numerical labels, which improved readability and made purchase order activities easier to understand.

Several Superintendents requested a change in the visual representation of the Purchase Orders overview, as they preferred a simpler and more intuitive way to interpret PO data. Based on this feedback, I redesigned the section using a pie-chart-style visualization with clear numerical labels, which improved readability and made purchase order activities easier to understand.

I also removed the “Quick Overview” section, as it did not provide additional value — the key information was already available on the landing page. Additionally, I removed the “Raise Request” CTA from the critical spares section and redesigned the card to provide more detailed information, following updates to the SOP. Under the new process, users now share critical spare reports via email, while Procurers place the required spare orders through their own portal

I also removed the “Quick Overview” section, as it did not provide additional value — the key information was already available on the landing page. Additionally, I removed the “Raise Request” CTA from the critical spares section and redesigned the card to provide more detailed information, following updates to the SOP. Under the new process, users now share critical spare reports via email, while Procurers place the required spare orders through their own portal

Final Landing Page

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Final Landing Page

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Final Landing Page

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Impact on Business & Operations

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Impact on Business & Operations

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Impact on Business & Operations

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60%

Increased work efficiency across all the operations

Enabled proactive budget control with clear spend vs. allocation insights across vessels and saved billions of dollars till date.

50%

Improved decision making speed by cutting down data consolidation time from 48hours to instant access.

Thanks for exploring this case study.

Ready for the next project?

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Thanks for exploring this case study.

Ready for the next project?

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Thanks for exploring this case study.

Ready for the next project?

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