Overview
Via Cortex was created to oversee all operations for the Casas Bahia, Ponto, and Extra.com websites, acting as a centralized system for the entire group. It was designed to manage various functions in specific areas such as marketing and human resources. The initial goal was to develop a banner registration system to streamline the marketing team's workflow.
With plans to completely replace outdated and inefficient systems, Via Cortex aimed to address the complexities of the existing platforms. These platforms were not only ineffective but also made it challenging for new team members to adapt quickly, highlighting the need for a more user-friendly and simplified solution.
Starter problems
All the information was sourced by previous researchers, data reported, user reported, previous experience.
Outdated and Complicated Systems:
The use of several old platforms to handle the same pages led to a tangled workflow and extended project timelines.
Inefficiency for New Employees:
With broken functionalities and a steep learning curve, the platforms posed significant challenges for both new hires and existing staff in managing their tasks efficiently.
Multiple Administrative Systems:
Managing a variety of administrative systems made the whole process take longer and increased the chances of making mistakes.
External Management:
With an external company overseeing the system, there were higher costs, security weaknesses, and a decrease in autonomy.
Lack of History and Access Control:
Without a reliable method to monitor changes or manage access, the probability of mistakes and security vulnerabilities rises significantly.
CB, Casas Bahia's marcot
Pin, Ponto Frio's mascot
Casas Bahia, Ponto Frio and Extra.com websites
Research & Discovery
Platform Analysis:
Researched the existing platforms to understand how they work, the differences between them, and the challenges they present.
Marketing Team Workflow:
Investigated the Marketing Team's task management approach to see how many platforms they relied on and how long it generally took to complete their tasks.
Co-Creation Workshops:
Organized workshops with team members across different departments to collect feedback, encourage teamwork, and make sure the new solution addressed all user requirements.
Previous Studies:
Examined past and current research to gather insights and understand earlier approaches.
Benchmarking:
Even though this was an intranet solution with no direct rivals, it was crucial to include features from well-known platforms that marketing teams are accustomed to, making sure the user experience remained intuitive.
User Definition:
The main users have been identified as the employees of Grupo Casas Bahia who are in charge of overseeing marketing campaigns and the placement of banners for Casas Bahia, Ponto, and Extra.com.
Product user journey
Stakeholders Meetings
Functionality mapping
Design & Development
Component Mapping:
identified the various banner components present on multiple websites, focusing on their key attributes and how they could be seamlessly integrated into Via Cortex.
Version One Definition:
Created the initial version as a comprehensive system that provides all essential tools tailored to user roles, incorporating a secure login feature and emphasizing usability, maintenance, and scalability. The first tool we developed was the Banner Registration tool, aimed at streamlining the workflow for the marketing and sales teams.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes:
Worked together with product managers and tech engineers to figure out if the proposed design was doable and to evaluate how complex it would be.
Component Inventories:
Documented the various text types and their components and functions to aid the Marketing Team in transitioning effortlessly to the new system.
Usability Testing:
Tests were performed with a group of 6 new employees alongside 6 existing staff members to determine the product's usability. The findings were positive, revealing that both sets of users could easily maneuver through the system.
High-Fidelity Adjustments:
Improvements were implemented from usability test feedback, leading to the development of a polished high-fidelity layout.
Documentation & Handoff:
Compiled thorough documentation of the interfaces and workflows to guarantee a smooth handover to the technology and product teams.
Prototype video