Course Management Tool

Project Description

Providing a interface and APIs for training providers to manage courses that are advertised on multiple websites.

Project Details

• Client: Skills Development Scotland
• Website: Visit Site
• Categories: Website, Microservice, API
• Date: Oct 2017

Microservice Creation

Previously all course information was stored on the My World of Work site, which had lead to the site becoming excessively large and inefficient.

The project involved the creation of a new Course Management website, allowing training providers to create and manage courses, and allow SDS to manage users and approvals.

We created a microservice that allows for the processing of incoming feeds, the direct input from the Training Provider, and ultimately the creation a unified API output that powers the course search on multiple websites.

Removing this functionality and data from My World of Work improved the efficiency of the site, and created one source for all course information.

My Role

I led the design, development and integration of the Course Management Tool, from it’s initial inception to launch in October 2017

• Gathered requirements, created user journeys, and wrote user stories for project briefs
• Designed the tool using Semantic UI, reducing the requirement for separate design and front end coding stages
• Project managed development of the tool, and the integration with 3rd party systems

Ican Product Launch

Project Description

Provided for pupils in primary 5 to 7, Ican provides a number of digital tools for pupils to better understand their interests, skills and personality.

Project Details

• Client: Skills Development Scotland
• Website: Visit Site
• Categories: Website, API
• Date: Aug 2016

Simple up front, complicated behind the scenes

The Scottish Government asked SDS to expand our digital careers information to a younger audience.

The project involved the creation of a new product, designed for ages 8 - 12, and hosting 3 tools to help users understand their personality, skills and interests.

While the user facing side had to be simple and eye catching, behind the scenes there were complex interactions required. With the creation of multiple APIs to integrate with 3rd party tools, and a complex admin system for the teachers to manage the pupil’s accounts. We released the tools iteratively, with improvements applied regularly based on feedback. This modular nature allows for future expansion without the affecting the core functionality.

The product has been widely adopted across Scotland, with over 20,000 pupils registered to date.

My Role

I operated as the Product Manager for the development of the Ican product, overseeing all aspects of its development, launch and subsequent improvements.

• Developed the initial concept and wireframes
• Managed the development of the teacher and pupil accounts
• Worked with the 3rd parties to integrate their tools into Ican

My World of Work Relaunch

Project Description

My World of Work offers essential career tools that help people achieve their work aspirations. The service offers a unique mix of tools, features and job information to help people discover more about themselves and the future world of work.

Project Details

• Client: Skills Development Scotland
• Website: Visit Site
• Categories: Website, API
• Date: Jan 2016

Refreshing a large site

Originally launched in 2011, the site underwent a major overhaul during 2015 improving the design, tools, and underlying technical structure, before launching the new site in January 2016.

I joined the team in October 2015, while the development had been ongoing for 2 years and involved many different departments, developers, and stakeholders. In order to achieve the go-live date it was vital to ensure that all parties’ requirements were taken into account when launching the final product. Communication, documentation, and collaboration were the order of the day!

There are a number of features on My World of Work, however redeveloping all of them for the new site would have meant an unacceptable time frame for launch. By introducing a Minimal Viable Product, and agreeing on a list of features that were vital for our users, the project team were able to create a more focused site that could be launched in January.

Through the agreement of the MVP, all user and site data was transferred, and the new My World of Work was launched on the agreed deadline. Since launch the site has gone from strength to strength and has seen a number of improvements delivered as part on a continuous improvement programme by the in-house development team.

My Role

I joined the project at a late stage (October 2015) as the Project Manager, with the simple remit of steering the site through the final stages of development and launching in January 2016.

• Lead the development team to complete all outstanding build tasks
• Manage the transfer of over 600,000 user records from previous site to new site
• Plan and execute the launch of the new site

Skyscanner Flight Map

Project Description

The flights map allows users to select a departure point and see where in the world they can go from that point. It had limited functionality and suffered from a poor user experience. By gaining an understanding of it’s use, we were able to create a more inspirational and useful flight map experience.

Project Details

• Client: Skyscanner
• Website: Visit Site
• Categories: Website, Google Map Integration
• Date: Aug 2015

Map Conversions Boosted By 73%

When it came to developing a new map, we undertook a lot of user research, looking at various map offerings, to find out user’s likes and dislikes, and in particular what they actually use a map for. This gave us some great understandings on the journey we want them to take.

We assessed all the various map tools at our disposal, but eventually settled on using Google Maps as the base, as it provided the right level of detail and functionality that we required, including the ability to operate on mobile devices.

We ran the new map as part of an A/B experiment against the old map. The change in conversion rates was outstanding with users entering the new flights map, converting 73% higher compared to the old map.

My Role

As the Product Manager for the Flights Map I oversaw the entire development of the new version.

• Working with UX researchers to establish best practises and user requirements
• Liaising with designers and developers to create the new version
• Creation and analysis of the A/B test and global roll-out plan

Scottish Power Quote

Project Description

Throughout 2014 Scottish Power rolled out a series of improvements to their quote tool. The current tool wasn’t converting to sales at the expected level, and with a movement towards a ‘Digital First’ organisation it was vital that users had an easy online solution for selecting their energy package.

Project Details

• Client: Scottish Power
• Categories: Website, A/B Testing
• Date: Sep 2014

Data driven learnings

When undertaking the research for a new quote system, we didn’t limit ourselves to looking within the energy industry. We took inspiration from some of the leading sales websites in retail, insurance and travel to ensure that we created a process that was easy and intuitive for our users.

By developing a series of A/B tests showing the effect of design and UX changes, rapid improvements were made to the effectiveness of the tool. After increasing the conversion rate at each test, the learnings were applied to create a entirely new version of the quote tool.

The new tool launched in September 2014 , and led to an 150% increase in online purchases over it’s first 2 months.

My Role

I undertook the following tasks to help deliver this project:

• Creation and development of A/B tests
• Measurement and analysis of tests
• Leading the creation of user journeys, wireframes and designs for new version

Scottish Power Connect

Project Description

In March 2014, ScottishPower launched “Connect” alongside a new app which, when used together, allow users to manage their heating on the go.

Project Details

• Client: Scottish Power
• Categories: Website, Internet of Things, App
• Date: Mar 2014

Creating An Integrated App

It was important to ScottishPower that the new app served actual user needs, rather than a check list of functions. To that extent I undertook a rigorous series of user requirement gathering exercises. This allowed us to better understand what priority users put into certain functions and ensure that these were prioritised in the development.

We wanted to create “one app to rule them all” for ScottishPower customers. So while our competitor’s customers require multiple apps to manage their account and utilise their remote heating controls, ScottishPower’s app was designed to have all the functions in one app. This allows users to easily see the effect using their remote heating controls has on their bills.

With the launch of such an innovative product it was important to produce an effective website to help promote the benefits of the new app. I worked closely with our Marketing team to help design and build the Connect website, and ensuring a smooth online sales process was in place for launch.

My Role

As a key member of the product team I worked with:

• The development team to design an intuitive interface that allows users to easily monitor and control all aspects of their energy accounts
• Marketing to develop supporting web pages and promotion material
• Sales to embed an online and offline sales process to support the launch of this innovative product.

STV News, Sport & Entertainment

Project Description

STV News, Sport and Entertainment are Scotland’s favourite news, sports and entertainment channels, and the websites were relaunched in 2012, after a major redesign and redevelopment project.

Project Details

• Client: STV
• Categories: Website, CMS
• Date: Jun 2012

Creating A Responsive Site

This was the first major UK news organisation to develop a responsive site.

Creation of an new Content Management System (CMS) for the online news team. Allowing the team to create and share content across multiple sites, add rich media such as videos and interactive maps, and flag breaking news.

Largest and most comprehensive launch of its kind in STV’s digital history.

My Role

As the Product Manager for STV News, Sport, and Entertainment I oversaw the entire relaunch project:

• Worked with the design and development teams to construct a responsive design template
• Liaised with editorial and marketing teams to ensure that the brands were relaunched successfully across multiple platforms

s1homes and s1cars

Project Description

s1cars was s1’s motor vehicle platform, and at it’s height listed more than 16,000 cars for sale from private sellers and dealerships throughout Scotland. s1homes.com was Scotland’s leading independent property site attracting over 215,000 unique users every month looking to buy, sell or rent a property. It listed over 25,000 properties for sale or rent every month.

Project Details

• Client: s1
• Categories: Website
• Date: Dec 2007 - Jul 2011

Website Innovations

s1cars became the first automotive website in the UK to not only offer free listings to advertisers, but actively reward users for using the site through an unique cashback offer.

s1homes was one of the first UK portals to utilise Google Street View within the property listings and personalised home pages for all users, accessible without registration.

My Role

As the Web Producer I oversaw all aspects of the site development:

• Developed the Cashback concept and led the project through to completion, utilising this unique selling point, which lead to a 102% increase in monthly site traffic.