UX research to identify pain-points and innovation possibilities in grain truck trailers (predominant in Latin America)

| UX research | Prototyping | Project management | Business Modeling |

| Users | Trailer OEMs | Engineering |

Initial UX research was performed to interview truck drivers and understand their main concerns, hurdles and needs. 

Both in-depth interviews and observations were conduced.

In a second moment, logistic managers (from industries which majorly use grains trailers) were also interviewed to get a different point of view of trailer design inefficiencies and enhancement possibilities. 

One major bottleneck observed was the timing and risky procedure from truck drivers to add/remove top canvas. 

Curiously this was only perceived through observations (and time measurements of major processes for assembling truck/cargo) since:

1. users got used in arranging top canvas

2. drivers are "too proud" to confess they have a hard time doing it

In cold days (when canvas get hard) and with older canvas, the processes may take up to 25 minutes (taking and another 25 minutes after loading to cover the truck again). Logistic manners also confirmed the concerns with the manual labor-intensive process, referring to accidents and related lawsuits.

Initially for a quick user interaction and feedback collection (on solution practicality, limitations and bottlenecks) virtual 3D models and a small scale wood mockup were created.

After initial feedbacks, 1st full scale prototype development (technical proof of concept)

2nd full scale prototype was development and assembled on a real truck.

Prototype was used to:

1. verify installation easiness (retrofit opportunity)

2. To collect user's feedbacks which, along with quantitative research results, were then presented to trailer OEMs as a market desirability validation evidence.

3. For initial technical tests