Data Lab is a data visualization and querying tool that renders large sets of data and key performance indicators into visual and intuitive charts, tables, and graphs. This helps security companies better monitor incidents and activities, spot recurring trends, and enables real-time insights across the organization.
My role and responsibilities
I was the lead UX designer partnering with our Creative Director, CEO and CTO to bring this vision to life. I was responsible for conceptualizing this product with a specific goal of creating a practical and scalable design solution that we can build using our no-code system.
Staying ahead of the technology curve during a digital transformation
In 2020, TrackTik’s CEO sensed a digital transformation happening in the physical security industry. His hypothesis was that security companies will soon need to leverage their data in order to streamline operations. Thus came the idea of Data Lab.
The Problem
Security firms faced significant pains with reporting and visibility when trying to generate personalized reports that fully leveraged their existing operational data. A platform where they could monitor real time insights as well as access their top metrics, trends, etc. was unheard of in the industry.
Research
On a daily basis, security firms accumulate a wealth of financial, operational, and human resource data like accounts, over time, site incidents, checkpoint tours, employee engagement, retention, and more. I led 3 rounds of interviews with a variety of our clients to better understand their data needs.
The challenge with gathering data needs was that every client had unique needs. The data requested by clients depended on a variety of different things like:
Size of company
Type of operations
Role of the person
and more…
Outcomes
I led a one week off-site design sprint with the CEO, CTO and Creative Director to brainstorm, ideate, conceptualize and align on the right solution.
Knowing how varied the needs were, not just for different security firms but also for different department within the same firm, we knew we needed an agile, customizable solution that enabled any type of user to access and analyze data that is relevant to them.
Solution
Even though we landed on a fully customizable solution, we knew we could do more with the technology and data we have at hand. We used the most important use-cases for Data Lab to create a better and more personalized product. These use-cases include:
Managers/ Admins making better-informed business decisions through function-based dashboards monitoring KPIs.
Finance teams optimizing profits with access to Revenue, Overheads, Contracts, Overtime, etc.
Operations team keeping regular operations front and center as they uncover trends of incidents, dispatch,etc.
HR using insights to improve employee engagement, satisfaction and retention.
Data power users being able to quickly create powerful reports out of any and every tracked metric using Structured Query Language (SQL)
Introducing Data Lab Modules
We created a module for each role (use-case) with a deep understanding of their unique data and reporting needs. This way, a new user does not need to spend time learning how Data Lab can benefit them. They get free access to custom dashboards and reports designed specifically for their role. Users can then dig deeper into specific metrics and create their own personal reports and dashboards.
Bonus: Dark mode
I was also tasked with a stretch goal of creating a design system for Data Lab that supports Dark mode. Considering security operations are 24/7 and many employees work night shifts, we had a lot of feedback from our user base to support Dark mode as it is more friendly to human eyes especially in low-light conditions. So I designed every component to support both light and dark mode.
Data Lab is now live to all TrackTik clients and has been a massive success not just for TrackTik but for all our clients. Check out the video below to get a quick glimpse into the revolutionary product.