Si Obi Logistics
Si Obi Logistics is a startup designed and developed as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) since December 2022. It’s a B2B Organic Ordering Platform where 2 Commercial Organic Producers and 4 Commercial Buyers have signed up. AI in the context of predictive analytics can offer Restaurant Managers, Commercial Organic Producers and Drivers the opportunity to improve what is dubbed the “Uber Freight for Commercial Organic Food Producers.”
Problem Space
Statement
How might Restaurant Owners source from Commercial Organic Food Producers leveraging AI?
Background
Most Si Obi Logistics customers are Restaurant Managers who purchase inventory online. They are concerned about sustainability practices, so they prioritize local suppliers to support the community, potentially reduce transportation costs, and implement strategies to reduce food waste, such as portion control and proper storage. However, in the wake of food inflation, customers are concerned about being able to source organic and economical food. They are very particular about supplier selection, considering price comparison, reliability, and bulk discounts.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
- Ensure Produce is Domestically Sourced
- Look for Affordable Organic Produce to Purchase
- Pay With A Credit Card
Supporting Data
100% of the surveyors prefer to source organic food producers domestically, would be interested in testing the Si Obi Logistics prototype and shared the same reasons for sourcing organic producers.
Feedback
During this research, a survey with five participants highlighted the following findings:
- All surveyors prefer to source organic food producers domestically, would be interested in testing the Si Obi Logistics prototype and shared the same reasons for sourcing organic producers.
- Most surveyors prefer to pay $500 or less, pay using a credit card and always source from organic producers.
- Only one surveyor shared that they were not interested in purchasing from organic food producers.
Landing on the Solution
Our user research validated the B2B platform concept for Si Obi Logistics. Considering that all surveyors were interested in testing a prototype, AI is hypothesized to be leveraged in predictive analytics. This will allow the Si Obi Logistics platform to analyze historical data to generate predictions about future trends and outcomes, enabling proactive decision-making.
Mockups
Restaurant Manager (left), Commercial Organic Producer (center) & Driver (right) Mockups
Future Steps
Specifically for commercial organic food producers, we will leverage AI by offering:
- Pricing Strategies - ensure organic food producers get the right price for their products
Specifically for restaurant managers, we will leverage AI by offering:
- Supplier Discovery - capitalize on our network to find trusted organic food producers with high-quality product offerings for your restaurant
Specifically for drivers, we will leverage AI by offering:
- Route Optimization - analyze factors like traffic patterns, distance, and vehicle capacity to calculate the most efficient delivery routes, minimizing transportation costs and improving delivery times
Images
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Felicia Guy-Lynch
My biggest takeaway was embracing the importance of emotionally detaching from a concept that was born during the pandemic. I will be more objective and data-driven in my approach going forward.
Another takeaway I had was to always remember as a Product Manager, it’s all about building and managing relationships. Without the valuable insights of people, it’s really hard to create a human-centric user experience.
Lastly, I will do my best to bear in mind to keep thinking globally while I act locally so that I may never miss the big picture.
Overall, I look forward to being able to explore Si Obi Logistics with the necessary resources.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.