08. Inovretail
A store assistant on the wrist
Designing a smartwatch companion that keeps store staff aware of stock, customer needs and targets, so they can serve every client better without leaving the floor.
- Client
- Inovretail
- Role
- Senior Product Designer
- Sector
- B2B SaaS · Retail
- Year
- 2020
Impact at a glance
01. Context
Inovretail's analytics knew a lot about each store, but the people who serve customers never saw it. Insights lived on desktop dashboards at HQ, far from the shop floor.
02. The problem
Store staff were unaware of real time performance, stock levels and customer requests. Clients waited, sales were lost and targets were missed without anyone noticing in time.
Business goal
Turn store data into action on the floor and lift conversion across the chain.
Customer goal
“Know what my client needs, what is in stock and what to do next, without stopping to look for it.”
03. Insights
- 01
Staff have their hands busy and their attention on the client. A phone or a tablet breaks the moment.
- 02
Most decisions on the floor are small and urgent: help here, check stock there, open a fitting room.
- 03
A notification is only useful if it can be answered in one tap.
04. Strategy
Observe the floor
Mapped the daily tasks of staff in store: replenishment, fitting rooms, clicks and collect, customer questions.
One glance, one action
Each alert on the watch carries a single clear request and a yes or no answer.
Several views, one purpose
Tasks, performance and intelligence sit in separate modes on the dial, so each one stays simple.
Chapter 01 · Context
The usual issues in retail
Before designing anything, we framed the moments where stores lose clients: a sales target drifting without warning, shelves left empty, fitting rooms unattended, online orders waiting, product questions with no answer.
- 01Sales targets missed because staff could not see them live
- 02Replenishment needs noticed too late
- 03Customers waiting for help in fitting rooms and at collection points
Chapter 02 · Product
A gadget that disappears into the job
The watch was chosen because it keeps staff present with the client. It vibrates when something needs attention and stays silent otherwise, so technology supports the service instead of interrupting it.
- 01Hands free, always with the person on the floor
- 02Discreet alerts that do not break the conversation with a client
- 03Designed for quick reading under store lighting
Chapter 03 · Experience
Multiple modes, one goal: efficiency
The dial organises the assistant into clear modes. AI based task allocation sends each person the right task at the right time. Performance and targets shows how the store is doing today. Intelligence surfaces stock and customer insights when they matter.
- 01Task alerts like 'Digital point 4 requires assistance', answered with one tap
- 02Live performance against targets, readable in a glance
- 03Stock and product information to answer clients on the spot
05. Key decisions
Watch first, not phone first
Trade-offA tiny screen forced ruthless prioritisation, but kept staff focused on the client.
One request per alert
Trade-offLess detail on the wrist, much faster response on the floor.
06. Outcome
Store data reached the people who serve clients, turning insights into actions in seconds and lifting conversion.
What I learned
“The best interface for a busy person is the one that asks for the least attention and gives the clearest next step.”
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