Project:

IT Asset Management System Design

Client/Company: AFL-CIO Duration: 10 months- ongoing Role: Project Manager/ UX Designer

Information Technologist with UX designer experience on an Agile team comprised of 2 Network Engineers, a Database Developer, 2 Help Desk Administrators, and a Telecom Engineer. In addition to brainstorming with the rest of the team, I was the lead on managing and deciding the project’s overall design direction.

 

Project Description

The aim of the IT Asset Management System Design project was to improve the asset tracking system used by the AFL-CIO’s information technology department. The goal was to design a user-friendly system that would enable IT staff to easily monitor, manage and track digital assets for the AFL-CIO.

Our Story

Problem Statement

There were issues with user approval and system efficiency with the AFL-CIO’s current IT asset management system. The IT staff noted challenges in accurately tracking assets and producing thorough reports. Due to the antiquated architecture, there were more mistakes and inefficiencies as a result of the erroneous inventory and the loss of digital assets.

Proposed Solution(s)

Research and Discovery

1. Interviews: Conducted in-depth interviews with senior management, including IT administrators, department heads, and end-users, to understand pain points, expectations, and desired improvements. Insights from these interviews informed the project goals and design priorities.

2. Usability Testing:  Usability testing, including objectives, participant recruitment criteria, and testing scenarios. This ensured that the testing process was systematic and aligned with the project goals

3. Competitive Analysis: Analyzed competitor platforms and industry best practices to identify trends, patterns, and innovative solutions in IT asset management. This helped in understanding the landscape and setting benchmarks for the redesign.

Information Architecture

1. Restructured the information architecture to streamline the asset tracking process.

2. Implemented a user-centered design approach to cataloging all assets into a system that integrates into our current network of systems.

3. Merged the systems into a single resource for the AFL-CIO inventory.

Ideation

Integrated a new IT Asset Management System seamlessly with existing tools. Tracked down assests from field users to install tracking agent on users’ systems.  

The Result:

Significantly reduced the organization digital goods taxes.

%

Tax Savings

What we learned:

Development

We became aware of the significance of digital assets inventory. It forced us to experiment with new designs before devoting time to their development to ensure they were workable solutions.

Complexity
Designing for a complex system necessitates thoughtful information architecture. Structuring the data and functionalities in a clear, intuitive manner ensures that users can navigate the system efficiently and find what they need.
Collaboration

Integrating the IT Asset Management System with existing tools and systems demands close collaboration with IT teams. Ensuring seamless integration and compatibility is crucial for a cohesive and efficient digital ecosystem.

Customization
Recognizing the diverse roles and responsibilities of IT administrators, providing flexibility and customization options proved beneficial. Allowing users to tailor the system to their specific needs enhances overall user adoption.