Services
- System design
- Design & UX
- Bespoke Laravel build
- Ongoing Support
The Background
Last Mile is a national connections company working for many of the UK’s leading housebuilders, construction firms and independent consulting companies. Established in 2006, Last Mile provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ service for multi-utility design, build and connection.
The Brief
To design and develop a secure and user-friendly portal to replace an existing paper-based system. The portal had to allow registered and approved users the ability to obtain automatic estimates based on inputting key information on site size, plots and utilities required. Each project had to be tracked from quotation through to completion and adoption.
Requirements
- Multi level user access
- Replication of existing calculation models
- Digitisation of entire asset adoption process
- In-depth reporting - including KPI metrics for administrators
- Integration with existing business systems
The Approach
Using Laravel as the base framework we designed and built a completely bespoke web application. With a strong focus on abstracting underlying complexities from the user we aimed to create an intuitive and easy to use system.
Design and UX
Project success depended on an easy to use solution, even for the most technophobic users. This was achieved by breaking down the entire front end into a small number of UI components. These simple components are used repetitively throughout the interface and combined together to create more complex interactions. The use of repetition and consistent design quickly promotes familiarity and confidence in the user.
System Planning
Having a full understanding of Last Mile's existing business process was essential in ensuring a successful project outcome. Following many weeks of meetings, workshops and we documented and storyboarded the entire system and gained an in-depth knowledge of the calculation models that would underpin the first phase of the build.
Build
We employed a very strict build process to ensure that each distinct area of functionality was self-contained while also promoting code reuse. This resulted in an application that is both robust and easy to extend when required. A considerable amount of time was also invested in testing the calculation models to ensure they were 100% accurate when compared to the original system.
Follow Up
Since the initial release we have continued to support Last Mile in adopting the new system. The Phase 1 portal has continued to grow and evolve to adapt to changes within Last Mile and the wider industry. The second phase of functionality is also well underway and will improve Last Mile's business even further.
"From the outset BED have provided us with a very personable, customer-friendly service and as a result the relationship has flourished. Their ideas and approach are innovative and adds value to what we are trying to achieve in our business. We’ve been extremely happy with the work that they have done for us to date and continue to use them to help support us as we grow our business."
Sam Pearce Last Mile
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