Context

Orion bridges the gap between plant-level data and C-suite decision-making by digitizing critical connections.

The Problem

In the course of the primary research we conducted and stakeholder discussions, we identified several key issues to address:

1. Inconsistent data and delays caused by manually navigating between servers and Excel sheets to compile information.
2. Overwhelming complexity due to constantly evolving regulatory demands and large, dynamic corporate structures.
3. Unrealistic sustainability goals set by leadership without input from technical experts or a clear action plan.

The Solution

‍CERius™ aims to automates GHG data collection, offer insights with the overall goal in helping large enterprises reduce their carbon emissions through an improved ability to track their emissions data. With advanced AI/ML capabilities, it helps you:

• Develop a robust net-zero strategy confidently
• Enhance accuracy of scope 1 emissions by up to 33% for gas turbine calculations
• Obtain a real-time, comprehensive view of emissions across operations
• Replace spreadsheets and guesswork with precise accounting for carbon intensity

Check out this story from Fast Company

My Role

Beginning as a UX Researcher in Spring of 2022, I took on a multifaceted role working closely with the product owner as we continued to sharpen the focus of this fast moving internal incubation project, addressing significant UX challenges.

• User Research and Insights Gathering:
  • Conducted comprehensive research to understand energy sector professionals' needs, pain points, and preferences in carbon emissions management.
  • Gathered insights on accurate data measurement, data-driven decision-making, and software usability.
  • Organized testing sessions to assess software effectiveness and user-friendliness, including GE Vernova's CERius™.
  • Collected feedback to refine software interfaces and workflows, supporting digital transformation and data accuracy assertions.

Phase 1 Research

Initial Research

• Interviews and Observations: Conducted in-depth interviews and observed the daily workflows of carbon accountants across various organizations to identify patterns, pain points, and opportunities for enhancement.
• Data Analysis: Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to solidify our understanding of the users' needs and behaviors.

User Behavior Analysis

• Further Interviews: Spearheaded additional interviews with carbon accountants to delve deeper into their workflows, motivations, and specific pain points.
• Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Employed a combination of surveys, further interviews, and contextual inquiries to gather comprehensive insights.‍
• Journey Maps: Championed the creation of detailed user journey maps that traced the user's experience from initial data collection to final reporting, which proved instrumental for cross-functional team alignment on user needs resulting in artifacts like those shown below.

‍Key findings

• Carbon accounting is a complex process. In order to automate or digitize it, the journey map above afforded the team a necessary window into the world and life of people working in this domain.
• In the beginning there was an assumption that we could just imagine a system that aggregates data and performs a variety of calculations on that data. However, as we drilled deeper into the nuances, we discovered key material that allowed us to model the software specifically off what these serious professional have been doing day in and day out for years.

Results and Impact

• ‍Securing Funding and Product Milestones: The culmination of our research and design efforts not only expedited product development but also secured funding for force multiplying the UX through a 6 month engagement with a design consulting team. I acted as the point lead for internal UX overseeing decision making and testing on critical modules. In Q3 2023 the product's first official sale heralded a new phase of growth and innovation.
• ‍Integration of Design Artifacts: Amidst organizational changes and a transition to a new design system, efforts were dedicated to documenting and integrating design artifacts. Through meticulous auditing and refinement, a cohesive set of product-driven components was curated, facilitating the adoption of the design system across internal products and fostering sustained growth and innovation.