Case Study
Drone Doctor
The UK's Largest DJI Repair & Servicing Centre.
Who is Drone Doctor?
Drone Doctor is the UK's recommended DJI Repair & Service Centre. With over 20,000 repairs, Drone Doctor is the largest DJI repair centre in the UK. They have a team of highly skilled engineers who are able to repair any DJI drone.
We were tasked by Drone Doctor to Rebuild their internal Repair Management System, with a modern, easy to use intuitive interface, while optimizing work flows and simplifying the Engineer Interface.
Unique Problems to Solve
Data Migration
Migrating data from one database to another may seem like a simple task, but it's actually a complex process that requires a lot of planning and testing. We had to make sure that all data was migrated correctly and that it was transformed where necessary to ensure a seamless switchover with no loss of user or repair data. It was also important to ensure that we were in compliance with GDPR regulations throughout the process.
Inventory Importing
To address the underutilization of the inventory management feature on the old system, we implemented a solution that allowed engineers to easily add items to the inventory by uploading a copy of the order form and having the system automatically parse it. This improvement made it easier for the team to manage the inventory and helped ensure that all necessary items were tracked and accounted for.
What We Did
- Backend Development
- UI/UX Design
- Web Development
- Infrastructure Setup
- On Site IT
Technology Stack
- Bootstrap 5
- NodeJS
- MySQL
- NGINX
- Linux
Research
Drone Doctor approached us with the goal of modernizing their repair management system. The system Drone Doctor already had in place was originally built in 2016 by an internal software developer, while the system had served extremely well in it's 6 year course, Drone Doctor identified that it was in need of modernization not only to make it easier for the engineers to use, but also to make the user experience more intuitive with as little friction as possible. Because of the existing system, we had a clear structure to aim for of how the final product should function, along with a comprehensive list of features that needed upgrading and implementing.
We started by meeting in person at their offices to get a thorough understanding of the business and how the system was currently being used. During this meeting, we noticed that engineers were often sending two quotes - one with an emergency fee and one without - for users to choose from. After quickly identifying this, we suggested an option to automatically upsell the emergency service at the time of quote acceptance, saving time for the engineers and making the choice clear for the users.
Development
The most important page in the system for the user is the chat, it's where the user keeps in communication with the Drone Doctor team and receives regular updates on the progress of their repair. In the previous system we identified that users were consistently missing key parts of information and having to send a message asking where to find simple items such as shipping labels or quotes. Because of this, we spent a lot of time focusing on how the chat page interacts with the rest of the system, keeping it clean and free of clutter while also making it very extremely easy to navigate, splitting out and hiding information when it's not needed, simplifying the users interface, minimizing the chance of confusion.
On the engineer side of the system, where the engineers log in to the system to view the current repair jobs, send quotes, update the status of the job, and perform other administrative tasks, We wanted to make sure that the system was as easy to use as possible. We also wanted to make sure that the engineers were able to see all the information they needed at a glance, without having to click through multiple pages, or have it all confined to one long page as it was found to be on the legacy system. Striking a balance between the two was a challenge, but we were able to achieve it by using a combination of collapsible sections, an intuitive navigation system that guides the engineer through the process with simple steps, and by automating as much of the process as possible while still allowing the engineer to override the system if needed.
Testing
Throughout the development process, we made sure to prioritize testing to identify and fix issues before they became a problem. We used a variety of methods to ensure that the system was as robust and reliable as possible.
One of the tools we used was automated testing, which allowed us to test the system from the user's perspective on different browsers and mobile devices. This helped us ensure that the system was functioning correctly and was easy to use on a variety of platforms. We used tools like Selenium to automate these tests, which allowed us to quickly and accurately test the system without having to manually repeat the same steps over and over.
In addition to automated testing, we also carried out extensive manual testing to ensure that the system was working as intended and to test it under different conditions. This included testing with slow internet connections and on different screen sizes, as well as negative testing to identify any potential issues that might arise. By thoroughly testing the system, we were able to deliver a product that was free from any major bugs and that provided a smooth and seamless experience for both the engineers and the users.
Launch
When it was time to launch the system, we made sure to carefully plan and prepare for a smooth transition. We created a detailed list of tasks to ensure that everything went smoothly and that the team was prepared for the switch.
To ensure that everyone was on the same page, we communicated with the Drone Doctor team throughout the process. We provided them with the resources they needed to get started with the new system and answered any questions they had.
The launch went smoothly, thanks to our careful planning and preparation. We were able to deliver a system that was free from any major bugs and that provided a smooth and seamless experience for both the engineers and the users.
The Future
We're committed to providing ongoing support and development to ensure that the repair management system we built for Drone Doctor continues to meet their needs and evolve with their business. We understand that the needs of a business can change over time, and we want to be there to support those changes. We believe that open communication and collaboration are key to the success of any project, and we're committed to maintaining that approach in the future.
In addition to providing support and updates, we're also committed to staying up to date with the latest technologies and trends in the software development industry. We believe that staying current is essential to delivering the best possible solutions for our clients. By staying on the cutting edge, we can help ensure that the repair management system we've built for Drone Doctor is always at the forefront of what's possible.
We're excited to continue our partnership with Drone Doctor and help them achieve their goals. We look forward to seeing what the future holds and to helping them succeed in whatever challenges they may face. Whether it's implementing new features, adapting to changing needs, or simply providing reliable support and assistance, we're here to help.