BEACON
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UX Case Study:
The app to reduce restaurant food waste
In a nutshell...
The Product: Beacon app connects restaurants with surplus food to food shelters in Philly.
The Problem: Excess food waste in restaurants and supply inconsistency in shelters.
The Solution: Beacon offers real-time matching and simple scheduling for food donations.
The Outcome: Surveyed 83 Philly restaurants; 70 (84%) were willing to join Beacon, acknowledging the need to tackle food waste.
CLIENT
Freelance Project
SERVICE
Mob Application
TEAM
Product Designer (Me), Graphic Designer, Data Analyst
TOOL
Figma, Usertesting.com, Miro, SurveyMonkey
YEAR
2018
1. INTRODUCTION
What is it?
The "Beacon" app addresses food waste by redirecting surplus food to those in need instead of landfills. It employs technology to establish a circular economy and nourish communities.
Who is it for?
- Restaurants
- Food Shelters
- Food Pantries
Why did we build it?
To reduce restaurant food waste and serve the food insecure communities in Phialdelphia
Context
Roughly 40 % (worth $161 billion) of all produce in the US is thrown away.
Despite the abundance of food, a significant portion goes to waste, while many in the community remain food insecure.
The restaurant and food service industry alone accounts for around 6 million tonnes of this wasted food annually, of which 80% is prepared food.
There's a critical opportunity to redirect edible, nutritious meals that would otherwise go to waste. This type of food is precious to food shelters and those in need.
Primary reasons for food waste in the restaurant and food service industry:
1
Over-Preparation of Food
20 years of the old system means users are comfortable but resistant to change.
2
Spoilage
The system is a vital part of their workflow. We needed to modernize without making users feel lost in an unfamiliar interface.
3
Plate Waste
Essential functions like reviews and decision-making must remain accessible and intuitive within the updated design.
4
Discarding of Unsold Food
Essential functions like reviews and decision-making must remain accessible and intuitive within the updated design.
2. CHALLENGE
1
For Restaurants:
Managing surplus prepared food and finding efficient ways to store and donate it without disrupting operations.
2
For Food Shelters
Sourcing meals that cater to the specific dietary needs of those they serve, often relying on unpredictable donations.
A 15% reduction in losses in the U.S. food supply would be enough food to feed more than 25 million Americans annually.
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3. SOLUTION
Facilitator between restaurants and food shelters
BEACON
Restaurants:
Role: Utilize the Beacon app to donate surplus, edible food.
Action: Provide details about the food, including type, quantity, and pick-up times.
Beacon:
Role: Facilitate the connection between restaurants and food shelters.
Action: Coordinate collecting and storing donations through volunteers and manage a cold storage facility.
Food Shelters:
Role: Access the Beacon app to request needed food donations.
Action: Specify dietary requirements and preferences when making food requests.
Onboarding
Discover how Beacon bridges the gap between restaurants and food shelters. Learn how easy it is to contribute to your community and reduce food waste.
Login/Signup Screen
Join our community of givers.
Sign up to start donating or log in to continue where you left off in making an impact.
Dashboard
My Dashboard Tab: Your personal action center. Track your donations, view your impact on your community, and manage your donation goals.
Community Dashboard Tab: Witness our collective impact against food insecurity and waste and discover local restaurant heroes leading the donation efforts.
Donate
Donate Now Tab
Ready to donate? Select what you want to donate, the quantity and the time you want our volunteers to come for pick up.
We’ll take care of the rest. Your surplus can be someone’s meal today.
Requests
Get to know more about what’s needed. View the request from shelters. You can donate from this screen or tap on the card to view more details about the request and then donate.
Request Details
Get to know more about what’s needed. Detailed request information helps you decide the best way to fulfill the shelter's needs.
4. RESEARCH
We interviewed five restaurant owners and four shelter workers and surveyed 32 users (17 restaurant owners and 15 shelter workers/owners).
After gathering these insights, we analyzed our competitors to better position our solution in the market.
Beyond Contextual Inquiry
But we didn't stop there! To really get the inside scoop, we rolled up our sleeves and volunteered at a local food shelter called 'Philabundance.'
Restaurants : Qualitative Research Insights (Interviews)
Willingness to Participate
All interviewed restaurant owners are enthusiastic and prepared to contribute by donating their leftover food to combat food waste and support their community.
Identifying Recipients
Restaurants Struggle to Find a Solution for Excess Food, Highlighting the Need for a One-Stop-Shop Platform to Connect Food Donors with Recipients.
Packaging and Storing Food
To keep food fresh and ready for collection, nailing down the right packaging and storage plan is key. This means timely pickups and following top-notch food handling protocols to avoid any bumps in the road.
Liability Concerns
We need crystal clear guidelines, solid info on donor safeguards, and a boost in donor trust.
Arranging Transportation
Getting food to charities was a major roadblock, making it clear that the Beacon app needs a smooth and dependable system for picking up and dropping off donations.
Restaurants: Quantitative Research Insights (Surveys)
Frequency of Waste
88%
of restaurant owners report generating significant food waste daily.
Pickup Preference
70%
prefer after-hours pickup to avoid operational disruption.
Insufficient Refrigeration/ Storage
65%
indicated that insufficient on-site refrigeration or storage was a barrier to managing excess food.
Liability Concerns
75%
of restaurant owners expressing apprehension about potential liability issues related to food donation.
Food Shelters: Qualitative Research Insights (Interviews & Contextual Inquiry)
Dietary Constraints
All interviewed shelter workers stressed the importance of accommodating diverse dietary needs, indicating a high demand for customizable food requests.
Quality Assurance
Shelter workers emphasized the critical need for quality assurance in donated foods to ensure the recipients' safety and well-being.
Logistical Efficiency
Shelter workers highlighted the importance of timeliness and reliability in food delivery, with a preference for a set schedule.
Difficulty Finding Donors
Shelter workers expressed the challenge in identifying places that could donate food quickly and consistently, underscoring the need for a centralized platform like Beacon to facilitate these connections.
Food Shelters: Quantitative Research Insights (Surveys)
Volume Requirement
80%
shelters reported needing a consistent supply of at least 50 meals per day.
Special Dietary Requests
67%
indicated frequent needs for meals meeting specific dietary restrictions.
Logistical
Efficiency
73%
highlighted the issue of insufficient on-site storage, impacting their ability to manage and preserve donated food effectively.
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act is a U.S. federal law that protects food donors from liability when donating to non-profit organizations, encouraging safe food donations to those in need.
Competitive Analysis
About: A food-sharing app connecting neighbours and local businesses so surplus food and other items can be shared, not thrown away.
Strengths:
- Local community-based
- Allows individual users and businesses
Weaknesses:
- More focus on individual households might limit its appeal and functionality for restaurants looking for a more business-centric solution.
About: Uses technology to tackle food waste by connecting businesses with surplus food to local agencies in need.
Strengths:
- Dedicated to large food donors like restaurants and catering services
- Detailed tracking and reporting
Weaknesses:
- There might be costs associated with the service that could be a barrier for some smaller businesses or donors.
About: Connects customers to restaurants and stores that have unsold, surplus food to prevent it from going to waste.
Strengths:
- Wide user base
- Operates in multiple countries
Weaknesses:
- Primarily customer-centric rather than donation-focused
About: A platform connecting businesses with excess food to charities that can distribute it.
Strengths:
- Simplifies the donation process for businesses
- Expansive network of charities
Weaknesses:
- Lacks gamification strategies, which can be a crucial motivator for consistent participation.
- Doesn’t consider dietary constraints.
KEY INSIGHTS
Target Audience and Focus:
Platforms like OLIO and TooGoodToGo cater to a broader audience, including individual users, while Copia and MEANS Database are more business-focused, resonating more with Beacon's target user base of restaurants and shelters.
User Engagement Strategies:
The lack of gamification in MEANS Database and OLIO highlights an opportunity for Beacon to engage users, particularly businesses, through gamification and recognition strategies to encourage regular participation.
Operational Scope and Reach:
Copia's focus on large food donors and TooGoodToGo's wide user base in multiple countries suggest the importance of scalability and the potential for Beacon to grow beyond local boundaries in the long term.
Service Model and Accessibility:
Copia's potential costs might be a barrier for smaller businesses, suggesting that Beacon's pricing model needs to be accessible to encourage widespread adoption.
Specialized Features:
MEANS Database, not considering dietary constraints, points to an area where Beacon can stand out by offering options to cater to specific dietary needs, an important aspect of food shelters.
User Personas
Kevin (Chef with a Cause)
Chef & Restaurant Owner
"I want to give back to the community and reduce waste, but it needs to be manageable and not disrupt my business.“
Frustrations
- Struggles to find suitable recipients for excess food.
- Packaging, storing, and liability issues
- Challenges with managing transportation for food donation.
Wants
- Streamlined platform for connecting with food shelters.
- Efficient and reliable food pickup and delivery
Sarah (Community Facilitator)
Runs a non-profit called ‘Food Pantry
“Hunger is not a one-time thing. It’s something that needs to be addressed every day. We need constant support"
Frustrations
- Finding food donors takes too much time.
- Lack of storage facilities for donated food.
- Inconsistencies in food delivery and quality.
Wants
- Easy connections with local restaurants for consistent food donations.
- Cater to the diverse dietary needs of the recipients.
User Journey for Kevin
Stage | Awareness | Consideration | Interaction | Pick-up Coordination | Reflection |
User Action | Kevin realizes he has excess food at his restaurant. | Kevin researches potential recipients and food donation logistics. | Kevin lists the excess food on the Beacon app, detailing the type, quantity, and any allergens. | Kevin coordinates the pick-up time and prepares the food for collection. | Kevin reviews the process and the impact of his donation. |
Feeling | Concerned about waste, wants to contribute to the community. | Uncertain, looking for a reliable and easy solution. | Hopeful, satisfied with the ease of use. | Relieved, appreciates the structured process. | Fulfilled, motivated to continue participating. |
Touchpoints | Previous experience, peer conversations. | Internet research, calls to local shelters, Beacon app. | Beacon app, customer support. | Beacon app notifications, communication with volunteers. | Beacon app feedback, community recognition. |
🤗
😀
😌
User Journey for Sarah
Stage | Need Identification | Search & Request | Coordination & Pick-up | Distribution | Reflection & Feedback |
User Action | Sarah identifies the shelter’s need for food donations. | Sarah uses the Beacon app to search for available food donations and places a request. | Sarah coordinates with the restaurant and volunteers for food pick-up. | Sarah oversees the distribution of the donated food to the recipients. | Sarah reflects on the donation’s impact and provides feedback through the Beacon app. |
Feeling | Urgent, aware of the dietary diversity required. | Optimistic, values the convenience of the platform. | Assured, focuses on logistics and quality assurance. | Grateful, attentive to recipients’ feedback. | Inspired, looks forward to future collaborations. |
Touchpoints | Shelter inventory check, conversations with recipients. | Beacon app, communication with restaurant owners. | Beacon app notifications, interaction with volunteers and Kevin. | Interaction with recipients, feedback collection. | Beacon app feedback, community engagement. |
🤗
🥲
😀
😌
KEY INSIGHTS
- Streamlined Donations: Simplify the food donation process for busy restaurants.
- Immediate Connections: Match restaurants' surplus with shelters' needs in real time.
- Dietary Options: Enable shelters to request food that suits dietary requirements.
- Reward System: Implement a gamification system to acknowledge and motivate restaurants.
- Community Ties: Strengthen relationships within the community and boost restaurant reputations.
- Flexible Scheduling: Provide convenient pickup times to accommodate restaurant operations.
- Insightful Analytics: Offer valuable data on donations to help restaurants reduce future waste.
Storyboard
Kevins runs a restaurant in Philadelphia. He is happy that his business is doing good, but he has a lot of leftovers at the end of the day’s business.
It upsets him that he has to throw perfectly edible food
But he doesn’t have the time or the space to store them
On the other hand, Sarah, who runs a food shelter, is worried because she doesn't receive steady donations & it's tough for her to manage time between collecting donations and feeding people.
Kevin discovers the 'Beacon app' from a fellow chef. He uses it to schedule a pickup for his excess food. The volunteer from the 'Beacon app' arrives at the scheduled time and collects it.
Beacon delivers food to Sarah's shelter at her preferred time, with all potential food allergens marked.
5. Test & Iterate
We tested the mockups with the users to get feedback on the flow and the UI
The chefs were apprehensive about inputting the allergen details into the application as they were more accustomed to the traditional method of filling out stickers and forms using markers, which they found to be more comfortable and familiar.
Physical sticker
To make it easy for the chef and staff to check to-go containers, we designed a physical sticker that can be attached and marked with a marker.
Introducing Tiered Reward Badges
We implemented "tiered reward" badges based on restaurant feedback expressing a desire to showcase their contributions to the community and enhance their brand image. This allows establishments to progress through levels based on their donations.
Upon achieving donation milestones, restaurants will receive recognition certificates, such as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These certificates raise awareness among patrons and enhance the establishment's reputation within the community.
View Donation requests
Restaurants expressed interest in viewing a list of current donation requests from local charities, allowing them to respond promptly.
They emphasized that their visibility into food leftovers primarily spans the current and following day. Therefore, they preferred the list to display requests specifically for 'Today' and 'Tomorrow' only.
Second survey sent to 83 restaurants in Philadelphia, 84% (about 70 restaurants) expressed willingness to join Beacon, recognizing food waste as a critical issue they wanted to address.
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6. Learnings
1
Reward System and Psychology
Instead of just a game, Beacon's rewards used positive reinforcement (like getting a gold star!). Seeing recognition for their donations made people feel good and want to keep giving.
2
Beyond Interviews
Interviews can tell you what people say they do, but watching them actually do it (contextual inquiry) shows you what they really do. This helps design better solutions.
Fin.
Other Projects:
Sambit Mohanty
sambitmohanty2707@gmail.com
267 455 (3042)
