Minit Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.

System development aimed at optimizing user experience by utilizing low-code

Mr. Minit, the familiar character in a blue uniform seen in train stations and city streets.
Known for its convenient shoe and bag repair services, the company has a network of 250 stores nationwide and focuses on brick-and-mortar business.

Furthermore, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company strengthened its online business. It expanded the online diagnosis and estimate service it had been offering since 2017 and launched an online delivery repair service.
TAM was responsible for building the web system for this new service.

We handled everything from design and development of the user-facing web pages to designing the admin interface and building the system in line with business workflows.
We used low-code tools and SaaS for system development, enabling efficient and rapid release.

Simultaneous value verification and system development

Mr. Minit's "Easy Online Repair Diagnosis Service via Smartphone" allows users to upload photos of broken items and receive repair cost estimates.
After receiving an estimate, users can either request repairs at a store or send the item by mail for repair.

To implement this service, it was necessary to build many elements, including user selection screens, service list management, estimate creation functions, management screens for repair staff, product management, and payment systems.

Developing these components from scratch would have required significant costs and a lengthy development period. Additionally, it was determined that adapting system specifications and requirements while validating the appropriate user experience would be challenging using traditional waterfall-style methodologies.

Therefore, we adopted SaaS platforms like Shopify and low-code tools like Retool. We rapidly built an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and released the service in just 10 months from planning to launch.

Optimize user experience with a development style that allows for backtracking

The primary goal in utilizing SaaS and low-code tools was not to aim for a perfect service from the outset, but rather to quickly build the framework of the service and then iterate through testing, feedback, and improvement to raise the quality to an acceptable level.

In a typical development workflow, the scope of impact from backtracking is significant, and it is generally difficult to make improvements or specification changes in the middle to latter stages of a project.
As a result, there are often cases where compromises are unavoidable, even when it is clear that the current approach is not optimal.

However, in this project, we started before the service requirements were fully solidified, proceeding with the assumption that backtracking and improvements would occur.
By advancing design and implementation simultaneously, we were able to develop the service while checking it from the user's perspective, resulting in a service that is easy to use for both users and administrators.

Mr. Minit also evaluated the project, stating, "As we progressed, the gap between the initially anticipated user experience and the actual experience became clear. It was good that we were able to quickly recognize this and address it while seeking the best solution."

Re-proposal of design tone in line with new service concept

Mr. Minit's physical stores, with their blue signs often seen inside train stations, evoke a friendly image of being able to easily consult about repairs.
On the other hand, the company operates a large repair center of approximately 700 square meters in Taito Ward, Tokyo, with a large number of specialized repair technicians and high technical expertise, but there was a challenge in effectively communicating this expertise.

For this online channel, the goal was to create an image that conveys the technical expertise of the company's repair center, even though it is not visible online, and to instill confidence in users that they can safely entrust their valuable items for repair.

To achieve this, the design tone was completely refreshed. While maintaining a sense of convenience, the design aims to convey the technical expertise of the craftsmen, creating an image that makes users feel confident in entrusting their valuable items for repair.

Ideal launch of new services

After the service was released, Mr. Minit commented, "The number of inquiries has increased significantly, but the system has been streamlined, so the speed of estimates has increased. We are receiving applications from remote areas without stores, and we often receive gratitude from users."

Additionally, customers have reviewed, "At first, I was hesitant about not meeting in person, but the service was very courteous, the estimates were clear, and I could place an order without any concerns."

While considering user scenario patterns, we optimized screen design and system requirements through actual operation.
This case exemplifies a successful approach to launching a new service.

CREDIT

TAM-kun

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