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The Beginning
Tide Cleaners has been growing and becoming the #2 Dry Cleaner in America for about 10 years now. In the past couple of years they have acquired a couple businesses that allow them to expand into universities and urban areas. They are a growing franchise that is looking to expand and solve the challenges ahead with technology driven solutions.
I joined team Solvent in 2018. Solvent is a product team founded to create those tech driven solutions for Tide Cleaners. When I joined, there was no code or pixels, jira tickets, or roadmaps. I think the first thing we even did was come up with our team name, ha. Being the first five members on the newly formed team, we were excited about green fielding an entire platform with multiple applications for a growing organization that's roots extend back almost a century.
Build delightful software
Fast forward a couple of years, software we designed and built serves multiple markets nationally with 6 different applications. Our team is a bit bigger. Everyday, we are learned and grew together.
I was blessed to be a lead designer that oversaw the thought and design for several applications. Each is very specific in who the user is and the function it serves. Sometimes it's a bit of a balancing act, but it's always fun and exciting.
Designed experiences for several touch points
Plant Operations and POS
iPad OS
This application keeps track of all the items that get processed at a Tide Cleaners. From the moment the guest drops of their dirty laundry to the moment they come back to pay and pick it up, this application is overseeing the whole thing.
Driver Application
iOS
Tide Cleaners gives guest the option to have their laundry picked up and delivered to their home, apartment or place of business. The driver app is designed to help the driver clearly understand their route for the day and stay on track with all the task they need to accomplish at each stop.
Guest App
iOS • Android
A guest facing experience is available for Apple and Android. The app allows guests to find a service location, could be a store or locker location. If they select a locker location, the app allows a guest to request a pickup, tell us which locker they placed their order in, and track the progress of their order all along the way.
Marketing
It's not often that corporations understand the need for cross collaboration between product, marketing, and operations. Tide Cleaners is finding value when these areas of focus begin to work in partnership with one another.
I've had the opportunity to not only design the products, but to work along side an insanely talented design team to help guide the marketing and branding of Tide Cleaners. With three business models to accommodate (University, Urban and Suburban), Tide Cleaners branding and marketing pose interesting challenges when it comes to communicating services and clarifying brand. Throw in added decades of being branded as America's leading detergent, and you can see some of the challenges that can arise when we positioning as a service.
None the less, it's been a blast to get to work along side incredibly talented teammates and rise to the challenge. We have seen some great success and continue to refine our process and approach.
Photos
Spotted taking a breather. Our days were long and sleep was short on many of our trips.
