Visual verification

Posted by Jaan on January 12th, 2010 | Add your comment

Just a short post. I am streamlining an equipment rental in-store check-out process. The current set-up is 8 screens and takes up to 6 minutes for an employee to complete for each renter. I have cut it down to three screens and 30 seconds. The key is visual confirmation of the renter: if the person at the counter looks like the person on the screen they are all set.

There is more to this behind the scenes of course, including company wide renter verification, assignment of equipment to a particular person etc, but the challenge is to make the check out faster. The behind-the-scenes complexity should not be seen or experienced at the counter. So far so good. Prototyping is up next.

Here are the three screens. The code on the last one is auto generated and allows the renter to open the rental lot exit gates and drive off with the gear.