2024 / Case Study
BidCrete
- UI & UX Design
- UX Research
- SaaS Design
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Multi-Role Design
BidCrete is a one-stop platform that enables builders to purchase ready-mix concrete from local suppliers.
BidCrete simplifies ordering, eliminates bidding chaos, and offers clear, upfront pricing—helping users save time, reduce costs, and manage projects more efficiently.
TLDR; Long Story Short
BidCrete is a construction tech platform that connects builders with local ready-mix concrete suppliers, streamlining time-critical orders. I designed the Admin Center, Builder’s Mobile App, and Web App to replace manual, fragmented processes with a unified digital experience.
Key Features
Admin Center: Centralized dashboard to manage orders, supplier bids, proximity-based supplier matching, delivery schedules, and live order tracking.
Builder App (Web & Mobile): Real-time quoting, supplier matching, order placement, delivery updates, and reordering—designed for both on-site and office use.
Impact
The redesigned platform reduced manual coordination, minimized order errors, and gave builders real-time control.
Admins gained operational clarity, while builders saved time and costs with more accurate, flexible delivery workflows.
Key Takeaway
Designing BidCrete as the sole designer taught me how to simplify complex, multi-role workflows—transforming a 27-column shared spreadsheet into intuitive digital tools.
It reinforced the value of collaborative design, edge case planning, and building scalable systems for high-stakes, time-sensitive industries.
Design Process
The Problem
Ordering concrete is uniquely time-sensitive: concrete is perishable and must be poured within a limited time after mixing.
As the company expanded, inefficiencies emerged due to fragmented tools, manual workflows, and the time-sensitive nature of concrete delivery.
Research
Defining Roles and Users
Builders place concrete orders on-the-go, often while on-site in tough conditions. They’re not always tech-savvy, so they need simple navigation, large buttons, and clear feedback. Real-time communication, order visibility, and timely updates are essential.
Admins manage builder orders through an internal portal and manually relay them to suppliers, often by phone. This process is prone to human error due to frequent copy-pasting between apps and spreadsheets.
Suppliers receive order requests from admins and responds with quotes and availability. They need accurate data to plan batch orders and delivery logistics
UI Sketching
In designing the admin dashboard, I aimed to mirror the layout of the admins’ familiar “Excel Bible” to minimize friction and reduce the learning curve.
Additional details are shown in a collapsible side panel, allowing admins to access deeper context without navigating away from the main interface.
With so many columns in the original spreadsheet, I prioritized the most critical information needed to manage and fulfill orders efficiently.
Design Execution
Admin Center Dashboard
Admins were overwhelmed by manual coordination — handling phone calls, copying data across spreadsheets, and managing orders using excel spreadsheet. This led to errors, miscommunication, and inefficiencies.
We built a centralized admin dashboard with real-time order tracking, modeled after the familiar “Excel Bible” layout to ease adoption. Color-coded status tags and priority flags quickly highlight key actions
- 🔴 Edited orders needing supplier updates
- 🟡 Upcoming deliveries
- 🟢 New orders
We also embedded messaging and notification tools for live coordination and added geofencing filters to surface nearby concrete plants.
The dashboard significantly reduces admin workload, minimizes errors, and improves response time by streamlining workflows and centralizing key data—all while aligning with existing habits and tools.
Builder's Mobile App
Builders on-site often faced poor communication and delays due to missed updates or last-minute changes.
Without real-time visibility or a direct line to admins, issues couldn’t be reported or resolved quickly, leading to project slowdowns.
We designed a mobile-first app tailored for builders in the field:
- 🌗 High-contrast, touch-friendly UI for outdoor use.
- 👀 Clear CTA: “Order Concrete” always accessible
- 🗓️ Calendar view for upcoming deliveries, job site details, and notes
- 💬 Integrated messaging with admins
- 🔔 Real-time notifications for updates or changes
The app empowers builders with instant visibility, communication, and control—reducing errors , improving scheduling, and ensuring smoother coordination between field and office.
Learnings and Reflections
Designing for BidCrete sharpened my ability to create data-heavy UIs that balance flexibility and usability, especially across admin dashboards and tables. Working with field-driven personas shaped a builder app that truly fits real-world use.
As the solo designer, I stayed two sprints ahead of development, refining my annotations for smoother handoffs.
This project also highlighted the importance of process documentation—something I plan to prioritize more in future to support scalable design operations.