Finding a Value Proposition

Being that many food ordering apps exist, I wanted to design a product that met the niche needs of students ordering food on-campus. I conducted quantitative and qualitative research to identify gaps in the market, areas of opportunity, and user needs and values to address.

Competitive Analysis

Systematically analyzing the features, strengths, and weaknesses of apps already on the market allowed me to see what works and what could be improved. By examining aspects such as UI design, user experience, content quality, and functionality, I was able to gain insights into industry standards and best practices. This analysis helped me define a unique value proposition by highlighting what differentiates EZ Eat's designs and features from competitors. Additionally, understanding competitors' approaches enabled me to avoid common pitfalls and capitalize on gaps in the market.

Surveys

I sent out a Google Form to students at different Universities to get a better sense of what options were already on the market, what needs were universally being unmet, and what key pain points and frustrations students faced when it comes to getting food on their campus. Sending a survey was an effective way to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights, which I used to guide me in determining what features I wanted to implement in my app. Originally, I wanted to target establishments in academic buildings, however after doing research I identified a much bigger gap in ordering from dining halls, which became the main value proposition of my app.

Ideating Solutions to Key Pain Points

Throughout my research, I identified four main frustrations with existing (or lack thereof) food ordering processes:

1. Lack of ability to customize orders: specifically, picky eaters and students with allergies struggle with finding suitable options.

2. The overall process is not enjoyable: food options aren't all that appetizing and menus are constantly changing on a day-by-day basis.

3. Service is slow: dining halls get really crowded, students may have little time between classes to eat, and orders are frequently delayed.

4. Food options are expensive: lack of reward programs and clarity when understanding what payment methods are accepted at specific facilities.

Impact Effort Matrix

In order to identify which ideas to tackle first, I prioritized those that were the most feasible and would result in the greatest impact.