Centralized nutrition data management system with API
Nestlé, a global leader in food and beverage, was using an antiquated application called Menu Planner, originally designed to manage product nutrition information. Recently, California passed a bill requiring baby food manufacturers to make their heavy metal test results available to consumers on the manufacturer’s website. Menu Planner was identified as the perfect system for this task.
Since Nestlé was only tracking test results internally in Excel files, they needed a tool allowing them to upload and manage the data. However, Menu Planner was outdated and lacked the scalability to support additional functionality. As a result, Nestlé asked us to redesign the application to incorporate test results and serve as a centralized product management system for nutrition data.
Services
User research, Prototyping, Usability testing, Developer handoff, Development, UX support
Upload and manage test results
Design a solution to easily upload, validate, and control heavy metal test result data.
Create an API for data access
Design and develop an API that enables secure, reliable external access to data.
Streamline data management
Purpose of our research
By understanding how the existing application is used, user behavior, and business requirements, we can gather insights to ensure our design decisions align with both user and business goals. Through our research, we aimed to:
Studies
Easy control of imported data is critical for accuracy and compliance
In our design, once a file is uploaded, the system automatically checks for inaccuracies. The imported data is then displayed to users to review or take further action on before publishing it for API use. If inaccuracies are found, the system separates the problematic data from the clean data, allowing users to either correct the issues before publishing or remove the invalid records.
To unpublish results, users can do so manually, or once they expire, they are automatically removed from API use and archived. Automating this task reduces user responsibility and optimizes database performance.
Consolidate multiple disparate data sources into a single, centralized system
UX Team expanded the capabilities of a legacy Menu Planner application into a newly designed and developed Nutrition Data Management System (NDMS). This new application enables Nestlé employees to easily manage all data in one application instead of multiple disparate applications.
In addition, the data managed in this new application is fed to multiple public websites via an API. This not only allows all product nutrition data to be immediately updated with the click of a button but it also ensures that all data is consistent, error-free, and well-organized.
Need for enhanced data filtering capabilities
In the legacy application, users had to run reports to generate a filtered list of products based on specific attributes. This process was not only inefficient but also lacked the level of granularity users required.
With the new system, users can bypass the reporting module entirely, as the product listing now offers a comprehensive range of filters. This enables users to quickly narrow down products based on one or more attributes. Additionally, we’ve integrated export functionality throughout the system, making it easy for users to download data whenever needed.
Part of this project involved redesigning and developing two external tools: Allergen Finder and Nutrient Profiles. Both tools are featured on Gerber Medical Hub, but they were built in Nestlé’s legacy system, and products were not always up to date and the functionality was not always reliable.
Using the newly implemented API, we can provide users with accurate and up-to-date product information that healthcare professionals need to inform their patients with specific dietary needs. By incorporating the same powerful reporting features found in the new system, the API also enabled us to develop both tools in Medical Hub that deliver an efficient and cohesive user experience on their website.
