The situation
Organisations like hospitals struggle locating assets when needed. This problem creates wasted time, overspending on equipment that cannot be found, and compromised patient care. Spotto reduces asset search time through technology that automatically records equipment location, enabling users to find items via phone or PC.
We invested in an entirely web-based platform requiring no software installation on the customer side. In hospital environments with mixed device ownership, getting approval for installed applications presents a significant usage hurdle. Some staff members carry personal devices but hesitate downloading work applications. Additionally, as a small team prioritising nimble product development, we chose a web-first approach since maintaining native apps requires substantial time investment.
The vision
While Spotto contains significant backend complexity, the design intention was creating an understated, minimalist interface — a breath of fresh air particularly for healthcare workers accustomed to poor software experiences. The result has become something users genuinely enjoy.
A Nurse Unit Manager demonstrated this success. Initially hesitant about adding complexity, she quickly discovered Spotto’s simplicity exceeded expectations. She could make critical assets trackable, and staff could search for them without training — crucial in time-constrained healthcare environments.
COVID-19’s unexpected challenge
The pandemic prevented hands-on hospital installations. This constraint refocused efforts on eliminating technical confusion points across the product experience, enabling independent hospital setup. We questioned: Was language clear? What could be removed without sacrificing functionality? Were unnecessary technical terms used?
Design considerations included:
- Large tap areas accommodating users across broad age brackets
- Avoiding technical jargon wherever possible
- Search results displaying precisely the right information without superfluous details
- Asset movement history accessible through simple navigation
This user-experience thoughtfulness became integral to product design and engineering — an unintended COVID-19 consequence. Weekly stories demonstrate how Spotto improves clinical team workflows and patient outcomes through straightforward asset discovery.