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Case Study: Designing an App for Construction Workers

I built an iOS app that helped remote construction workers complete government-mandated documentation in the field.

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Startup Highlights

• In 2014, I designed and developed the first iOS health and safety app tailored for the Canadian oil and gas sector, setting a new industry standard for digital documentation. 
• I reduced paperwork completion times from 20 minutes to 2 minutes, enhancing operational efficiency in extreme field conditions. 
• I designed an incident form for the app that expedited the insurance process for injured workers. 
• My web application seamlessly received and processed data from the iOS app, transforming how supervisors accessed and reviewed field documentation. 
• The WKSS solution tackled complex data syncing challenges, facilitating reliable data transfer from remote locations to servers. 

The problem

I wanted to build the most user-friendly documentation app construction workers would ever use. 

In 2013, I launched WKSS in Calgary, Alberta, the epicenter of Canada's oil and gas sector. With a background as an SAIT-trained paramedic, I pivoted to become a health and safety consultant, working for industry names like Cenovus Energy and niche players like MPI Oilfield. 

Driven to revolutionize documentation for construction, oil and gas, and environmental workers in remote, low-connectivity zones, I set out to craft a groundbreaking native iOS app. This app wasn't simply a tool; it was a bridge connecting field workers to their supervisors through seamless data synchronization, transforming how documentation was managed in the field. 

My purpose wasn’t solely to build an app, but to reinvent how construction workers interacted with essential safety procedures, making the process effortlessly accessible even in the most isolated locations. 

My role and impact

Transitioning from a paramedic to a consultant in the oil and gas industry, I embarked on a journey into technology with no prior background in software development. In 2013, I ventured into the unknown realm of Zero-to-One Product Development, embracing a hands-on learning approach supplemented by extensive reading on business and product development. 

Driven by a passion to streamline fieldwork and back-office operations, I immersed myself in the design and architecture of a digital product suite, including: 

• An iOS app to complete field documentation 
• A web application for document review 
• A marketing website geared toward selling SaaS subscriptions 

Tackling digital documentation complexity, I faced the formidable challenge of crafting a user-friendly app for field workers. This experience, detailed in my case study, marks a pivotal point in my career and showcases my ability to overcome steep learning curves and deliver innovative solutions. 

How I grew professionally

In my three-year journey of running WKSS, I gained invaluable experience akin to an MBA in SaaS business practices, software development, and sales. This venture honed my skills in an extreme working environment and laid a solid foundation for my future roles in the tech industry, including my growth from a UX Architect to a Principal Product Designer in six years. 

My time at WKSS, marked by pioneering tech solutions in challenging conditions, has shaped my approach to B2B enterprise product development and design. 

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