Conceptualization of an Instant Craft Transaction network using Mobile Technology

Aim: To link remote craftsman directly to the market.

Duration: 4 months (Fall 2006 | IITG, India)

Collaborators: Aditya Saxena, Mukul Bisht

Methods Used: Literature Survey, Interaction Diagrams, Interface/Visual Design, Cognitive Walkthrough, Heuristic Evaluation, Personal Interviews, GOMS modeling, Survey Design, Contextual Inquiry, Persona and Scenario Creation, Concept Generation, Information Architecture, Task flow Conception, UML.

Project Brief: The application aims at establishing a two-way communication scheme between retail stores and craftsmen. This will make marketing and selling of craft products more efficient and user-friendly. Using this medium of marketing we aim to establish link between various bodies concerned with the sales and marketing of craft industries products’ by replacing the existing procedures in place.

Design and Methodology: Data collection by interviewing artisans, visiting NGOs (working for the same cause) and authoritarians of Craft centers. All this helped in understanding and analyzing existing Craft Network structure, which is mainly controlled by the intermediates.

To understand the contextual needs of the users and to understand their needs a consumer online survey was conducted. A total of 200 users across 32 cities participated.

Theme boards were constructed to identify the flaws and analyze the advantages of the selected and streamlined ideas. This included –

• ATC - All Time Craft Sales
• PBT - Picture based transaction
• Kiosk - Organized Transaction
• CCT - Code controlled Transaction

Final concept was selected based on advantage gained by the craftsmen (which was of peak interest) and implementation feasibilities. A 3-tier system was proposed, with customer at the top, organization in middle and craftsman at the base. The solution involves removal of intermediates and usage of a Database for craft products which makes working efficient and faster.

Deliverables: We delivered a working mobile system with functional connectivity with the database. Key features being,

• Takes into account all aspects of worker's rights.
• Is in sync with government policies on craft items.
• Generates employment opportunities.
• Almost completely reduces the monetary factor.
• Hopes to make a major change in the cost of living of the craftsmen.

Working of the proposed system: A government controlled organization will handle the craft sale, with the database of location and specialty of individual Craftsman. All the craft item requests will be registered and monitored by the Craft Agent (CA) at the Organization. Based on the location and connectivity, the request will be passed to the organization official nearest to the concerned craftsman.