Project Overview
Enbridge’s pipeline transport cost estimating and scheduling process was complex and fragmented, relying on individual spreadsheets, manual data entry, and disparate data sources. Engineers and analysts spent significant time on data preparation rather than high-value scheduling, scenario analysis, and cost-estimating work.
To address these challenges, I led the product design efforts for BOLT, an integrated system that automated data retrieval, improved accuracy, and optimized scheduling. My role included user experience (UX) research, workflow analysis, workshopping and facilitation, user interface (UI) design, prototyping, and usability testing to ensure the system was intuitive, efficient, and aligned with user and business needs.
Key Outcomes
- Reduced pre-development time by 75% through stakeholder alignment workshops
- Increased efficiency, saving 60+ work hours per month with automated workflows
- Enabled $10 MM in annual cost savings by streamlining scheduling and incorporating rigorous electricity tariff calculations
- Increased efficiency, saving 60+ work hours per month with automated workflows
- Enabled $10 MM in annual cost savings by streamlining scheduling and incorporating rigorous electricity tariff calculations
By prioritizing user research, iterative design, and stakeholder collaboration, I ensured BOLT delivered a seamless user experience that directly impacted operational efficiency.
TL;DR
- Led product design for BOLT, a cost estimation and scheduling tool for Enbridge
- Replaced fragmented spreadsheets with a unified, user-friendly interface
- Used research, prototyping, and workshops to align stakeholders and refine workflows
- Achieved 75% faster pre-development, saved 60+ hours/month, and enabled $10MM in annual savings
- Demonstrated how design can simplify complexity and drive operational impact
- Replaced fragmented spreadsheets with a unified, user-friendly interface
- Used research, prototyping, and workshops to align stakeholders and refine workflows
- Achieved 75% faster pre-development, saved 60+ hours/month, and enabled $10MM in annual savings
- Demonstrated how design can simplify complexity and drive operational impact
Scheduling Scenarios
Challenges & Design Approach
1. Fragmented & Manual Data Processes
Problem: Engineers manually pulled and validated data across multiple spreadsheets, leading to errors and inefficiencies.
Design Solution:
- Conducted workflow audits and requirements-gathering sessions with users and stakeholders
- Introduced automated data retrieval and validation via the BOLT interface
- Designed step-by-step user flows to minimize manual intervention
- Conducted workflow audits and requirements-gathering sessions with users and stakeholders
- Introduced automated data retrieval and validation via the BOLT interface
- Designed step-by-step user flows to minimize manual intervention
Impact:
- Reduced data preparation time, allowing engineers to focus on high-level analysis
- Minimized errors by eliminating manual entry from the process
- Reduced data preparation time, allowing engineers to focus on high-level analysis
- Minimized errors by eliminating manual entry from the process
Example Client Spreadsheet
2. Inefficient Communication & Workflow Design
Problem: Without a structured design process and product design involvement, teams previously relied on ad-hoc PowerPoint decks, leading to misalignment.
Design Solution:
- Created interactive wireframes and prototypes to visually communicate workflows
- Facilitated workshops to align stakeholders on design priorities
- Established a design system for UI consistency
- Utilized an iterative process for feedback and design improvements
- Created interactive wireframes and prototypes to visually communicate workflows
- Facilitated workshops to align stakeholders on design priorities
- Established a design system for UI consistency
- Utilized an iterative process for feedback and design improvements
Impact:
- Faster buy-in from IT and business teams, reducing development misinterpretations
- Stakeholder alignment across competing business units
- 75% reduction in pre-development time by clarifying requirements early
- Faster buy-in from IT and business teams, reducing development misinterpretations
- Stakeholder alignment across competing business units
- 75% reduction in pre-development time by clarifying requirements early
Build, Measure, Learn Feedback Loop and Product Design Communication Diagram
3. Limited Integration & Data Transparency
Problem: The previous system lacked real-time collaboration; data was scattered across individual desktops.
Design Solution:
- Implemented a cloud-based interface for real-time data access
- Designed a dashboard allowing teams to track changes and maintain a single source of truth
- Implemented a cloud-based interface for real-time data access
- Designed a dashboard allowing teams to track changes and maintain a single source of truth
Impact:
- Enabled seamless collaboration between teams, improving workflow visibility
- Ensured all users worked with up-to-date data, preventing outdated analysis and redundancy
- Enabled seamless collaboration between teams, improving workflow visibility
- Ensured all users worked with up-to-date data, preventing outdated analysis and redundancy
Example Client Mockup
4. Complex Calculations & Lack of Visualization
Problem: Engineers manually performed power curve analysis and cost estimations in Excel, leading to slow compute times.
Design Solution:
- Incorporated automated calculation tools within BOLT to replace manual number crunching
- Introduced data visualizations to compare energy cost scenarios at a glance
- Incorporated automated calculation tools within BOLT to replace manual number crunching
- Introduced data visualizations to compare energy cost scenarios at a glance
Impact:
- Compute time reduced from hours to minutes/seconds, enabling faster decision-making
- Supported data-driven scheduling with clear scenario comparisons
- Compute time reduced from hours to minutes/seconds, enabling faster decision-making
- Supported data-driven scheduling with clear scenario comparisons
Power Curve UI and Visualization
5. Steep Learning Curve
Problem: The old system lacked structured training materials, making onboarding inefficient.
Design Solution:
- Developed an intuitive UI with contextual tooltips
- Created training documentation and onboarding guides
- Developed an intuitive UI with contextual tooltips
- Created training documentation and onboarding guides
Impact:
- Reduced onboarding time for new users
- Enabled self-sufficient learning, reducing reliance on peer training
- Reduced onboarding time for new users
- Enabled self-sufficient learning, reducing reliance on peer training
Bolt User Guide
Key Product Design Contributions
Establishing a Unified Vision
- Facilitated cross-team workshops to align goals and define core requirements
- Developed early prototypes to visualize workflows
- Presented research-backed recommendations to leadership, securing buy-in
- Facilitated cross-team workshops to align goals and define core requirements
- Developed early prototypes to visualize workflows
- Presented research-backed recommendations to leadership, securing buy-in
Feature Prioritization & Testing
- Led user research sessions to determine high-value features
- Performed iterative usability testing to refine workflows
- Led user research sessions to determine high-value features
- Performed iterative usability testing to refine workflows
Wireframing & UI Framework Integration
- Created high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes using OutSystems
- Standardized UI elements, reducing ambiguity in development
- Created high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes using OutSystems
- Standardized UI elements, reducing ambiguity in development
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Acted as a bridge between business and IT, translating needs into design
- Facilitated weekly check-ins and feedback loops
- Acted as a bridge between business and IT, translating needs into design
- Facilitated weekly check-ins and feedback loops
Comprehensive Documentation
- Delivered detailed UI specs, user stories, and requirements
- Created a design-system reference for future updates
- Delivered detailed UI specs, user stories, and requirements
- Created a design-system reference for future updates
Prototyping in Figma
Development & Technical Enhancements
Improved Tariff Logic & Cost Estimations
- Mapped user needs to system logic with engineering partners
- Designed interactive data inputs for real-time tariff scenario testing
- Mapped user needs to system logic with engineering partners
- Designed interactive data inputs for real-time tariff scenario testing
Reducing Pre-Development Uncertainty
- Ran pre-dev design sprints with mockups and interactive prototypes
- Allowed developers to validate feasibility early
- Ran pre-dev design sprints with mockups and interactive prototypes
- Allowed developers to validate feasibility early
Client & Developer Testimonials
Client Feedback
"Visualizations helped align the business and IT departments on the project, which is a major hurdle at Enbridge – understanding and being comfortable with what we were trying to accomplish."
"By eliminating redundant work and improving efficiency, we significantly reduced operational costs while increasing analytical capacity."
Developer Feedback
Developer Feedback
"Early wireframes and design work minimized gaps in understanding."
"Pre-prepared UI components let developers focus on coding, not guessing design intent."
"Wireframes facilitated leadership buy-in, especially since we demonstrated project progress when there were delays in IT hiring."
Conclusion
The introduction of product design into BOLT transformed a fragmented, spreadsheet-heavy process into a scalable, user-centered system that enables faster, more accurate cost estimation and scheduling. By prioritizing usability, stakeholder alignment, and workflow automation, we achieved:
- 75% reduction in pre-development time
- 60+ work hours saved per month
- $10 MM in annual cost savings
Looking forward, continued investment in UX and data visualization will further enhance adoption and decision-making. BOLT’s success proves that great design is about making complex workflows intuitive, efficient, and impactful.
Power Curves Walkthrough
