Introduction
Managing vendors was a chaotic process for Make My Restaurant—missed updates, payment confusion, and delays made projects harder than they should be. To fix this, we designed a seamless Vendor App that brought clarity, efficiency, and smoother collaboration, making life easier for both the team and the vendors.
About the company
Make My Restaurant (MMR) is an end-to-end restaurant setup solution Provider in India. The company stands out for its comprehensive approach, handling everything from initial concept design to final execution.
What was the problem?
Solution
We considered multiple alternatives before deciding to build an app.
To fix these inefficiencies, we needed a centralized, automated, and scalable solution.
– Why an App?
Task Management – Assign tasks, notify vendors instantly.
Real-Time Tracking – No more chasing updates.
Transparent Payments – Vendors see dues, managers track easily.
One Source of Truth – All project data in one place. Instead of scattered tools, we built an app that makes project & vendor management effortless.
Core Users
This app is designed exclusively for vendors working on restaurant setup projects. It helps them manage tasks, track payments, and stay updated—all in one place.
Vendor Categories:
Civil → Handles construction, flooring, and structural work.
Inducting Ventilation → Installs and maintains ventilation systems.
Kitchen Equipment - Fabrication → Builds custom kitchen equipment.
Kitchen Equipment - Imported → Supplies and installs imported kitchen appliances.
Licensing → Manages legal permits and compliance.
Chef Recruitment → Sources and hires chefs for restaurants.
Marketing → Handles branding, promotions, and restaurant launch campaigns.
With this app, vendors can focus on their work instead of chasing updates—ensuring a smoother and more efficient project execution.
Research & Discovery
Tight Deadline, Lean Approach
Given the urgency, I skipped extensive research and instead relied on:
Discussions with the CEO & Internal Team to understand pain points.
Competitor Analysis to explore how existing platforms handled task and payment tracking.
Usability Testing after the initial prototype to gather real-world feedback.
💡 Key Insights:
Vendors needed a clear task list with deadlines in one place.
Payment tracking was a major frustration —vendors wanted real-time invoice updates.
A simple and mobile-friendly UI was essential, as many vendors weren’t tech-savvy.
User Flow
I mapped out how vendors would interact with the platform—from receiving a task to tracking its completion and monitoring payments. Every step was designed to be intuitive, reducing unnecessary friction and making key actions seamless.
Style Guide
A clean and functional design system was essential. I used clear status indicators, readable typography, and reusable components for consistency. The goal was to keep the interface simple yet effective, ensuring a smooth experience on mobile devices.
Wireframes
Before jumping into UI design, I created wireframes to establish the layout and functionality. These low-fidelity designs helped validate the structure early, ensuring a logical flow and reducing rework later.
UI Design
With the foundation set, I designed high-fidelity screens that brought clarity and structure. The dashboard offered a snapshot of tasks and payments, while task management and payment tracking sections provided real-time updates in a clean, intuitive layout.
Prototyping
I built an interactive prototype in Figma to validate the user experience and for the usability testing.
Usability Testing
I conducted virtual usability testing with vendors to see how easily they could track tasks, update progress, and monitor payments. Their feedback revealed key friction points, helping refine the design for a smoother, more intuitive experience.
Key Findings:
Vendors wanted current tasks to be more prominent on the home screen.
The distinction between "recent payments" and "expected payments" was unclear.
Daily task updates were confusing, especially the difference between daily and final submissions.
The task submission/update detail screen was difficult to read and understand.
These insights guided critical iterations, making the app more intuitive and user-friendly.
Iteration
After analyzing usability test results, I refined the design to improve usability, clarity, and accessibility.
Final UI Design
After multiple iterations, the Vendor Management App evolved into a clean, intuitive, and efficient platform. The final design ensures seamless task tracking, clear payment visibility, and effortless updates—resolving key pain points identified during usability testing. With a vendor-friendly interface, the app simplifies workflows, reduces manual coordination, and enhances overall transparency.
Results & Impact
As the product is still in development, comprehensive results are not yet available.
Key Learnings
"Done" is better than "perfect": Focus on core user needs first, then refine over time in fast-paced projects.
Lean UX can still drive impact. Even without extensive user interviews, the right discussions and usability tests led to a functional, scalable solution.
Conclusion
Designing the Vendor Management App was a fast-paced, problem-solving challenge. The tight deadline pushed me to think strategically—focusing on impactful design decisions that improved efficiency, reduced confusion, and empowered vendors.
Though still in development, this design lays the foundation for a seamless, transparent vendor management experience. The iterative feedback-driven approach ensured the final solution was user-friendly, practical, and scalable.
