Building a User-Friendly POS System to Streamline Everyday Transactions
A collaborative design of a lightweight POS system tailored for food vendors, focusing on usability and efficient transaction flows.
Client
TokoRumahan
Year
2024
Services
UI/UX Design - Figma
A collaborative project to design a lightweight, efficient, and user-friendly web-based POS system for small to medium-sized businesses. I served as a UI Designer, focusing on crafting intuitive interfaces and helping build a scalable design system.
This project was led by one of my teammates, and I contributed as part of the design team. My role centered on translating functional needs into a clear and consistent user interface, while collaborating closely with others to ensure that every part of the product supported a seamless experience for end users.
My Contributions
Throughout the project, I was responsible for several key areas of the interface design. My contributions focused on ensuring usability, consistency, and clarity across the product experience.
Designed key pages, including product management, transactions, and order lists
Created and refined reusable UI components to ensure consistency across pages
Arranged layouts for easy navigation on both desktop and tablet devices
Adapted designs based on guidance from the project lead and team discussions
Contributed to visual element documentation to assist developers
Design Approach
Instead of creating a rigid POS system like many existing ones, we took a lighter approach: simple yet modern. My focus was on:
Readability: selecting typography, sizes, and spacing for comfortable viewing
Clear visual hierarchy: helping users quickly understand information
Scalability: designing UI that can grow without needing complete redesigns
Crafting Seamless Ordering Interactions
The goal was to design a seamless and user-friendly POS feature that supports the operational needs of food vendors, enabling the TREats Partner app to become a reliable tool for both staff and business owners.
Key features and decisions in the prototype:
Intuitive Menu Ordering
During design of the cashier page, we tested two options:
Sticky Order Button (FAB)
Response-based Order Button
Initially, I thought that a floating order list button would speed up tasks. However, internal testing showed it disrupted the flow; cashiers often paused asking “What’s next?”
We switched to response-based ordering, which maintained focus and added flexibility (cancel, hold, confirm options).
Optimizing Category Navigation
Vendors often manage a large menu, so category visibility was critical to reduce friction.
I designed a horizontal category list to allow quick sorting and item access without leaving the page, improving efficiency during order taking.
This prototype allowed us to test functionality and user interaction early, and it became a central tool for both internal review and user testing.
User Testing
To ensure the design met user needs and was easy to use, we conducted early-stage user testing with a small group of target users. This process involved:
Observing users as they completed common tasks such as adding products, processing transactions, and reviewing sales reports
Collecting feedback on usability pain points and confusion areas
Iterating the design based on insights to improve navigation clarity, button placement, and overall flow
This iterative testing helped us refine the interface to be more intuitive and efficient for real-world use.
Key Insights from Testing
Key Question | Findings Summary |
|---|---|
How do sellers manage transactions without POS? | Most sellers used manual or semi-manual methods; some had difficulty generating reports for business owners. |
Which POS features matter most? | Sellers prioritize cashier functions; some explored analytics but faced friction with unpaid bill features. |
Will they use new features? | Most sellers were disinterested or skeptical; engagement required active prompting and guidance. |
Struggles or concerns? | Sellers feared app overload, extra learning curve, and demanded fast refund, print, and report capabilities. |
This early-stage user validation gave us context into seller habits and concerns, helping align our design priorities with their real-world needs.
What I Learned
Working in a structured team challenged me to balance following design direction with contributing my own ideas. I gained valuable experience in:
Thinking holistically about design, not just crafting individual pages, but shaping how the whole system feels and functions
Collaborating across roles with leads, fellow designers, and developers to align on goals and solve problems efficiently
Adapting to real project constraints like timelines and shifting priorities, while still pushing for usability and clarity
I also learned a lot from observing real users during testing, their feedback helped me refine design decisions and better understand the day-to-day needs of sellers.
As the foundation of the POS system is now in place, the next phase will focus on expanding its capabilities and refining the user experience further. Some key areas that the team aims to improve include:
Enhancing the reporting system with better data visualization
Adding role-based user management for staff and admins
Improving responsiveness and layout adjustments for mobile use
Conducting broader usability testing with real users in retail environments
Collaborating more closely with developers to fine-tune interaction feedback and performance
I’m excited to contribute to these improvements and help shape a product that truly supports the daily work of vendors and staff with clarity, speed, and ease.
