Problem and Solution Description:

Problem:

The university area offers a wide range of food options, but students and staff struggle to efficiently discover and access them. There is no centralized platform to explore different cuisines, find meals that cater to specific dietary preferences, or identify consistent places to eat. This lack of organization makes it challenging to find diverse options and adjust choices to fit within a budget. Also, the lack of order limits the visibility of new restaurants, their possibilities of growing in the area and community member's opportunities to find a new restaurant they might like.

Solution:

We are developing a way to solve the problem of the lack of a centralized source of information regarding the restaurant offer near the university. We focus on students and staff near the Uniandes area, with the purpose of reducing their time used on choosing restaurants, while introducing variety to their options. It is also important to us to help students take care of their budget, and to give new restaurants the chance to flourish, leading to fresh and more enjoyable meals.

The proposed solution will include information of restaurants near the uniandes area with focus on the currently opened ones. The restaurants will be organized in a list with the ability of searching and filtering them according to certain fields like price, type of food, average ratings and others. Each restaurant entry will have detailed information on relevant and important aspects such as location (With the ability of using google maps to find a route to get there), menu, prices, reviews, schedules, contact information and description. The solution will also feature a label to point out new restaurants inviting users to try them. In addition, the solution will have features such as a randomizer to pick a restaurant in your "liked" list, interactions among users by sharing their favorite restaurants, a map with restaurants in a radius displaying moment-relevant information such as discounts, and recommendations based on the "liked" restaurants list.

Analytics Persona

Problems-Alternatives-Solutions (PAS)

#	Problems	Alternatives	Solutions
1	I need a fast and easy way to consider and choose a restaurant out of the overwhelming amount of options there are. This process is normally time consuming and exhausting.	I mentally go over all the restaurants I know and check Instagram influencers to see if a review they made appeals to me.	A unified list of currently open restaurants that allows the user to see their details and choose one that appeals to them the most. All of this without going through multiple information sources and resorting to the user's memories.
2	I am unfamiliar with the area and need a way to find the route to a small restaurant a friend recommended for eating regularly at a great price.	I normally go on my preferred maps app and find the way to the restaurant but sometimes the app doesn't know about it, so I call my friends and ask them for instructions.	An app that uses coordinates to spot a restaurant of your choosing in Google Maps. Now with the pin on your desired restaurant, Google Maps can show you the way there even without information about the location.
3	The restaurant I frequent increased its prices and now what I usually ate is over my usual budget.	Eat a smaller portion that now costs the same as the large portion did before.	A list of restaurants that serve the kind of food the user enjoys, as well as the range of prices they can expect if going there.
4	My friends have very different preferences when it comes to food, but we want to eat at the same place so we can talk.	Choose what most of the friends want and make the others settle for a meal they don't necessarily like.	A filter that allows the user to search for a restaurant that meets certain criteria.
5	I want to sit down with my friends and enjoy a meal together, but when we arrive at the restaurant, we find out it only offers pick-up or delivery.	I usually end up looking for another nearby place, which takes time and effort, or we settle for eating outside or have to look for a table inside campus where it’s usually crowded.	An app feature that clearly indicates the dining options available (dine-in, pick-up, delivery) for each restaurant, with filters to search specifically for places with sit-down dining options.
6	I like to plan my meals ahead of time, but many restaurants don't keep their online menus up to date.	I usually stick to my regular places or waste time asking at lunch time and hope for the best.	An app where restaurants can easily update their menus and daily specials, ensuring users have the latest information.
7	My friends and I like to support local businesses because we know that it is not easy to get established, but it’s not as easy as we may think to find them.	We try to stroll around the university area trying to discover new places to try. Although very pleasant, this is a quest that we cannot always be willing to do due to time limitations.	A feature that allows users to tag a new restaurant so that other users can identify it easily and give it a chance.
8	I do not consider myself as a picky eater so from time to time I like to get surprised by trying, unknown for me thus far, new restaurants. Nevertheless, the process of picking a random restaurant based on my preferences is time consuming.	Sometimes I surf through internet or social media trying to get tempted to try a new restaurant. However, not all restaurants are accessible for me.	The users can lead the app to pick a random restaurant for them based on their preferences, budget, location, and other factors.
9	I want to avoid long wait times at restaurants, especially during peak hours, but I don't know which places are likely to have shorter queues.	I usually take a chance and go to a restaurant, hoping the wait time isn't too long, or I call ahead to ask about the current situation.	An app feature that shows real-time data on wait times at nearby restaurants, allowing users to choose places with shorter queues and save time.
10	I often have difficulty finding restaurants that accommodate my dietary restrictions, which makes eating out stressful.	I tend to stick to the few restaurants I know cater to my dietary needs, even if I would like to try new places.	A filter option in the app that allows users to search for restaurants based on specific dietary preferences (e.g., vegan, gluten-free, halal), making it easier to find suitable dining options.
11	Finding restaurants that cater to specific cultural or ethnic cuisines can be challenging, especially in a diverse area.	I usually ask friends for recommendations or search online, which can be time-consuming and may not always yield the best results.	An app feature that allows users to search for restaurants by cultural or ethnic cuisine types, making it easier to find specific types of food.
12	I often have difficulty finding restaurants that are open late or during odd hours.	I rely on previous knowledge of restaurants that stay open late or check various websites, which can be unreliable and inconsistent.	A feature in the app that provides updated information on restaurant operating hours, including late-night and early-morning options, helping users find places open at their desired times.

Context Canvas

Link to the Context Canvas

Business Questions

Type 1 Questions

• What is the number of Android downloads of our app in the last week?

This a type 1 question since it measures the apps performance by the number of downloads in the play store. Besides this, the answer to this question helps the team to solve internal questions regarding usage of the app and this information won't be presented to final user by our side, nevertheless, it will be used by the develop team to understand the app performance.

• What features are causing the app to crash unexpectedly?

This is a type 1 question because it concerns the monitoring of the app's performance. In this case it relates to bugs causing the app to crash, that should be revised and fixed. The data for type of question is collected internally.

Type 2 Questions

• What restaurant(s) have been the most liked or positively reviewed this week?

This is a type 2 question because it looks to improve the users' experiences through highlighting in the list and showing a notification of the restaurant(s) that get a lot of likes and positive reviews, these will be shown when the user is near the Uniandes area. Consequently, the user will get to know, go or try a restaurant that has a great offer or could be having a special event (an offer, a launch, or the offering of a new dish). This question's answer is related to the user's context by location, it uses the users' interactions with a restaurant, uses the system's internal information and will help the user find a restaurant that he/she might like.

• What percentage of the restaurant's in an area has the user left a review in?

This question is type 2 as it provides information that lets a 'food critic' type user see the amount of restaurants they have already reviewed in an area. This provides value to them as it gives them a measurement of how many restaurants they haven't discovered yet. This improves the user's daily experience and interaction as it provides a goal to accompolish in terms of the amount of restaurants they have left to visit.

• Is there a new restaurant nearby that matches the user's 'liked' cuisine types?

This is a type 2 question because it enhances the user's dining experience by leveraging their personal preferences to discover new options. By identifying new restaurants that align with the user's 'liked' cuisine types, the app provides personalized recommendations that cater to their tastes. This functionality not only introduces variety but also encourages exploration of new dining experiences, making it easier for the user to find appealing options. The system uses the user's location and historical data to deliver relevant and timely suggestions (via a notification), thereby improving their overall interaction with the app.

• Has one of the user's 'liked' restaurants recently updated its menu?

This is a type 2 question because it aims to enhance the user's dining experience by notifying them when a restaurant they have previously liked updates its menu. The question leverages the user's personal preferences and past interactions to provide timely and relevant information that could influence their dining choices. This helps the user stay informed about new dishes or changes that may interest them. This notification not only encourages repeat visits to favored spots but also adds value by keeping the dining experience fresh and exciting. The system uses internal data on the user's 'liked' restaurants and menu updates, and the answer is presented directly to the user, enhancing their overall experience by keeping them engaged with their favorite dining options.

Type 3 Questions

• What are the screens where the users in average spend the least time weekly?

This is a type 3 question because it is helping the business decide if a screen with a set of functionalities is not being used nor accepted by the users. If users aren't really using a screen, the business should think about upgrading it, fixing it or removing it. The datasource for this question would be internal by using the time each user spends in the different screens weekly and doing an average.

• How often does a user leave a review after using the "randomize restaurant" feature?

This is a Type 3 question because it provides insights into the effectiveness and impact of the "randomize restaurant" feature. By analyzing how frequently users leave reviews after using this feature, the business can assess whether it successfully engages users and encourages interaction. If the feature is not generating the desired level of user feedback, it may indicate a need for improvement or potential removal, guiding decisions about feature updates or enhancements.

• What are the most common navigation paths users take within the app?

This is a type 3 because it focuses on understanding user behavior within the app to optimize features and user experience. By analyzing the navigation paths, the business can identify which features are most frequently accessed, which paths are less intuitive or problematic, and where users might drop off. This insight helps in making informed decisions about feature placement, streamlining the user journey, and potentially removing or updating features that aren't being used as intended. The ultimate goal is to enhance the app’s usability and efficiency, ensuring it meets user needs effectively.

• Which filtering options (e.g., price, cuisine type) are most frequently used by users?

This is a type 3 question because it analyzes the usage patterns of different filtering options within the app. By identifying which filters are most frequently used, the business can determine which aspects of the search functionality are most valuable to users. This information can guide decisions on where to focus development efforts, such as enhancing the most popular filters or optimizing the user interface for easier access. On the other hand, if certain filters are rarely used, the business may consider modifying or removing them to streamline the user experience and reduce clutter in the app's interface. The data source for this question would be internal, based on tracking user interactions with the filtering features over time.

Type 4 Questions

• What are the most searched cuisines or types of food by the users?

This is a type 4 question due to the following considerations: the main purpose of this question involves making a profit since we can sell this data to a third-party organization who can get advantage of that. Next to this, the main source of this data comes from the interaction of the user with the app given that each search by an user is a new piece of data added to the collection.
As mentioned before, this kind of data could be object of selling to third parties as it could help them to create value for the organization, for example, a restaurant chain manager is looking to settle a new business near de campus and wants to target the most preferred gastronomical options by people, this kind of knowledge could be derived from the sold data. Besides this, the answer to this question could help us to put or locate some adds or publicity in our app since the trends extracted from the data could attract potential sponsorships looking for more visibility. Finally, before answering this question it is necessary to find potential stakeholders that could share an interest for the data and eventually benefit for it.

• What common qualities are shared by the restaurants most frequently added to users' favorites?

This is a type 4 question because it focuses on leveraging user preference data to identify trends and patterns that can create business opportunities. By analyzing the qualities of popular restaurants, the business can understand what attributes users value the most, such as cuisine type, ambiance, price range, or special features. This information can then be used to attract similar establishments for partnerships, targeted advertising, or promotional deals, thereby generating revenue or strategic alliances that benefit both the business and third-party companies. The goal is to monetize user data insights by aligning them with market demand and potential business partners.

Type 5 Questions

• In what area are the restaurants that are the most liked and positively reviewed?

This is a type 2 question because it will help the users be notified when they are in an area with high quality restaurants according to other users' reviews. Now with that in knowledge they could see around or in the app if there is something that calls their attention for eating. The data source would be internal because we would be using using the restaurants, their reviews and locations. It will be involving the user's position, other users' interactions with the app, and, it will help the user be guided towards good restaurants. This is also a type 4 question because it will be using internal information as mentioned before, and the business will be making profit by sharing the answer with a third party such as an external data analyst interested in investigating the location characteristics of restaurants with high and positive flow.

• Which of the app's features are the most used?

This is a type 2 questions because it concerns the direct user experience of using the different features of the app. By identifying the most popular features we could highlight them, improving the user experience, making it easier to browse the app. It is also a type 3 question because it regards the features with the purpose of understanding which features should be removed or updated to better increase the user's experience. These hybrid question tries to analize the effectivity of each implemented feature in terms of amount of usage and user satisfaction with it.

VD Map

Link to VD Map