Micro Sprint 4

Problem and Solution

Problem

Food waste is a significant issue that affects both businesses and consumers. Many businesses in the food industry, such as restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, often produce more food than is needed to meet customer demand, resulting in surplus food that may go unsold. This excess food typically goes to waste, leading to financial losses for businesses and contributing to environmental issues such as increased carbon emissions and landfill use. On the consumer side, people often miss out on opportunities to purchase high-quality food at discounted prices due to a lack of awareness about where these deals are available.

Solution

The solution we have chosen to implement is an application that allows users to find and reserve surplus food from local businesses. The application aims to reduce food waste by connecting consumers with restaurants, cafes, and other food establishments that have excess food inventory nearing its expiration or left over at the end of the day. Users can search for available deals, reserve food items at a discounted price, and pick them up from the store. This approach not only helps reduce the environmental impact of food waste but also provides users with access to affordable, high-quality food.

The application is designed to be simple and intuitive, featuring a main page with a search bar, filter options, and essential tabs for navigation. Users can filter their searches based on distance, type of food, and other preferences, making it easy to find surplus food that meets their needs. Each food item listed on the app includes a short description, price, and an image, allowing users to make informed decisions. Additionally, the app integrates a cart system where users can add selected items, review their choices, and proceed to checkout. Once the reservation is confirmed, users can visit the respective store to pick up their food.

To ensure a seamless user experience, the app also includes a profile section where users can manage their personal information, payment methods, and order history. Preferences such as dietary restrictions and notification settings can be customized to enhance the user experience. By providing a practical solution to food waste, our application has the potential to make a significant impact on both consumers and businesses, fostering a more sustainable food ecosystem in Bogotá.

Persona

Problems Alternative Solutions (PAS)

Problem	Alternative	Solution
Many businesses struggle with selling food that is nearing its expiration date, leading to significant food waste and financial losses.	Discounting the items in-store or offering last-minute deals to regular customers.	The Food Waste app allows businesses to list these near-expiration items in real-time, reaching a larger audience interested in purchasing discounted food, thus reducing waste and recouping some of the costs.
Consumers are often unaware of where they can find deals on food that is close to its expiration date, missing out on opportunities to save money.	Manually check local stores or hope to come across deals during shopping trips.	The Food Waste app sends real-time notifications to consumers when nearby businesses list discounted food items, ensuring they never miss a deal.
Many restaurants and cafes often have unsold food at the end of the day, leading to waste.	Donate the unsold food to local shelters or food banks.	Use the Food Waste app to sell the unsold food at a discounted rate to consumers, reducing waste and generating some revenue.
Consumers want to reduce their food expenses but have difficulty finding affordable, high-quality food.	Search for deals and discounts manually at local stores.	The Food Waste app aggregates discounted food offerings from nearby businesses, providing a convenient platform for consumers to find affordable food.
Businesses lose money on food inventory that spoils or is left unsold.	Reduce production quantities to minimize waste, but risk running out of stock during high demand.	The Food Waste app helps businesses manage surplus by offering real-time promotions on excess inventory, balancing supply and demand more effectively.
Consumers are often unaware of sustainable options for acquiring food that would otherwise go to waste.	Word-of-mouth or local community groups sharing surplus food options.	The Food Waste app provides a centralized platform for consumers to find and reserve surplus food, promoting sustainable consumption.
Managing unsold inventory is time-consuming for businesses, especially when trying to sell it quickly.	Implement manual markdowns and in-store promotions.	The Food Waste app automates the listing of unsold items, allowing businesses to quickly and efficiently reach a wider audience.
Consumers are concerned about the quality of food that is nearing its expiration date.	Avoid purchasing such food, leading to increased waste.	The Food Waste app includes detailed descriptions and images of surplus items, helping consumers make informed choices about the quality of the food they are purchasing.
Businesses may face reputational risk if they are seen as selling 'leftover' or 'low-quality' food.	Avoid selling surplus food, resulting in increased waste.	The Food Waste app positions the sale of surplus food as a positive, eco-friendly action, helping to improve the business's image while reducing waste.
Consumers may forget to pick up their reserved food, leading to further waste.	Charge a penalty fee for missed pickups.	The Food Waste app sends timely reminders and notifications to users to ensure they pick up their reserved items, reducing the likelihood of missed pickups.
lack of stakeholders	Getting donations to support the cause	participating in entrepreneurial events with high quality elevator pitches

Context Canvas

Business Questions

Type 1: App's Telemetry

• What is the distribution of platforms where our app is installed?

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Type 2: User experience

• How many taps does it take the user to create an order?
• How frequently are users using the distance filter?
• How often do users engage with the "Recommended Deals" section?
• What percentage of users abandon their order process after selecting items but before completing the purchase?

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Type 3: Feature Analysis

• How many times per week does the user tap to buy food in a restaurant ?
• Which filter options (e.g., price, cuisine type, distance) are most frequently used by users when searching for deals?
• How often do users use the "Order Again" feature to repeat previous purchases?

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Type 4: Benefit from Data

• Which types of food deals are most likely to be reserved by users?

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Type 5: Multi-type

• How does the app's performance (loading times, crash rates) correlate with user retention rates?

VD Map