M Portal

Centralized platform streamlines user and site management, real-time monitoring, role assignment, and smart home control.

Problem

Developed as a modern replacement for the outdated IPC10 receiver system, this platform centralizes user management, site control, and monitoring.

Challange


How might we design a tool that simplifies site and user management for installers, while remaining scalable and clear?


We were given the following goals and constraints:


  • Enable installers to manage users and sites from a centralized desktop platform


  • Make common tasks—like assigning roles or editing site

    settings—fast and intuitive


  • Keep the UI flexible for future features, without complicating the current experience

EARLY FEEDBACK


Feedback from early users of the Site List screen revealed that, while the data was comprehensive, the layout felt dense and overwhelming—especially for installers managing dozens of active sites. Many were unsure how to quickly interpret service states or locate actions like code requests and payment renewal.


This led us to refine both the information hierarchy and visual signals—prioritizing clarity for the most time-sensitive tasks. We introduced consistent color coding, hover tooltips, and inline actions (e.g. “Request code” and “Pay”) to make the interface faster to scan and easier to act on, even for new users.



UX Breakdown


  • Installation: Sites still in setup phase, with status cues like “Training in progress” and countdowns for remaining setup time.


  • In Service: Actively running sites, showing service time left, issued users, and live controls.


  • All Sites: A full overview with service history and Swan subscription status.



UX Breakdown


The table format prioritizes essential fields—Name, Email, Phone, and Permissions—making it easy to scan and manage user data in one place.

The Permissions column uses a dropdown for quick role switching (e.g. User, Master, Owner). This ensures access levels are easily adjustable without leaving the screen.



Takeaway & Reflection

It also taught me that clean design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about reducing friction in high-stakes workflows. Clear roles, scalable structure, and surfacing the right actions at the right time made all the difference.

A final note: The best tools feel invisible. They get out of the way and let people do their job. That’s what we aimed for with M Portal—and it’s something I’ll carry forward.