Cattle Management Project
Streamlining Cattle Management for Canadian Farmers
Canada – 2023
Overview
As the lead designer for Holstein Canada’s ConneXXion App, I led the end-to-end design process for a mobile-first tool aimed at transforming how dairy producers manage registrations and genomic testing. The goal was to create a tool for farmers to easily manage genetic samples in places without good connectivity.
ConneXXion is a native mobile app (iOS and Android) developed to modernize Holstein Canada’s core services. The app focuses on two primary workflows: Animal Registration and Genomic Sample Submission. It replaces manual, paper-based processes with a digital interface that leverages barcode scanning, offline data persistence, and real-time synchronization with the user’s Holstein Canada web account.
Pre-populated animal names and recently used sires list cut the registration submission time for farmers.
The QR code scanning for adding Tissue Sample Units made managing TSU inventory much easier.
Farmers can use the app offline and sync data once they are online for farms with limited connectivity.
Challenges
Dairy producers and breeders faced significant friction when registering animals or submitting genomic samples. The existing process often required manual data entry on desktop software or paper forms, which was inefficient in a barn environment. Key challenges included:
- Connectivity Issues: Barns often have unreliable internet, making real-time data submission unreliable.
- Complex Data Entry: Users had to manually look up sires, dam information, and tag numbers, leading to errors and frustration.
- Inventory Management: Tracking TSUs and tags was a separate, manual process, often resulting in misplacement or data discrepancies.
- Time Sensitivity: Delays in submitting genomic samples could extend the wait for results by weeks, impacting herd management decisions.
Solution
Streamlined Data Entry: Implemented features like QR Code scanning for TSUs, pre-populated animal names, and a "recently used sires" list to drastically reduce manual typing and cognitive load.
Unified Inventory Management: Designed a centralized inventory system within the app that automatically loaded tag inventories and allowed manual entry for others, giving users a single source of truth.
Simplified Dual-Process Flow: Created a clear, step-by-step interface that guides users through either a registration, a genomic sample submission, or a combined "Genomic Registration," reducing confusion and ensuring data completeness.
Outcomes
The app successfully launched on the App Store and is actively used in COPD research. Furthermore, the design system and core architecture proved scalable, leading to a funded initiative to adapt the platform for research into other chronic diseases.