Network orchestration platform

Project

Network Virtualization and Orchestration Platform.

Objective

To provide a centralized control system for network configuration from a single interface.

My role

Leading designer.

Context

The platform includes a client feedback module and maintains continuous communication with key clients via sales representatives.

A significant number of issues were reported through these channels, prompting a thorough analysis.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

My process

➜ Benchmarking

➜ Co-creation workshops

➜ User interviews , feedback

➜ Design & iteration

➜ Usability Testing

➜ Implementation

The problem

Reduce users dissatisfaction while designing network topology, making the task faster and easier.

Satisfaction of users and reduced number of tickets about this feature were determined to be a success measure for this project.

Smaller-scale network creators managed with the existing tool but desired improvements.

Enterprise creators needed a more automated approach for integrating pre-created files.

Provide a solution for mapping out network topologies to streamline the network creation process.

Incorporate an automatic filling feature for enhanced efficiency.

I benchmarked competitors to generate solution ideas.

I conducted co-creation workshops with engineers and developers to align ideas with technical feasibility.

Also, I have consulted with users and support in two sessions to gather feedback, which was integrated into the final design.

The platform's architecture did not support a singular point for comprehensive network creation.

Different network components (virtual networks, logical routers, firewalls, switches) were scattered across multiple sections and pages.

Network creation is a lengthy, often interrupted process, leading to confusion and difficulty in tracking progress.

Users often resorted to external tools to map network topologies.

Two distinct user groups emerged:

Creators of Smaller Scale Networks

Enterprise Network Creator

REASERCH

KEY FINDINGS

A "Network Designer":

Topology View: Users can map out the entire network, add entities, set quantities, and assign connections.

Step-by-Step Setup: Each part of the network is set up sequentially based on the mapped path.

Manual and Semi-Automatic Options:
- Manual: Quick configuration for smaller-scale architectures.
- Semi-Automatic: For enterprise management, users can export the topology, edit the setup externally, and re-import it for automatic configuration.

The Network Designer simplifies the process, improves efficiency, and caters to the needs of both smaller-scale and enterprise network creators.

The solution was proven to meet the target audience's needs, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of tickets.