Design an app for reducing waiting time in restaurants
Design an app for reducing waiting time in restaurants
Swiggy/Zomato PM Interview: Product Design - Design an app for reducing waiting time in restaurants or food chains
The primary responsibility of a product manager is to lead the vision, design, and development of a product. When a business decides to create a product, it is based on the recognition of a genuine customer need, one for which the customer is willing to pay. The product manager plays a crucial role in recognizing customer needs and steering the design and development of products that effectively address those needs.
This product design interview question assesses your comprehension of the process involved in transitioning from customer needs to product development. This process entails clearly defining the customer's identity and understanding what they aim to achieve. It also involves outlining various use case scenarios where the customer engages in activities related to the product, and subsequently, prioritizing the features to be developed.
What is the interviewer looking for?
The interviewer is gauging your performance based on the following:
Can you offer insightful observations about the customer and their requirements?
Are you capable of presenting a variety of use case scenarios that cover different aspects?
Is your response well-organized and coherent, or does it deviate from the main topic?
Do your solutions delve beyond superficial suggestions, offering in-depth descriptions?
Can you introduce unique ideas that set you apart from other candidates?
Does your demeanor convey confidence and credibility? Would your guidance be compelling to engineers and product professionals?
How to answer Product Design Questions?
Here is a step-by-step guide/framework, you should follow while answering product design interview questions:
Ask clarifying Questions to narrow the scope. (Q)
Define the Goal you want to achieve. (G)
List the User Segments and choose one segment to focus on. (U)
List and prioritize the Pain Points. (P)
List out your Solutions. (S)
Evaluate the solutions and prioritize them. (E)
Walk through the MVP & Define the Success Metrics (M)
Summarize your answer (S)
State which solution you would recommend.
Recap what the solution does and why it is beneficial.
Explain why you prefer this solution.
(PQ-GUP-SEMS) -> Mnemonic to help you remember the steps & their order.
Answer
1. Ask Clarifying questions
Here are some clarifying questions,
What is the primary goal of the app? Is it to reduce wait times for dine-in customers, streamline take-out orders, or improve delivery efficiency?
Answer: It’s up to you to decide.
Are we targeting restaurants of a particular size or type, such as fast-food chains, fine-dining establishments, or casual eateries?
Answer: It’s up to you to decide.
What geographical areas are we focusing on for the initial launch of the app? Are there any plans for expansion into other regions?
Answer: Focus on global solution.
Are we focusing on a specific demographic, such as older adults, students, or professionals?
Answer: Up to you to decide.
Do we have any specific features or functionalities in mind that must be included in the app, such as table reservation systems, order tracking, or loyalty programs?
Answer: It’s up to you to decide.
What is the expected timeline for the development and launch of the app? Are there any constraints or deadlines that need to be considered?
Answer: Assume no.
Are we targeting any specific platform or OS? like, App/Web, Android/IOS.
Answer: No, it’s up to you to decide.
How do we plan to monetize the app? Will it be through subscription fees, transaction fees, or advertising revenue?
Answer: It’s up to you to decide.
2. Define the Goal
The primary goal of designing an app for reducing waiting time in restaurants would be to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, ultimately driving user engagement and adoption while also exploring monetization opportunities and promoting customer retention.
The app would aim to increase user engagement by providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers waiting to be seated at restaurants. Metrics such as app usage frequency, time spent on the app, and interactions with waitlist features will be monitored to assess user engagement levels.
3. User Segments:
At this step, list down the different user groups that are part of the ecosystem of the problem you’re solving for.
User groups should be distinct from each other and have unique characteristics.
Here are some of the major user segments:
Restaurant Owners: These are individuals or organizations that own or manage restaurants or food chains. They are interested in solutions that can optimize their operations, increase efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction.
Customers/Diners: This segment includes individuals or groups who visit restaurants or food chains for dining. They seek solutions that can minimize wait times, provide convenient reservation options, and enhance their overall dining experience.
Delivery Personnel: This segment comprises individuals who work for food delivery services. They may benefit from solutions that optimize order processing and reduce waiting times for pickup orders.
Third-Party Service Providers: These are entities that offer services to restaurants, such as table reservation platforms, delivery aggregators, or inventory management systems. They may seek integration opportunities with solutions that improve restaurant operations.
Focus Segment: Customers/Diners
Rationale: While all user segments are important, focusing on customers/diners aligns with the ultimate goal of enhancing the dining experience and reducing wait times in restaurants or food chains. By addressing the needs and preferences of diners, such as minimizing wait times, providing convenient reservation options, and improving overall satisfaction, the app can directly impact customer loyalty, retention, and positive word-of-mouth referrals. Additionally, satisfied customers are more likely to patronize restaurants regularly, contributing to the success and profitability of the establishments.
4. Pain Points
Following are some of the Pain Points for the ‘Customer/Diner’ user segment,
Customers often experience frustration and dissatisfaction when they encounter long wait times upon arriving at restaurants or food chains.
Customers may feel uncertain about the current status of their reservation or the estimated wait time for a table due to lack of visibility of restaurant's occupancy, queue status, or table turnover.
Traditional ordering methods, such as waiting in line or flagging down waitstaff, can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Customers may encounter challenges when attempting to make reservations, especially during busy periods or for popular restaurants.
Customers may feel uncomfortable or hesitant about dining out due to uncertain dining environment like concerns about crowded spaces, safety protocols, or cleanliness standards.
Customers face lack of personalized dining experiences tailored to their preferences, dietary restrictions, or past interactions with the restaurant.
Customers may experience frustration due to inadequate communication regarding wait times, menu changes, or special offers.
Traditional payment processes, such as waiting for the check or splitting bills, can be cumbersome and time-consuming especially in scenarios involving multiple diners or payment methods.