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Product sensewarm-up
Design a smart shopping cart for a grocery store.
How to approach it
Ask whether the goal is shopper convenience or store economics, because a cart that saves time and a cart that raises basket size are different products.
How a strong answer opens
“I'd like to ask whether the goal is shopper convenience or store economics. A cart that saves time and a cart that grows the basket are different products.”
Outline of a strong answer
Try answering out loud for a few minutes before you open this.
- Clarify goal, store size and typical shopper
- Pick a shopper, such as a parent doing a weekly shop
- Pain points: finding items, checkout lines, staying on budget
- Ideas: scan as you go, item finder, running total, list sync
- Prioritize scan-and-go with a running total
- Measure checkout time and shopper satisfaction, guard against theft rates
Where this question usually goes wrong
Loading the cart with screens and gadgets without deciding whose goal it serves or how the store covers carts that get damaged or stolen.
Learn the method
Generate solutions worth discussing in Module 1, Product sense and design.
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