When creating an app or anything for that matter the product or service always goes through a testing phase. This is to find out how different users will interact with it.

When designing a mobile app one way to test the app is through a flow chart. Flow charts are visual representations of how users will go through an app to complete a task. 

Using this knowledge, I wanted to run a few tests on the Belmar’s Municipal App before we continued to move forward creating it.

The Purpose of the App 

First off I had to really understand the purpose of the app? I believe this app is to act as a mobile hub where residents and visitors alike can stay up to date on local town news, events in the area, recreation programs and other important everyday information. This app is a way to keep the city of Burbank thriving, by casting a wider net for the community and helping promote local shops and business. This will not only be useful for year round residents but the weekenders and summer goers too.

Target Audience

My next question, who is the target audience? There are three very distinctive groups of people who would find a use in this app.

For long term residence, these are people who have been in Belmar most of their life and will most likely die there.

Winter Weekenders are middle aged or closer to retirement age people who own property, so they come down Friday night and drive home Sunday.

Then there are the Summer Goers or what locals call the ‘BENNY.’ These are people who rent out housing for the three months of Summer. But they do this every summer so it’s good for them to stay connected.

What are the main needs of your users?

1. Access to Local Recreation and other Town Resources

2. Stay informed on important news and announcements

3. Know the greatest places to shop and eat, including all small business own by locals

4. Knowledge of public works (when trash day is, snow removal information)

6. Help in navigating the town of Burbank and where the important buildings are.

How does the app meet the needs of the users?

1. Residents are able to pay any bills or other payments to the city quickly and easily.

2. Residents stay informed on local news and events that are happening.

3. Weekenders are able to find something last minute

4. All can get current updates on wave and whether patterns

5. Benny can always find the events and any other important building in a small town.

What features would be the most important to users and why?

Being able to access information on your phone from anywhere in the world is extremely useful but I think the most important features to this app are paying bills, finding recreation information and sign ups, the event calendar, and any announcement people should know. For example, school closure due to weather or a reminder of a big town fair that will block off municipal main roads. 

This is important to users because it will affect everyday life. When getting to work, knowing where the traffic will be is helpful and when you are already running around doing a million things, it’s nice to be able to pay your bills on your phone so you don’t forget.  

The main importance is that the app is so easy to move through that it becomes more convenient for them to use it over going to the website.

To test my theories I created flow charts starting with User Stories and scenarios

Creating Three different types of Users and a background of what they would need from the app.

As a Long Term Resident:

I want to read local news and check the weather to see if it’s a good beach day. I can keep up to date on any important information and local news while planning to hit the beach after work. Hang Ten!

User #1 – Long Term Resident 

Steve was born and raised in Belmar and now owns his own home with his wife and two sons. He works at the local high school as an English teacher. With Steve’s sons about to enter middle school he wants to stay updated on local news, school schedules, recreation programs and family friendly events.

He works Monday through Friday from 7:30am – 3:30pm, he is looking for recreation programs for his sons who want to play basketball after school. He wants to easily view all programs and sign his kids up on his lunch break.

Steve wants to be able to do sign his kids up with easy and add it to his calendar. If possible he’d like to share all this information with his wife to stay update on everything. Being able to keep track of his family’s registered activated on his phone is convenient and allows him to plan the families schedule.

As a Weekender: 

I want to check for weekend events and activities that I might want to enjoy. Maybe a nice food place or event going on in town.

User #2 :Weekender

Daryl is a condo owner in Belmar but can only make it down on weekends with her husband. Newly empty nesters with their last kids finally off to college find they have more time to spend all weekend down the shore. Daryl uses the app to find fun events going on. She’s able to set it to her calendar and attach it to the app so even if she doesn’t see the condo for a couple weeks she will never forget about the restaurants and shops she wants to hit up.

She loves finding events and new local restaurants to try now that she doesn’t have to please a whole family. She enjoys adding this to her calendar so she never miss an events.

As a Summer Goer:

I want to check the weather and parking at the beach for the summer. I also check out local restaurants and shops to support small businesses. I always go on to check events, especially D’Jais Thursday Night theme! Summer Fun!

User #3 : Summer Goer

Alex is from New Jersey but farther north. He spent his youth summers taking day trips down the shore. Now he is newly out of college working a remote job. Him and his three other college buddies are renting a local house on 16th street to spend June 1st – September 1st in the summer Sand.

He downloads the app whenever he is in the area. He needs to figure out what the parking policy is at the beach is this summer, where to buy summer long beach badges and how much they are.

Conclusion

He is able to download the parking app and get directions to the municipal building he need to fin to buy his beach badges for the summer before they sell out.

The honest conclusion I came to is that the app needs to have an easier flow on navigation. Some of the original tabs are confusing and might lead to a user not finding the information they needed. The whole idea of the app is to make people’s lives easier and more efficient, and in some ways the website might function better. 

I think adding more into the resident section, and having more information on the arrival page might assist the residents in their daily activities. In addition, having more details on what new you are receiving. Like local road work, traffic, new town policies and ordinances.