Transforming user experiences for Volvo Cars: A case study on app updates resulting in a stronger connection between users and their cars.
Improving Volvo's Over-The-Air updates, Inbox, and Notification settings with intuitive design and cross-functional collaboration to elevate user engagement and functionality.
During my time at Volvo Cars, I played a key role in enhancing the user experience for the Volvo Cars app. From leading the redesign of Over-The-Air (OTA) updates to improving the Inbox interface and optimizing Notification, my contributions spanned usability, functionality, and design consistency. My work addressed complex challenges, such as navigating legacy systems, accommodating diverse car models, and collaborating across international teams. These efforts culminated in launching updated user experiences, improving customer interaction with Volvo’s digital ecosystem. Collaborating with talented colleagues from around the world enriched my journey, blending diverse insights into a seamless and innovative product experience.
Mission
Enhance how users interact with Volvo Cars by improving Over-The-Air updates, communication tools, and notifications.
The main mission was to deliver a cohesive and intuitive experience for users worldwide, while keeping things intuitive, beautiful and in line with the Volvo brand.
Process
A lot of time was spent exploring and experimenting. We did exhaustive market research and conducted numerous rounds of user interviews and user testing.
Over-The-Air Updates: Simplified the experience of installing and scheduling OTA car software updates via the app, overcoming technical barriers across legacy systems.
Communication at the right moments: Redesigned communication between users and their cars to retain user engagement with push notifications at timely moments, ensuring seamless communication between users and their cars.
Inbox Reboot: Enhanced the UI and UX by organizing messages into categories, optimizing delivery frequency, and collaborating with marketing teams for improved in app communication.
Design System Contribution: Helped developed reusable communication components, streamlining Volvo’s ability to deliver consistent and visually appealing UIs.
Results
Led the successful launch of enhanced OTA updates across multiple Volvo car platforms, revolutionizing the way users interact with their vehicles. Elevated the car ownership experience by transforming the car into a beloved companion rather than just a tool. Enhanced the app Inbox to streamline user communication and provide a more intuitive, enjoyable experience. Delivered a cohesive and scalable communication toolkit in Figma for app designers and developers, empowering them to create more engaging. cohesive user experiences, faster. Strengthened Volvo's app as a cornerstone channel for car owners, fostering deeper engagement and driving user satisfaction.
“During his time with us Michel worked on communication tooling and experiences within the app space in Volvo Cars. Key experiences that Michel helped evolve were remote software updates (OTA) that enable the car to update over time via the app - critical for the business. Michel also helped explore, define and deliver the earlier versions of a communication toolkit that is now helping scale the app to more internal users in the company. To top that off, Michel was also a fun colleague and team photographer and is missed dearly.”
— Rahul Lindberg Sen • Head of UX at Volvo Cars