PM Hive: Maple

Inspiration

The inspiration for Maple stemmed from recognizing the challenges faced by diverse travelers, especially elders, when navigating the complexities of booking and traveling with airlines like Air Canada. Language barriers, accessibility concerns, and a lack of confidence in technology can deter these passengers from a smooth travel experience. By prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility, we wanted to simplify the journey and foster confidence and trust among passengers, regardless of their language or technological familiarity.

What it does

Maple is an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to make Air Canada flights accessible to everyone, particularly elders and non-native English speakers.

• Language Accessibility: Maple offers multilingual support in over 10 languages, allowing users to interact in their preferred language.
• Simplified Booking Process: It guides users step-by-step through booking flights, providing recommendations, and even offering voice-based interactions for those less comfortable with traditional interfaces.
• Travel Confidence: Maple provides reminders for flight updates, gate changes, and even pre-flight preparation tips to enhance passenger confidence.
• Elder-Friendly Features: With large fonts, voice-based interaction, and intuitive navigation, Maple is tailored to meet the needs of senior passengers.

How we built it

Building Maple was a collaborative and iterative process that combined product management strategies and user-centered design. Here's how we approached it:

• User Research: We analyzed the case study provided and conducted interviews focusing on elders and non-native English speakers, to understand their pain points and expectations. This provided insights into challenges like language barriers, digital literacy, and accessibility concerns.

• Roadmapping: Using product management frameworks, we developed a clear roadmap outlining short-term goals (e.g., creating the prototype), mid-term objectives (e.g., integrating multilingual AI), and long-term visions (e.g., full deployment on Air Canada’s platform). This roadmap guided our progress and aligned the team.

• Designing the Interface: We utilized Figma to create an interactive prototype of Maple. The design focused on simplicity, accessibility, and user-friendliness, with features like large fonts, step-by-step guidance, and a voice-based interface for elders.

• Team Collaboration: The process involved regular team brainstorming sessions to refine Maple’s features and prioritize key functionalities. Feedback loops with cross-functional stakeholders ensured that our solution addressed technical feasibility and user needs.

• Iteration: After testing the prototype with team members and collecting feedback, we iteratively improved Maple’s interface, focusing on user experience, accessibility, and AI functionality.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges we faced was designing an interface that was both accessible for elders and functional for tech-savvy users. Elders often prefer simplified designs with fewer options, larger fonts, and voice-guided interactions, while tech-savvy users might expect a sleek, feature-rich experience. Striking the right balance required us to conduct extensive user testing and prioritize accessibility without sacrificing functionality. For instance, integrating voice-based features alongside intuitive visual cues helped address the needs of both groups. Additionally, ensuring that the design adhered to accessibility standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), while still being scalable for future enhancements, added another layer of complexity. Through iterative feedback and testing, we were able to refine the design to meet the diverse needs of our users.

Built With

• figma