The main thesis of this case-challenge is, that a digital platform, enabling overview and insight of the different existing forms of exchanges, that are supported by the network and are actually happening is a central part of det the development towards realizing the vision of becoming the leading sustainable industrial park in Denmark.
Members of the team: Piyush, Nicklas, Lucas, Mai, Kamilla & Emilie
Concept video
By creating the RE:source app, where companies can offer their leftover resources and material, we aim to further develop the sustainability within Port of Aalborg. By offering the leftover products for a cheaper price, companies can make money off of it instead of simply disposing of it – and other companies can obtain the products they need at a more favorable price.
The RE:source platform is exclusive to Port of Aalborg-network members. When using the platform, they can search up resources they need and see if anybody has some to offer – or they can put in a request, that another company might be able to fulfill. If a company has something to offer, they can easily put it up as well.
The platform creates a win-win situation for everyone involved – and the environment! Instead of simply disposing of used or leftover materials, it gets a second chance at being useful in the world.
Deliverable 1: Plan for empirical work
Plan for empirical work
Data collection
While two of the group members participate in the interview, the remaining members will be conducting desk research as described below. During the desk research we will be looking into how other similar ports operate currently, and if they have similar needs or concepts that we could draw inspiration from. Similarly we will be searching for other platforms that trade resources on an industrial level – for example if a company like MAERSK would have similar CSR goals for sustainability etc.
Based on the answers from the interview, we will further develop research questions that can help us narrow down the problem area we should focus on.
FIELD WORK
- Bus tour around PoA (kinda observation)
- Presentation by Jesper from PoA
DESK RESEARCH
- Desk research
- Other ports (Frederikshavn, Aarhus Havn, København)
- What do they do? Do they have anything similar?
- Other trading platforms
- Other ports (Frederikshavn, Aarhus Havn, København)
- Q&A for Rikke and Lucia (Center for logistik & samarbejde) – can we get their assignment?
- Which digital platforms have had the best result as regards intern company collaborations?
- 17 sustainable development goals? Which are relevant
- Text mining
- Word frequency analysis of Port of Aalborg data archive
INTERVIEWS
- Semi structured interview (Q&A) – Frederik Sommer-Gleerup from ITW Performance Polymers
- Presentation/meeting with Jesper from PoA (Zoom)
- Presentation/meeting by Lucia and Rikke (Center for logistik & samarbejde)
The Design Process
Deliverable 2: Material Storytelling
What did we do?
Today we did material storytelling through sandboxing. When sandboxing, the team has to collaborate by placing objects that each member selects during a silent selection process, and then afterwards try and discuss why each object was placed the way it was. During the discussion, the team can alter the position of the objects, thus engaging in a dialogue about what each of them represents by how they’re placed and grouped.
What did we learn from sandboxing?
We learned how visuals make a case more understandable, and easier to discuss among the group. Also it helps the participants to be on the same level of understanding regarding the case.
While working with and describing the meaning of the different objects we created an internal vocabulary within the group.
The process helped us to identify and address the key-goals and focus our attention on those for the process further.
How does it help us move along in the design process
Using sandboxing as a generative method allowed us to get an understanding of our tacit knowledge, which helped us establish a shared focus.
The shared focus consists of a couple of key elements:
The current solution is represented with a glove representing manual labour. At the same time, the current solution is also represented by a pig and a turd, indicating that the current solution is ineffective.
The new companies attempting to enter the ecosystem are represented by a large question mark to emphasise the confusion to outsiders, regarding the internal workings of the ecosystem.
The centerpiece of the story is the new proposed solution represented by a GPS-screen with a dolphin (Mogens) on top. The proposed digital solution is meant to create an exchange, represented by pipes and vehicles, between the companies facilitated by Port Of Aalborg. The shared resources are represented in the middle using trash, rocks, wood, money and a seashell representing sustainability. The goal of the system is represented by an emerging dragon and a married couple indicating partnership resulting in new products.
1# Before “playing”/communicating
2# After “playing”/communicating
Stikword (keywords):
- Openminded
- Playfull
- Creative
- Process
- Communication
Deliverable 3: Core Design
Link to presentation for website: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15EAdocH-M5iRyIUDDQ58x0ECE-x7m3rUx2fP3_wYB7s/edit?usp=sharing
With the ideas gathered from material storytelling, we started identifying the core design of our case today. We came up with these 14 qualities to identify the needs that should be fulfilled through the concept:
- User-friendly
- Accommodating
- Facilitate resource / information sharing
- Accessible for external companies
- Accessible for internal companies
- Branding Port of Aalborg to the outside world
- Provide and overview of regulations / legislations concerning the different land-properties
- Give an overview of Port of Aalborgs sustainability plan
- Create economic benefits
- Make the economic benefits visible
- Provide communication channel for the businesses
- Make it more visual tangible
- Interaction between the companies
- Creating a shared sustainability plan
Based upon the 14 quality criteria listed above we created 8 different innovation tracks. We selected 3 innovation tracks to develop further and present for the case owner.
Summary of meeting with case partner
During our meeting with Port of Aalborg we decided to continue with a combination of innovation track #1 and #2, with #2 being the primary. The core design then combines the facilitation of resource / information sharing between internal companies with creating economic benefits and creating a tool for onboarding outside companies. The core design will then be supported by a communication channel for the internal companies and a visually tangible overview of the exchanges for onboarding external companies.
Deliverable 4: HMW & Ideation framework
Using the “how might we” framework we decided on the following question to develop ideas upon: How might we create an easily accessible resource exchange network that companies simply cannot afford to miss out on being a part of?
Based on the above we developed 8 ideas to support our HMW question
From the above ideas we selected interactive map (visual communication, text communication channels and exchange platform (marketplace) as our three main ideas.
Interactive map
We developed 8 complementing ideas for the interactive map.
- Different layers for different resources (material, knowledge etc.)
- Overview of available property
- Search bar (with highlight feature)
- Notification
- Feed/news page
- Possibility to add new companies / exchanges
- Clickable companies (show information)
- Startup guide
Text communication
We developed 8 complementing ideas for the text communication:
- Newsfeed
- Ability to specify the type of waste / resource
- Membership registration
- Notifications for new available synergies
- Contact information
- Use cases
- KPI’s
- Info screen in shared spaces at PoA
Exchange platform
We developed 8 complementing ideas for the Exchange platform.
- Ability to request resources
- Search agent
- Login page
- Contact information
- Pickup information (location, bring your own container etc)
- Ability to add any sort of marker to the resources (Exclusive, time based, sustainable – restrictions
- Publically available listings
- Ability to specify the type of waste/resource in question (kg., cm., type, ID)
Deliverable 5: Video sketches
Use this link to watch our 3 video sketches:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kU-2LLJhkOx6lGQ6yE-PaI_EHkCloiKw