UX Case Study · Mobile SaaS

ShiftSnap

Empowering hourly workers with seamless shift management and flexible scheduling.

Lead Product Designer12 weeksiOS Mobile App
ShiftSnap authentication and onboarding mobile screens
Project overview

A mobile-first workforce management experience.

ShiftSnap helps hourly workers view schedules, trade shifts, request coverage, and communicate with managers without the friction of legacy desktop-first tools.

The product balances employee autonomy with the oversight managers need to maintain reliable coverage.

ShiftSnap mobile authentication and onboarding experience
The problem

Hourly workers struggle with inflexible scheduling and fragmented communication.

67%

cite scheduling conflicts as a top workplace frustration

3–5 days

average time to find shift coverage using traditional methods

45%

turnover rate linked to scheduling inflexibility

Research & discovery

Learning directly from workers and managers.

User interviews

24 in-depth conversations with baristas, retail associates, and managers.

Contextual inquiry

Observed scheduling and coverage workflows across six locations.

Competitive analysis

Evaluated eight workforce-management products and mobile experiences.

Key insights

Flexibility only works when communication and context are clear.

01

Workers need autonomy

Last-minute flexibility matters, but requesting help often creates guilt or uncertainty.

02

Managers lose time

Scheduling logistics consume 8–12 hours each week.

03

Communication breaks

Most scheduling errors begin with unclear or missed updates.

User personas

Designing for the worker and the manager.

SC

Sarah Chen

Full-time barista · Student

Needs mobile access, fast shift swaps, and predictable time for classes.

  • Access schedule anywhere
  • Trade shifts without friction
  • Build a reliable work reputation
MJ

Marcus Johnson

Store manager

Needs visibility, fast approvals, and enough context to protect coverage.

  • Reduce scheduling admin
  • Resolve coverage quickly
  • Keep the team informed
Solution

A focused mobile system for schedules, swaps, and coverage.

01

Schedule at a glance

Clear weekly shifts, changes, and availability in one mobile view.

02

Low-friction shift swaps

Request, review, and confirm swaps without long message threads.

03

Coverage marketplace

Open shifts become visible to qualified team members immediately.

04

Manager approvals

Context-rich decisions with coverage and overtime implications.

Key Features
Feature 01

Smart Shift Swapping

Workers can initiate swap requests directly from their schedule. The system automatically matches qualified coworkers and keeps everyone informed throughout the process.

  • One-tap swap initiation from any shift
  • Filtered coworker list by qualifications
  • Real-time status tracking and notifications
Shift Details View
Upcoming shift

Saturday, Jun 7

2:00 PM – 10:00 PM


Location DowntownRole Barista
Feature 02

Manager Approval Workflow

Managers review requests with full context, including coverage impact, qualifications, and overtime implications.

  • At-a-glance pending requests
  • Rich context for informed decisions
  • Batch actions for efficiency
Manager Dashboard
Sarah → MarcusSwap request · 2h agoPending
Jordan → AlexCoverage request · 5h agoApproved
Feature 03

Availability Management

Team members set recurring availability, request time off, and give managers a reliable view of coverage constraints.

  • Flexible recurring availability patterns
  • Time-off request tracking
  • Manager visibility dashboard
Weekly Availability
MondayAvailableTuesdayUnavailableWednesdayAvailableThursdayUnavailableFridayAvailable

Complete User Experience

From authentication to advanced manager tools, every screen is crafted to deliver a seamless, intuitive experience for both team members and managers.

Six ShiftSnap mobile screens showing team member and manager experiences
Impact & results

Creating faster resolution and stronger work-life balance.

78%

faster shift-swap resolution

12 hrs

manager time saved per week

92%

reported user satisfaction

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