ZOLEO App 6.7 + 6.8 Update
Project
ZOLEO's explosive 200% growth had exposed critical gaps in their app infrastructure. The App is slated for a complete overhaul to address longstanding technical debt, immediate user needs couldn't wait for the major rebuild.
Working alongside the Product Owner over six weeks, I tackled the most pressing customer pain points—focusing specifically on reliability issues that was eroding user confidence in the platform. The challenge was delivering meaningful improvements within tight constraints while laying groundwork for the upcoming transformation.
The centerpiece was redesigning the device linking flow, which had become a major friction point during onboarding. I streamlined the entire experience while developing supporting iconography and underlying logic systems. This work not only solved immediate user frustrations but created reusable patterns that would support the broader app overhaul down the line.
Role
Was brought back on board to collaborate with Lu Parente, Product Owner to provide improvements to the ZOLEO App.
My role involved creating a Device Linking flow, connectivity improvements, and improved GPS indicators in messages.
Impact & Results
What began as project to improve a user frustration, quickly became a significant enhancement the existing experience. After user testing I was able to reduce customer confusion related to device linking and unknown connectivity or GPS status by 85%.
Users reported substantially increased confidence in their ZOLEO device connectivity, which is critical for a product that serves as a lifeline in remote areas.
By implementing clear visual indicators and intuitive flows, we created an experience where users could easily understand their connection status.
While working within the constraints of an aging application, I established design patterns that not only solved immediate problems but also laid the groundwork for the planned future redesign of the app. The improved user experience demonstrated that thoughtful, targeted design interventions could deliver substantial value even without a complete product overhaul.
Assessing the project
This design effort presented unique challenges beyond the typical product enhancement. The ZOLEO application had evolved over time primarily through developer-led implementation without formal design processes. While a comprehensive redesign was planned for the future, immediate intervention was needed to address pressing user concerns.
The application existed without proper design files, leaving me to work with limited existing design elements and documentation. This context demanded a pragmatic approach—creating meaningful improvements within significant constraints while being mindful that solutions would eventually be replaced by a more comprehensive redesign.
The Challenge(s)
ZOLEO's satellite communication devices provide essential connectivity in remote areas where traditional cellular networks are unavailable—potentially lifesaving technology for outdoor enthusiasts, remote workers, and emergency situations. However, the companion mobile application presented significant usability barriers that undermined the product's connectivity reliability.
Users struggled to understand how to connect or reconnect their ZOLEO satellite devices to the mobile app, creating frustration during the critical setup process. More concerning was the confusing connectivity indicators that left users uncertain whether their device was properly connected and functioning. Without clear visual feedback, users couldn't confidently determine if their satellite communication device—a product they might depend on in emergency situations—was actually operational.
These issues weren't just inconveniences; they represented potential safety risks and generated a substantial volume of support requests, reflecting widespread user confusion about the most fundamental aspects of the product experience.
ZOLEO App 6.7 - Device linking and small improvements
Onboarding a device
User frustration with device linking was creating a costly support spiral—failed and unclear connections led to abandoned setups and followed by customer service queues. Support ticket analysis revealed three primary confusion points: users couldn't tell if Bluetooth was active, whether their device was properly connected, or if satellite connectivity was functioning.
I introduced a visual feedback system using targeted iconography that eliminated guesswork. When Bluetooth enables or device connection succeeds, users see immediate confirmation rather than wondering if something went wrong. The step-by-step progress indicator in the device bar guides users through each stage, replacing uncertainty with clear direction.
Initial testing with six users confirmed the impact—the visual cues immediately reduced anxiety about connection status. However, our first iteration cluttered the interface with too many simultaneous icons. Based on validation feedback, I consolidated multiple indicators into a single "fully connected" state, prioritizing the most critical information while keeping secondary status indicators accessible but unobtrusive.
The result transforms a frustrating technical process into a confidence-building user experience that reduces support burden while improving completion rates.
Banner for Satellite Connectivity
The project required a new satellite connectivity notification, but placement posed a significant challenge. Since SOS alerts take highest priority and appear over all other content, adding another overlay would create a cluttered, confusing interface.
Instead of competing for top-level real estate, I recommended an inline notification system that integrates seamlessly with existing content flow. This approach solved the immediate satellite connectivity need while creating a scalable foundation for future communications—service updates, feature announcements, and marketing messages could all use the same elegant system.
The notification component already existed within the MyZOLEO ecosystem, so leveraging this familiar pattern maintained consistency across products while reducing development overhead. Users get the critical information they need without interface chaos, and the business gains a flexible communication channel for ongoing engagement.
Improving connectivity indicators
The original connectivity indicators left users guessing about their connection strength. When signal dropped from full to medium, low, or disconnected, the system showed this with a barely-visible single pixel line—essentially invisible in real-world usage.
Since the product was design with a developer-led mentality originally there were no icons available so I redesigned this with custom icons. These clearly showed which signal bars were active versus lost, giving users immediate visual feedback about their connection quality. But there was another problem: when devices entered standby mode to preserve battery, the interface displayed this as a lost connection, creating unnecessary confusion.
To solve this, I created a secondary indicator system that combines clear visual cues with labels, helping users instantly distinguish between actual connectivity issues and intentional power-saving modes. The result is a more intuitive experience that reduces user anxiety and provides actionable information about their device status.
Improving connectivity indicators
The original connectivity indicators left users guessing about their connection strength. When signal dropped from full to medium, low, or disconnected, the system showed this with a barely-visible single pixel line—essentially invisible in real-world usage.
Since the product was design with a developer-led mentality originally there were no icons available so I redesigned this with custom icons. These clearly showed which signal bars were active versus lost, giving users immediate visual feedback about their connection quality. But there was another problem: when devices entered standby mode to preserve battery, the interface displayed this as a lost connection, creating unnecessary confusion.
To solve this, I created a secondary indicator system that combines clear visual cues with text labels, helping users instantly distinguish between actual connectivity issues and intentional power-saving modes. The result is a more intuitive experience that reduces user anxiety and provides actionable information about their device status.
ZOLEO App 6.8 - Automatically include location in messages
ZOLEO's existing location sharing worked well for basic consumer needs—users could enable Location Share+ or manually attach coordinates to messages. But B2B customers needed something more sophisticated: granular, frequent location updates that provided real-time visibility for business operations.
Working with the Product Owner, we explored ways to enhance GPS functionality without disrupting the proven backend systems. The constraint was clear: existing functionality had to remain untouched, but we had complete freedom to reimagine the visual experience and user interface hierarchy.
The reality of business
After completing initial designs and validation tests, a conversation with the stakeholders shifted everything. The business had reduced the timeline dramatically, forcing immediate decisions about scope and priorities.
Rather than abandon the enhanced user experience we'd designed and validated, I found a middle ground: leverage the existing technical implementation but apply our planned formatting and visual improvements on top. This approach delivered meaningful user experience gains within the compressed timeline while preserving the foundation for future full implementation when resources allowed.
The compromise satisfied immediate business needs while demonstrating how thoughtful design can maximize impact even within tight constraints.
The way this implementation works is that the color of the senders chat bubble as well as the location pin will match the color of their message type. The app lets users send messages in the form of email, app to app, or SMS depending on their connectivity (satellite, WIFI, cell network).
