TechPoint AI Needs Assessment
TechPoint AI Needs Assessment
A digital tool to allow small business owners to understand and increase their current usage of Artificial Intelligence.
A digital tool to allow small business owners to understand and increase their current usage of Artificial Intelligence.
Group: 4 Members
My Role: UX Researcher & Prototype Designer
Timeline: September 2025 - May 2026
Group: 4 Members
My Role: UX Researcher & Prototype Designer
Timeline: September 2025 - May 2026
Context
Context
Through working with TechPoint, a non-profit tech company out of Indianapolis, our 4-person team was assigned to create an Artificial Intelligence "Needs Assessment Quiz" that helps Indiana small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) evaluate their AI readiness and receive tailored recommendations for adopting AI solutions effectively.
Through working with TechPoint, a non-profit tech company out of Indianapolis, our 4-person team was assigned to create an Artificial Intelligence "Needs Assessment Quiz" that helps Indiana small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) evaluate their AI readiness and receive tailored recommendations for adopting AI solutions effectively.
Project Timeline
Project Timeline
How did we get there?
How did we get there?
Preliminary Research
Preliminary Research
Since our team was not completely well-versed in the world of SMB AI usage, we needed to conduct research around the topic. To do this, we first looked at 5 scholarly articles and papers to gain a better understanding of the problem space we were designing for.
Since our team was not completely well-versed in the world of SMB AI usage, we needed to conduct research around the topic. To do this, we first looked at 5 scholarly articles and papers to gain a better understanding of the problem space we were designing for.
We found that with AI, businesses struggle with…
We found that with AI, businesses struggle with…
Ethical concerns
Full-scale AI development
Talent shortages & decision-making
Organizational readiness
Organizational readiness
Full-scale AI development
And that AI can deliver…
And that AI can deliver…
Efficiency gains
Productivity boosts
Productivity boosts
Enhanced customer experience
A Look at the Competition
A Look at the Competition
5
Tools (similar to our project) were analyzed against each other by our team to help us visualize a solution for Indiana's small businesses.
Tools (similar to our project) were analyzed against each other by our team to help us visualize a solution for Indiana's small businesses.
Common strengths included…
Common strengths included…
AI Frameworks
Support for Diverse Users
Interactive Tools
Structured Guidance
Talking to real users
Talking to real users
Interviews
Interviews
To get a better understanding of the actual users of our product, we completed 5 semi-structured interviews with Indianapolis SMB owners about their operations and how they use AI to enhance their productivity.
To get a better understanding of the actual users of our product, we completed 5 semi-structured interviews with Indianapolis SMB owners about their operations and how they use AI to enhance their productivity.
Pain Points and Opportunities
Pain Points and Opportunities
Daily tasks take up too much time
Cautious about over-relying on AI
Concerns over cost and accessibility
Worried about originality and creative ownership
Most owners already use AI in small ways
Open and flexible in trying new AI tools
Want clear and easy-to-use tools
Usability Study
Usability Study
In order to see how our competitors' products work, our team conducted a task-based think-aloud usability study on Google PAIR's AI Guidebook. We recruited 2 SMB Owners with experience choosing tools and software for their business. Users completed certain tasks within the system and were asked to express their opinions and experience during the session.
In order to see how our competitors' products work, our team conducted a task-based think-aloud usability study on Google PAIR's AI Guidebook. We recruited 2 SMB Owners with experience choosing tools and software for their business. Users completed certain tasks within the system and were asked to express their opinions and experience during the session.
Pain Points and Opportunities
Pain Points and Opportunities
Users might struggle to interpret AI recommendation explanations
Quiz results may feel generic or unclear without examples
User hesitation when AI terminology feels too technical
Users respond better to simple wording
Visual cues reduce frustration
Explanations for AI recommendations builds trust
Starting the journey
Starting the journey
After completing our primary and secondary research for the product, we created a user journey map and 4 personas to give us a background on which users and how users might be interacting with the system.
After completing our primary and secondary research for the product, we created a user journey map and 4 personas to give us a background on which users and how users might be interacting with the system.
Journey Map
Journey Map
Personas
Personas
What does our system need to do?
What does our system need to do?
Before we moved on to the prototyping phase, we needed to lay down some requirements for our system:
Before we moved on to the prototyping phase, we needed to lay down some requirements for our system:
AI Needs Assessment Quiz
Assessment Score Level
Next Steps for AI Adoption
AI Adoption Progress & Data
Assessment Score Level
Next Steps for AI Adoption
AI Adoption Progress & Data
Creating the concept
Creating the concept
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
First, we mapped out the structure of our site in order to give users a simple and understandable experience, and to provide clear paths to their AI adoption journey.
First, we mapped out the structure of our site in order to give users a simple and understandable experience, and to provide clear paths to their AI adoption journey.
Low-Fidelity Prototypes - View Live
Low-Fidelity Prototypes - View Live
Onboarding + Needs Assessment Quiz
Onboarding + Needs Assessment Quiz
AI Adoption Dashboard
AI Adoption Dashboard
Creating Our Visual Identity
Creating Our Visual Identity
The visual language of our design revolves around an AI & tech-focused UI. We wanted to reflect that type of system through our colors and typefaces, while also ensuring that our elements were accessible and web-friendly.
The visual language of our design revolves around an AI & tech-focused UI. We wanted to reflect that type of system through our colors and typefaces, while also ensuring that our elements were accessible and web-friendly.
Testing our design
Testing our design
Once we had all of our research and preparation done, our team created a flow diagram of our site and started working on the low-fidelity prototype.
Once we had all of our research and preparation done, our team created a flow diagram of our site and started working on the low-fidelity prototype.
Task-Based Think-Aloud
Task-Based Think-Aloud
By recruiting two small business owners from the local restaurant industry, we went through a structured task evaluation study along with a post-session interview. Our goal here was to evaluate whether first-time users could navigate our prototype properly, locate key features, and understand the purpose of the tool.
By recruiting two small business owners from the local restaurant industry, we went through a structured task evaluation study along with a post-session interview. Our goal here was to evaluate whether first-time users could navigate our prototype properly, locate key features, and understand the purpose of the tool.
AI-Powered Persona Simulation
AI-Powered Persona Simulation
To support our real-user testing, in the spirit of AI we decided to create a simulation tool in Google Collab that take the website's URL and four personas, then automatically takes each page across the site to be analyzed through the lens of our personas through a set of 12 research questions.
Claude was then used to generate first-person responses for each persona grounded in the content of our tool, producing feedback reflecting on how each business type would realistically interpret the system.
To support our real-user testing, in the spirit of AI we decided to create a simulation tool in Google Collab that take the website's URL and four personas, then automatically takes each page across the site to be analyzed through the lens of our personas through a set of 12 research questions.
Claude was then used to generate first-person responses for each persona grounded in the content of our tool, producing feedback reflecting on how each business type would realistically interpret the system.
Results
Results
Participants were able to navigate the prototype
Participants were able to navigate the prototype
Showed hesitation on first interaction
Interested in the value of the tool
Interested in the value of the tool
Needed time to read, test buttons, and understand the purpose of different sections
Showed hesitation on first interaction
Needed time to read, test buttons, and understand the purpose of different sections
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
By creating TechPoint's Needs Assessment Quiz, we bridged the gap between Small Business Owners and AI Adoption by providing tailored recommendations and support.
By creating TechPoint's Needs Assessment Quiz, we bridged the gap between Small Business Owners and AI Adoption by providing tailored recommendations and support.
Personal Outcomes
Personal Outcomes
This project highlighted the importance of user understanding and empathy in design. Realizing specific user groups' needs and pain points helped us ideate a personalized solution.
I am very proud to have helped design a digital system for small businesses in the Indianapolis area to understand and increase their usage of AI within their organizations to help support their business goals, and to foster a better environment within the tech industry.
This project highlighted the importance of user understanding and empathy in design. Realizing specific user groups' needs and pain points helped us ideate a personalized solution.
I am very proud to have helped design a digital system for small businesses in the Indianapolis area to understand and increase their usage of AI within their organizations to help support their business goals, and to foster a better environment within the tech industry.
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