“I have a location code. What is there right now?”
The user needed an unambiguous answer: the location contents, the associated workflow and confirmation of the data source.
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Find.
F Flow Finder5 sources loaded
LOCATION CONTENTS18 items
Flow FinderCase study
Find.
Understand.
Act.
I turned technical searches across several sources into one clear process. Load the workflows and enter a location code.
JavaScriptBrowser automationData indexingData validationScan UX
TARGET LOCATIONB-14FOUND ✓
Workflow 02 · source verified
Index up to dateReady for action
No manual Excel workOne shared index
✓One query, one resultContents, workflow and source
1 queryfrom a location code to its contents
5 sourcesmerged into one workspace
2 rolesthe same answer for employees and managers
1 indexshared truth across sources
Why this project existsThe system knew the data.
The system knew the data.
People were getting lost.
The original interface made sense to someone who knew its structure by heart.
An employee had to open several sources, download results, compare locations in Excel and only then work out what was at each location and which workflow it belonged to. Every step required knowledge of the internal logic, and a small error could return outdated or incomplete contents.
“I cannot explain the entire original system to everyone.”
Knowing several screens and spreadsheets was the bottleneck. The goal was to turn an expert process into an interface that guides the user.
Workflow redesignEight steps became
Eight steps became
one guided path.
01Gather sourcesLoad workflows, exports and location lists
02Validate structureIsolate incomplete data and standardize different formats
03Build an indexLink a location to its workflow and current contents
04Return an answerShow contents, source and next step with one query
01 / SCATTERED SOURCES02 / VALIDATION & NORMALIZATION03 / SHARED LOCATION INDEX04 / ACTIONABLE RESULT
source_A.csvexport_final.xlsxlocations.csvlookup_v4.xlsxflow_notes.csv
Location codesunified
Locations and workflowslinked
Incomplete rowsisolated
A-02Flow 0112 items
B-14Flow 0218 items
E-06Flow 0322 items
SEARCH RESULT
B-14FOUND ✓
18items · Flow 02 · source verified
Behind the interfaceOne query on the surface.
One query on the surface.
A thoughtful system underneath.
01 / Workflow architecture
I rebuilt eight manual steps into one reliable path.
I first analyzed the original process: where data was downloaded, how the right workflow was identified, how locations were linked to it and where errors occurred most often. I then designed a shared index to handle the technical complexity in advance and return only the answer needed for the next step.
01 / INGESTLoad different sources without copying between files.02 / NORMALIZEStandardize workflow names, location codes and item structures.03 / RESOLVEReturn location contents, workflow and result source with one query.
The result comes from a verified index rather than the first matching row.
Records from multiple sources are standardized and linked by location, workflow and contents. Conflicts and incomplete records are isolated before they can appear as valid answers.
01LOADLoad available sources
02VERIFYFormat and completeness checks
03INDEXLink locations, workflows and contents
04ANSWERAn unambiguous search result
The tool must remain trustworthy when source data is imperfect.
The interface distinguishes unknown locations, missing sources, conflicting contents and outdated snapshots. It shows the exact status and tells users what they can do next.
NOT FOUNDoffer a new queryCONFLICTflag multiple candidatesSTALE DATAshow source ageLOAD ERRORkeep the confirmed snapshot
Before & afterSame question.
Same question.
Fewer obstacles.
lookup_final_v7.xlsxLOCATION FLOW ITEMS SOURCEB-14 ??? 18 v7?A-02 01 #N/A oldE-06 03 22 —
Open sourcessource_A.csvlocations.csvexport_final.xlsxwhich file is current?
Query
“What is at location B-14 right now?”
the search is just beginningcheck the right flow
merge columns manually
2 conflicting results
- Several systems and exports
- Manual comparison in Excel
- Result depends on experience
ENTER A LOCATION CODEB-14FOUND ✓
LOCATION CONTENTS18 itemsFlow 02 · source verifiedIndex up to date
- One shared index
- Contents available with one query
- Result source remains traceable
← MANUAL SEARCHGUIDED RESULT →
↔
Product thinkingMore than faster search.
More than faster search.
More reliable decisions.
The interface follows the user’s questions rather than the source system’s structure.
The first layer answers what is at the location, the second shows which workflow it belongs to, and source details appear when needed. The technical hierarchy stays under the surface.
WHICH LOCATION?→WHAT IS THERE?→WHAT NEXT?
Incomplete data cannot masquerade as a correct result.
The tool detects missing content, retries loading and preserves the last confirmed snapshot if a request fails, rather than showing a false zero.
Data completeness ✓Snapshot age ✓Result source ✓
The interface keeps up with real work.
After each query, focus returns to the search field, the result receives immediate visual feedback, and recent locations remain in the history.
B-14 18 ITEMSA-02 12 ITEMSZ-99 NOT FOUND
A good work interface should not require every user to become an expert in the original system first.
The app uses simple workplace language and consistent status colors. It turns technical information into a short message: what is at the location, where the result came from and what to do next.
The data stays detailed and traceable; the path to it becomes simpler.
Project impactFrom manual comparison
From manual comparison
to guided search.
Less switching
Multiple workflows, locations and their contents are available in one interface.
Less training required
Users do not need to know the original system’s structure or how to merge exports.
Quick source check
Every result shows the location contents, associated workflow and data source.
Safer data handling
Incomplete or outdated information is clearly marked and cannot silently appear as a valid answer.
Interactive demoTry the search
Try the search
with sample data.
The demo uses realistic anonymized location codes and shows source loading, content search, workflow filtering and result history.