Overview
Food insecurity is a growing issue in Indiana, affecting a significant portion of the population.
According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report for 2021, 11.6% of Indiana's population (about 761,080 individuals) experienced food insecurity in 2019.
Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report for 2021.
My Contributions
User Research, Ideation, UX Design, User feedback, Visual Design
Collaborated with
Project Duration
10 Weeks
Team Members
Collaborated with 3 other HCI students
How can we help a food insecure individual residing in a food desert access wholesome food, aiming to enhance their current lifestyle?
Why is this issue concerning?
Of Indiana's population lives in food deserts.
22%
Reported that cost of healthy food is a barrier.
61%
17.4%
Of Indiana's households with children are food insecure.
30%
Of the food insecure, find it challenging to make meals.
Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report for 2021.
A glimpse into the solution
Foodbox: The Redbox for healthy and nutritious food.
FoodBox delivers healthy, nutritious food to your desired location. Our mobile app lets you pre-order and pick up meals from any FoodBox location. Suitable for busy professionals and budget-conscious families.
What are the benefits of a Foodbox?
1. Accessibility: FoodBox provides users with essential food items and allows them to conveniently collect their orders from a nearby Food Box location.
2. Pre-ordering: With FoodBox's mobile application, users can easily order food and collect it at their convenience, without the worry of products running out.
3. Payment Flexibility: Users can pay with various different cards like EBT, Humana, credit and debit cards.
Is there a big market for our solution?
Yes... There is data to prove it.
Market Opportunity
The global smart vending machines market size is expected to grow from $11.84 billion in 2020 to $24.46 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period.
Customer Base
People that are experiencing food insecurity. In 2021, 25% of Marion County residents need food assistance. A big market for a solution providing access to healthy food.
1. ResearchAndMarkets. (2021). Smart Vending Machines Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026).
2. Indy hunger network Unmet Need study,2021
How does a vending machine compare to a traditional food bank?
Do well: Food options, unstaffed, donations, eco-friendly, dietary preferences
Lacking: low shelf life, expensive
Footprint: Expected to reach $246 billion in sales by 2027
Do well: Higher food options, low cost, greater reach, more partner agencies.
Lacking: highly dependent on volunteers, donations and charity.
Footprint: $176 billion in revenue.
Forbes.com
Gleaners.com
Some other proposed ideas for solution:
IDEA 1
An app for marked down food items
The proposed solution is an app for discounted food items. It allows businesses to sell surplus or soon-to-expire food at reduced prices, while consumers can browse and purchase these items through the app. This helps reduce food waste and provides affordable options for consumers.
IDEA 2
Barter system for biodegradable food
In this proposed solution, surplus food from universities and schools would be collected and given to farmers for composting. In return, farmers would provide misfit groceries, which would be available for pickup at a community center. Users can place orders through the app and select the groceries they need.
Why was Foodbox idea selected?
Reduced dependency on smartphones:
The target audience consists of low-income individuals who are are experiencing food insecurity, including older adults who may not be familiar with smartphone usage.
Ease of replication:
FoodBox can be easily replicated and deployed in multiple food desert locations within a short time frame. It offers the advantages of a physical location without the costs associated with traditional brick-and-mortar establishments.
Revenue Generation:
In this solution revenue is generated through various streams, including data monetization by live tracking the stock of FoodBox and collecting data on frequently sold items. Additional revenue streams include advertisements on the smart dispenser and product sponsorship.
What were some of the concerns?
USER FEEDBACK
1."Will it be reliable? what if things quickly run out? Can I depend on this for my daily needs?"
Restocking of the dispenser would be done twice a day cost of which would be $50. The users also have an option to order online via the mobile application.
(Smart Dispenser Lease + Restocking Cost + Operations Cost) = (10+ 50 + 50) = $110 per day
2."The dispenser is easy to use, it is similar to a vending machine"
STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
1. "The cost of equipment will be high"
Cost of dispenser
For 25 dispensers of 200 capacity the leasing cost for a period of 18 months is $250 /month.
2. "How will you ensure temperature control based on different food items?"
All compartments in the dispenser will have adjustable temperature controls to separate different types of fresh food and extend their shelf life.
3. "Where specifically the dispenser will be located"?
Smart dispensers will be placed in the highest-ranked food deserts in the counties of central Indiana like Marion, Jhonson, Hamilton, and Hendricks. Public spaces like community centers, bus stations, and parks will be leveraged.
Final Screens
DISPENSER SCREENS: Ordering at the dispenser
The user can choose to skip adding credentials.
The login details are useful during collecting pre-ordered items.
Items can be selected and added to cart.
The user can select from various methods of payment. Once the order is placed the user will be encouraged to donate, the proceedings of which will go towards a meal for the food insecure users.
DISPENSER SCREENS: Collecting pre-ordered items at the dispenser
To collect pre-ordered items at the dispenser, users must enter their credentials and the order pin provided to them.
MOBILE SCREENS: Pre-ordering
Locate a food box dispenser in close proximity to the current location, where users can access an extensive list of available food options.
Once the quantity of the food item is selected, payment can be made using snap EBT card or other convenient mode of payment options.
A unique order pin is generated to retrieve the order from the foodbox. Once the order is collected, users are encouraged to make donations.
Business Model- Revenue
Assuming 2% conversion rate for 5 Smart Vending Machines, for both food-secure and food-insecure population in Indiana: Food-insecure customers (2% of 677,000) = 1,354 Food-secure customers (2% of 4,870,000) = 97,400 Total potential customer base = 98,754 Pricing Strategy: For each customer = $0.50 /item. Revenue per Sale: (assuming 10% conversion rate per month) For each customer= 98,754 x $0.50 = $49,377 /month Total Daily Revenue: For each customer= $49,377 / 30 = $1,646 /day Total Daily Expenses: ( Smart vending machine lease + Restocking cost + Operations cost ) x5 =( $50 + $55 + $55 ) x 5 = $800 /day NET PROFIT PER MONTH: (Total Daily Revenue - Total Daily Expenses) x 30 = ($1646 - $800) x30 = $25,000 per month
What is next for the project?
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Deployment: To reduce food insecurity in Marion County by 10% in the next year, assuming 90% of the food-insecure population in Marion County uses the dispensers, approximately 300 smart dispensers to be deployed in Marion County.
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In-house unit production: Manufacturing our own smart dispensers for greater customization with enough resources, and sponsorship pooled,
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Franchising: To drive business expansion and enhance the accessibility of products to a wider audience.
Take aways from the project
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Considering the business impact throughout the solution building process is crucial for success.
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Statistics and data can play a vital role in forecasting the future of a solution.
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Understanding the key industry trends is essential for developing a solution that is relevant and meets the needs of the target users.
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Constant feedback from users and stakeholders is essential for improving a solution.