TCO Analyzer

TCO Analyzer – Optimizing Sales Cost Analysis

UI & Interaction Designer

Duration: 3 weeks

A tablet-first PowerApps application built for a medical robotics company to help sales teams analyze and present Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) data. The tool replaced outdated Excel workflows with a centralized, user-friendly, and interactive interface, integrated with Power BI dashboards.

The Problem

Sales reps relied on complex Excel sheets to analyze TCO data, leading to:

  • Manual errors in calculations

  • No centralized platform for data

  • Time-consuming report generation

  • Poor usability on mobile/tablet devices

This created friction during client meetings and slowed down sales workflows.

Goals

  • Replace Excel-based tools with a clean, responsive application
  • Improve data readability and visual analysis using Power BI
  • Create a tablet-friendly experience with smooth touch navigation
  • Enable sales reps to generate insights quickly with fewer manual steps

Users

The primary users of the application were Sales Representatives and their Managers at a medical robotics company. They needed a quick, accurate, and tablet-friendly way to present cost breakdowns during hospital procurement discussions.

Secondary stakeholders, like doctors, contributed cost-related inputs through SharePoint but did not directly interact with the application.

Design Process

Understand

Reviewed Excel workflows, business logic, and functional requirements to understand pain points and key metrics.

Design

Created high-fidelity UI in Figma, optimizing layout for tablets and PowerApps constraints. Focused on hierarchy and readability.

Collaborate

Worked closely with Power Platform and Power BI developers to align designs with technical feasibility and embed dashboards effectively.

Validate

Refined the UI based on internal feedback and ensured the final app supported touch interactions and data clarity on all screens.

Key Features/Screen

Dashboard with KPI Cards

Highlights key metrics like upfront cost, operational cost, and ROI at a glance.

Financial Input Screens

Clean, structured inputs that feed into cost analysis calculations.

Power BI Dashboard Embed

Interactive graphs and tables for deep cost insights.

Scenario Comparison

Allows users to quickly compare cost options between different medical devices.

Outcome

  • Reduced manual effort and saved time for sales reps
  • Enabled tablet-friendly cost presentations during client meetings
  • Improved data accuracy with structured inputs
  • Positive feedback from internal stakeholders on usability and visual clarity

Challenges & Takeaway

⚙️ Challenges

  • Designing within the strict layout limitations of PowerApps
  • Embedding and aligning Power BI dashboards within a limited frame
  • Maintaining readability across multiple data-heavy screens

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Simplicity and clarity are critical in enterprise tools
  • Working within platform constraints demands creative prioritization
  • Collaborating closely with devs early improves handoff and success

CineSnacks

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