Bosch Rexroth Hydraulic hub:
Intuitive and smart service
The Hydraulic Hub digital platform from Bosch Rexroth makes the maintenance and servicing of hydraulic products faster and easier. Thanks to the particularly intuitive user experience, information on around 540,000 hydraulic components, maintenance information and process instructions are just a click away. For us, this is a particularly good example of how user-centered design creates real added value for companies.
Background
Background
Advancing digitalization and electrification are placing ever greater demands on service and maintenance personnel in the hydraulics sector. In order to relieve teams in the best possible way, Bosch Rexroth, with the support of UID, has developed the Hydraulic Hub – a digital all-in-one platform that is available around the clock worldwide.
The platform provides access to Bosch Rexroth’s entire hydraulics and service knowledge from any end device. Service technicians can quickly and easily identify around 540,000 industrial hydraulic components and gain direct access to product-specific expertise, maintenance information and process instructions. The integrated AI-based tools also ensure greater efficiency, safety and transparency in day-to-day work.
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“The collaboration was characterized by mutual respect, openness to feedback and a shared understanding of the project goals. Coordination with UID was also transparent and efficient throughout. Queries were clarified promptly, which enabled the project to progress smoothly”
JEssica fella, bosch rexroth
Visualisation of complexity through wireframes and dependencies (Spare Part Assistant)
The process
The development process of the Hydraulic Hub is a prime example of the iterative working method that is fundamental to our human-centered design approach.
Throughout the project, Bosch Rexroth regularly involved users in the design. This was also the case when testing the first clickable prototype, which UID created according to Bosch Rexroth’s requirements.
The initial feedback on the overall concept of the application provided valuable learning impulses and made a significant contribution to the targeted further development and sharpening of the Hydraulic Hub. Based on the user research, we were able to rethink the topic of the digital service platform once again. In several on-site workshops at Bosch Rexroth, we used creative methods and elements from the design sprint to develop the basis for a completely new approach.
We made a clear distinction between service technicians and service coordinators and developed a suitable user interface for both groups. The focus on the actual users has paid off: the Hydraulic Hub can now unfold its full potential – and brings companies real added value.
The team
The Hydraulic Hub team consists of a core team from Bosch Rexroth, which was regularly supported by people from an extended circle of internal experts and various service providers. In the UX area, UID’s concept and design experts worked closely with Bosch Rexroth’s UX and software development teams. Through regular focus weeks in sprint format on site at Bosch Rexroth with the entire Hydraulic Hub team, networking within the team was good, which promoted efficient communication between the various disciplines.
Can be used on all devices
As a web app, the Hydraulic Hub offers its users an intuitive user experience – whether on a smartphone or desktop. Thanks to the responsive interface, the application feels like a native app on a cell phone and makes optimum use of the space on larger screens.
AI sensibly integrated
Through the targeted use of AI in the workflows, we were able to make the application even more intelligent. Transparency in communication with users was particularly important to us when it came to AI-generated results.
Increase maschine availability
Product and service information from Bosch Rexroth is now bundled in one place – easy to find, without detours. This saves time, increases efficiency and ensures higher machine availability, which is crucial for competitiveness in the industrial environment.
Simple operations garanteed
The user workflows were the basis for the user-friendly design of the Hydraulic Hub. Each product can now be identified with just one click and numerous workflows such as AI-supported fault diagnostics can be started from there. The mobile application offers a particularly intuitive user experience thanks to micro animations and transitions.
