Univers
Reimagining Hotel Operations for Real-Time Insights and Seamless Staff Management
Details
Partner
Univers Tech
Space
Hospitality
Timeline
16 month
Mission?
As the lead designer for Univers, I managed the entire design process, including stakeholder and user interviews, prototyping, testing, and supporting the development team until the final product was delivered. After launch, I focused on gathering metrics and iterating based on the results.
Role
UI UX Product Designer
Introduction
Univers Tech was one of the most exciting and large-scale projects I’ve worked on. I collaborated directly with a stakeholder from Florida, who owned a network of hotels across the U.S. His main goal was clear — to see, in real time, how much his hotels were earning and spending, and to simplify internal processes. To achieve this, we created a full ecosystem of products. A mobile app for owners to view key statistics, a task manager for hotel administrators to manage daily operations, and a mobile app for staff to receive and update task statuses. Each hotel employee also carried a plastic card for location tracking across the property.
Problem
Before our solution, hotel operations were fragmented and outdated. Different departments used various legacy software systems that didn’t communicate with each other. Financial reports were prepared manually in Excel or even on paper, which delayed decision-making and made analytics difficult and time-consuming. Maintaining this outdated system was expensive, and the hotel owner needed a modern solution that would unify all processes and offer real-time insights.
Research
We had direct access to users and spent time understanding their daily routines. Through interviews with housekeepers, administrators, and front desk staff, we discovered many inefficiencies. For example, creating cleaning schedules took up to 40 minutes each day. We also analyzed competing products such as Asana and Monday.com to identify their weaknesses. This research helped us prioritize critical features and shaped the direction of our design approach.
Process
I started by defining the information architecture and mapping user flows. From early sketches to detailed Figma prototypes, each version was tested with stakeholders and users. We iterated rapidly based on feedback. Key features included a "blocked ticket" option to pause tasks, redesigned UI elements optimized for older mobile phones, and a drag & drop board that made task assignment four times faster. We also introduced an advanced filtering system with color-coded categories to make large data sets easier to manage.
Collaboration
I worked closely with the development team and stakeholders, running demos, gathering feedback, and refining the product based on real user needs. I also personally conducted interviews with hotel staff to ensure the solution fit seamlessly into their daily work. Continuous testing and iteration helped us deliver a high-quality product that met both business and user expectations.
Results
The result was a comprehensive solution tailored to the needs of every user. Owners received a mobile app offering real-time financial insights. Administrators had a powerful task manager with smart filters and boards for streamlined daily operations. Hotel staff got a simple and intuitive app for managing their tasks on the go. Every interface was optimized for various devices, and the system also supported employee geolocation to improve task coordination and efficiency.
The project delivered outstanding results. Staff workload was reduced by 30%, and housekeepers were able to clean at least one more room per day. The business also saved up to $3.5 million annually per hotel by replacing costly legacy software. The modern, unified platform improved communication, increased transparency, and significantly streamlined hotel operations.
