Upgrades now on training site for your review

[Stan Suchan]

Last weekend upgrades for the logon homepage and vanpool administration module were implemented on the iCarpool/RideshareOnline training site. Please take some time to review these new features on the training site: https://rsotraining.icarpool.us/en/Login.aspx. Here are some highlights:

Logon homepage (the first page users see after they log on to the system)

This page has been updated based on your comments. A small work team gathered information from a variety of sources, including the network administrator survey, Web analytics (which provide data about how people are using the tool), the matrix/issues log, usability testing and small group conversations with network administrators. Based on the feedback, iCarpool upgraded the system. These changes are now visible on the test site so you have an opportunity to test and provide feedback prior to public deployment. For example, iCarpool:

• Added elements that foster a sense of connection for users by making the page more personal and social
• Made achievements (miles and gallons saved, etc.) configurable for users, for example, they can choose among timelines and see network achievements.
• Added network contact/get help information to the home page.
• Added features that direct users to take advantage of system features, including their profile, calendaring, ridematching and SchoolPool

Vanpool administration module

This module has been updated to implement feedback received from vanpool administrators. iCarpool: 

• Provide administrators a configurable option to make vanpool participant profile information read only.
• Store vanpool information separately from the driver’s trip information for operating vanpools.
• Show vanpool profile information on the match list.
• Simplify the change vanpool driver scenario by making add passenger option available through the administration application.
• Provide administrators the ability to activate an inactive account through the administration application (available to all administrators).
• Added a new vanpool interest group report for agencies to proactively track formations and help convert interest groups to operating vanpools.

Please take time to visit the test site and check out the new functionality. Attached is an issue log template for you to document feedback.  Please provide initial feedback by Thursday. Assuming no fatal flaws are identified, iCarpool is tentatively planning on moving the changes to the live server on Sunday, August 14th.

Thanks to everyone who helped provide feedback that fueled these changes. Your input and ideas were invaluable. After the upgrades launch, we’ll continue to gather feedback and conduct more usability testing for the next evolution.

[AnneBruskland]

Additional details regarding the home page updates provided by Amol are posted below:

 

The user experience for new incoming users in the system is different from the user experience for existing repeat users. To review the updated home page, consider signing up on the test server (https://rsotraining.icarpool.us/en/Login.aspx) using a new account to review the directional features such as the Get Started prompts which guide the user to the next step and an existing user account which has trips logged in the calendar to view the Achievements section, which replaces the Get Started section.

The Get Started prompts are shown based on the user - for example, in the post-registration screen the user selects what they are visiting the site for: ridematching, logging trips and receiving rewards, event matching or schoolpool. The Get Started continues to show on the home page until the user has taken the next step or there are achievements to display.

The News Feed is a collection of short Twitter style notifications and longer posts with images - administrators can add to the short Twitter style notifications using the familiar "Edit/View notification" under the Users menu in the administration application and longer posts with images using the familiar "Edit/View user home page content" under the Users menu in the administration application.

The Did You Know section is designed to show randomly when a user visits the page.

Important - The section "Have questions? We're here to help." at the bottom of the page present contact information that the user can use for assistance - the list is restricted to the networks of the user that have configured the primary contact information at the network level (appearing under the Settings menu in the administration application). In the live RideshareOnline-iCarpool site, Network administrators may review/update the current settings for the primary contact under Settings menu in the administration application to ensure the information is correct for support. This will ensure the relevant information will display after the upcoming update. Use the training site in case you want to try out the functionality.

Similarly, network administrators who have their own domain may also want to review the domain content they have in the live RideshareOnline-iCarpool site and update it to suit the new features in the home page.

Best regards,
Amol