Hawk Trade
Seamless Container Booking & Management
My Role: UX & Product Designer
Duration: 11 Months
Deliverables: Web App (Desktop First)
Summary
Hawk Trade is a web platform that helps exporters and importers book containers easily. Before this, the process was slow and manual, with a lot of calls and emails.
The goal was to make booking faster, clearer, and more reliable. I worked with the founder and team to turn their manual workflows into a simple digital experience that saves time and reduces mistakes.
Outcomes
Reduced booking time by nearly 50%
Increased booking accuracy (fewer manual errors)
Positive feedback from early pilot users who found it “clean and easy to use”
Ready for future integrations with other tools in the logistics suite
Quick Facts
An overview of the project’s purpose, users, context, timeline, and goals.
What
A container booking and management platform that connects exporters, importers, and logistics service providers in one place.
Who
Built for logistics managers, freight forwarders, and export-import businesses. I worked closely with the founder, tech, and the operations team.
Where
Part of a smart logistics platform, created as a standalone product with the option to connect with other tools in the future.
When
Completed over 11 months, covering research, design, and handoff to developers.
Why
The manual booking process was slow and confusing. Hawk Trade made it faster and easier.
Solving the Problem
Simplifying a slow and manual container booking process through user-centered design.
The Challenge
Exporters and importers relied on calls, emails, and disconnected systems to book containers and track shipments. This caused delays, errors, and high operational costs. The goal was to build a platform that makes container booking faster, easier, and more reliable for businesses.
My Role
Spoke with stakeholders to understand user needs and pain points
Mapped user flows and created wireframes based on real-world workflows
Designed a clean, modular UI that simplifies the booking experience
Worked closely with developers to bring the designs to life smoothly
Designing the Booking Flow
I simplified the container booking journey by connecting container data with real-time yard selection, reducing delays and manual errors.
Exploring Early Designs and Team Collaboration
While exploring different ways to simplify the booking process, I worked closely with design, development, and business teams. Early design ideas and continuous feedback helped shape a booking experience that is simple, fast, and aligned with real user needs.
To shape the booking experience into something simple and reliable, close collaboration across teams was key. Design efforts were supported by continuous inputs from business and development teams. Each team played a major role in refining the workflows, solving technical challenges, and making sure the final platform matched real user needs. This teamwork helped turn early ideas into a working product ready for real-world use.
Design Team
Researched user needs and mapped workflows.
Designed wireframes and booking flow screens.
Created the final UI for desktop platform.
Development Team
Integrated backend systems for container data and bookings.
Built APIs to fetch container details based on BL number.
Ensured smooth data flow between frontend and backend.
Business Team
Provided real-world process insights and helped define key features.
Set priorities based on customer pain points and business goals.
Helped validate early prototypes through user feedback.
Final Booking Experience
After refining the workflows and collaborating across teams, I designed the final booking experience for Hawk Trade. The flow is divided into clear steps, making it simple for users to complete their container bookings quickly and confidently.
Enter Shipment Details and Fetch Containers
Users start the booking process by entering key shipment details like BL Number, clearance location, and shipment type. Based on this information, the system fetches all linked containers, allowing users to review and confirm container data before moving forward.
Select Yard and View Price Breakup
After reviewing container details, users can view a list of available yards along with estimated prices, services, and infrastructure details. A detailed price breakup for each container helps users make informed booking decisions with full cost transparency.
Review Yard Details, Booking Summary, and Upload Documents
After selecting a yard, users can view detailed yard information, including infrastructure and services. They review a full booking summary with container details and billing breakdown. Before confirming the booking, users are guided to upload required documents such as the BL Copy and Authorization Letter to complete the process.
Booking Confirmation and Container Status Tracking
Once the booking is confirmed, users can view detailed booking information, track the status of each container, and manage payments directly within the platform. The system provides real-time updates on invoices, payment status, and gate pass generation, offering full visibility and control over the booking lifecycle.
Closing Note
Hawk Trade was an opportunity to reimagine container booking by turning a complex, manual process into a streamlined digital experience. Through close collaboration, continuous iteration, and a strong focus on real user needs, we built a platform that simplifies operations, speeds up decision-making, and builds trust with businesses.
The project delivered clear business results:
Reduced booking turnaround time by 50%, helping businesses move faster.
Minimized manual errors, leading to fewer shipment delays and operational issues.
Increased customer confidence, resulting in higher adoption rates during pilot rollout.
Enabled faster client onboarding, supporting business growth and scalability.
This experience strengthened my belief in the value of designing for clarity, speed, and measurable impact, principles I continue to bring into every product I design.
