How might we create a seamless developer experience for fleet management integrations?
I designed KeepTruckin's Modern Developer Platform that gives partners, developers, and customers access to the company's powerful APIs and tailored fleet management solutions. Through user research and industry analysis, I crafted an experience that enables developers to build, test, and publish applications to the marketplace independently.
Since this project, KeepTruckin has changed it's name to Motive.
Problem
KeepTruckin needed a platform that would allow developers to:
1. Create and configure custom apps.
2. Test their code with KeepTruckin’s API.
3. Publish apps directly to the marketplace—without requiring constant support from the API team.
My challenge was to design a seamless, self-service developer portal that could scale alongside the existing App Marketplace, enabling third-party apps to integrate securely and efficiently into fleet management workflows.
Understanding the System
Before moving forward, I investigated how the new Developer Platform would impact existing workflows in the App Marketplace. To make incremental improvements and manage complexity, the project proceeded in multiple milestones:
1. I mapped out the current environment, exploring how developers interact with the Marketplace and the APIs.
2. Using high-level user flows, I visualized the new end-to-end journey, from app creation and testing to final publication.
To truly understand the user base, I spoke with developers, listened to their pain points, and validated assumptions through regular feedback sessions.
Mapping the developer journey from app creation to marketplace publication
The Approach
I partnered closely with product managers and engineers. By involving them early in the UX process, we maintained alignment on technical feasibility and user needs.
My exploration of Developer Experience (DX) included deep dives into books, case studies, and podcasts about best practices. These insights guided decisions on navigation, documentation style, and testing interfaces.
We started designs in Sketch and Abstract but later switched to Figma, allowing the broader team to collaborate more fluidly as Figma became our new standard.
Technical architecture and integration flow diagram
The Solution
KeepTruckin’s Modern Developer Platform empowers users to integrate their applications with KeepTruckin’s APIs through intuitive design and robust documentation. Key features include:
1. Detailed API Documentation: This helps developers quickly understand how to integrate their apps, accelerating time to market.
2. Self-Service Workflow: Developers can register apps, generate API keys, and push integrations live without excessive back-and-forth with support.
3. Enhanced Security & Privacy: Administrators have more granular control over data-sharing permissions, boosting trust and compliance.
4. Scaling the App Marketplace: By giving developers autonomy, KeepTruckin expands its marketplace with innovative third-party integrations, fueling growth and streamlining logistics workflows.
Developer Platform interface for app creation and testing
We designed a clean, user-centric interface where developers can navigate documentation, manage multiple apps, and monitor real-time usage. By reducing friction, this developer portal optimizes productivity and nurtures a thriving community of creative solutions.
Key Learnings
This project reinforced the importance of deeply understanding the developer mindset—emphasizing documentation clarity, flexible sandbox environments, and straightforward workflows. If anything, I challenge myself and others to push even further: How can we reduce onboarding to mere minutes and ensure continuous developer delight? By constantly iterating based on user research, we can continue improving the DX of KeepTruckin’s ecosystem.
