Service
Goal
Clover5 is an initiative for a product service system (PSS). It provides customers with a smart garden and recipe generator. The goal of this smart garden is to make people think about what they eat, learn about fresh herbs, and cook with them. This implies discovering new tastes, but also getting new information about the packaging and growth of crops. With the Clover5, herbs are delivered in modules via mail. Either 3 or 6 modules with different herbs are sent to you (see "Subscription" below). By subscribing, a customer will get access to a personal account on the application and the website. On these platforms you can check the status of your herbs, view the possible recipes that include your herbs, and explore based on your likes and dislikes. As a practical addition, a store and wish list are integrated in the application and website.
Application
To ‘connect with you herbs’ an application on your phone is designed. This prototype already allows the user to control the most important screens. You start with a log in or subscription page, by choosing ‘log in’, you are guided to the homepage.
From the homepage you can select the person icon to get to your herbs. In this menu you are able to track the age of the plant and when it is time to harvest. Via a specific herb page you are allowed to search for recipes with this herb and also are able to like or dislike the taste of the plant as well.
On the right top there is a so called hamburger with three elements.
The top element guides the user to the ordering screen. This ordering screen allows the user to search for herbs or Clover5 products or use the suggested items option. This suggested items option uses your likes and dislikes from the herb page to adhere to your preferences.
The element in the middle guides the user to the customer support. This allows users to ask for help. There are different options to select: live chat, frequently asked questions, E-mail us and track your delivery.
The element on the bottom of the ‘hamburger’ guides the user to the about us page. On this page the vision of the company and its goal are described.
Just below the middle of the home page a Wi-Fi icon is placed. By selecting this icon, the user will be guided to the connect instruction. On this instruction page is explained how to choose your network and connect with your herb.
At the bottom of the home page the recipes menu can be selected. By choosing this option, the user will be guided to the recipe menu. In this menu you are able to like and dislike recipes and search filtering on herbs or other groceries. More about this can be read under ‘programming’.
Subscription
What do you receive from us?
Clover5 offers you a smart garden unit for your kitchen. Plug in the unit, fill the water tank and you are set!
For an amount of €5.99 per month you already receive a unit that consists out of 3 pots with your preferred fresh herbs that will be delivered to your doorstep every month.
If you like more diversity, there is another offer for you. For only €11.99 per month you get 6 pots with even more herbs! After the first month you will receive 2 seed pods every month.
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This is how it works:
Recipes
Use the app to find recipes for your herbs and/or leftovers
In the application, the user can choose an herb they currently possess or some leftover products in their fridge. Below, a prototype of the program with Python is shown. This prototype shows an example of recipes that could be generated for the herbs Parsley, Mint, Dill, Basil, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (but it also works for any other ingredient present in the example recipes).
Personalized Feedback
One of the features our PPS has, which forms an advantage over the competition, is the optional feedback. This allows for personalization and recommendations. The method will be similar to the method Netflix uses.
Netflix has the possibility to give an opinion about a movie or series. This is shown in the form of a ‘thumbs up’ or a ‘thumbs down’. A like, or a dislike. The input of the user determines the output of Netflix. This is assumingly performed in the following manners:
Categorizing films (if the user likes a comedy, it is more likely another comedy will be recommended).
An algorithm which keeps track of the preferences of other users and adapts its recommendations to that (if multiple users like the Titanic and the Notebook, it is more likely the Notebook will be recommended to another user who likes the Titanic).
Applying these methods to our herbs, it would look like the following:
Categorizing herbs (if the user likes a fragrant herb, it is more likely another fragrant herb will be recommended):
Hard herbs: Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Bay leaves, Winter Savory
Tea/medicinal herbs: Lemongrass, Aloë Vera, Bergamot, st. John’s Wort
Soft herbs: Parsley, Coriander, French Tarragon, Culantro, Chives, Dill, Chervel
Fragrant herbs: Lavender, Catnip, Chamomile, Fennel
Sweet herbs: Stevia, Basil, Sage, Mint
An algorithm which keeps track of the preferences of other users. If there is a correlation between the liking of Parsley and Rosemary, users will get a recommendation for Parsley once they like Rosemary. It adapts its recommendations to the likes of other users.