Year of Collaboration
2022 – ongoing
Context
Creators of tactile force and pressure sensing solutions since 1981
Tekscan develops pressure mapping systems, force measurement systems, and tactile sensing solutions. These technologies are used by their customers to optimise product research, design, development, and manufacturing. Tekscan’s patented sensors and systems are used across a wide range of clinical applications, including medical and dental. They are used as both stand-alone solutions and embedded technology to create better products.
Aim
Deliver a high-quality operating manual for Tekscan’s new tyre-scanning solution
Tekscan wanted an external resource to manage their library of existing documentation while creating content for up to three new product launches a year. They were concerned their in-house documentation process was no longer in step with their product, both in design, and technical accuracy. Their documentation had become hard to use and hard to maintain.
So in 2023, when Tekscan launched High-Speed TireScan, an innovative system designed to analyse tyre performance, tyre failure modes, and tyre footprint distortion (particularly helpful in the F1 world), they knew they needed a documentation partner that could help them with management of their existing documentation, and create a new high-quality operation manual for High-Speed Tirescan. Tekscan needed their new operating manual to give their customers a robust understanding of High-Speed TireScan’s concept and application. To do this, the manual would need to be engaging, pitched at the right level for their customers’ knowledge, and include clear instructions on how to install and operate the equipment.
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Challenges
A new documentation process for a complex and evolving product
The launch of Tekscan’s new High-Speed Tirescan solution needed not only a new manual, but a new approach to their technical content strategy. And, as is typical for many product developments, refinements continued right up until the product launch. In fact, some aspects were still being perfected right up until the first orders started to come in. Tekscan needed a technical content strategy that allowed them to respond quickly to these changes.
Additionally, the launch of Tekscan’s High-Speed Tirescan solution coincided with a change in company branding. The original colour scheme and font no longer adhered to the corporate identity Tekscan wished to promote. This meant a whole new style needed to be used in the documentation.
Solution
A robust content strategy coupled with powerful authoring tools
The 3di team:
- Designed a robust content strategy to build content in a modular fashion using Madcap Flare’s technical writing software for maximum content reuse and flexibility.
- Created content for the more mature software solution first, then the user interface and operating functionality and progressed to writing a fully tested installation procedure.
- Designed and created a quick start guide for operators setting up the equipment.
- Managed the change in company branding smoothly by making full use of the functionality available in Madcap Flare, incorporating a last-minute change in UI text by simply updating a variable.
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Result
Effective and replicable documentation in the new branding style
The 3di team:
- Designed and implemented a technical content strategy using powerful authoring tools and established workflows.
- Produced documentation using Tekscan’s new branding, covering everything the user needs to know, without unnecessary ‘space-fillers’.
- Provided a flexible foundation that can be used to create new Tekscan product documentation going forward.
- Set up a range of document output options like A4 PDF, and A5 folding for quick-start guides.
- Since this initial project, 3di has provided additional technical writing and content strategy services for Tekscan’s other products, such as the F-Scan Go.
Testimonial
“Working with the 3di team on our manual was a structured and efficient experience. Their dedication ensured a clear and organized final product.”
Raul Oreste, Product Manager at Tekscan