Optimizing financial risk management

Introduction When SS&C approached me, they faced a challenge that many seasoned, large enterprises face: Many of their products are still running on-premise, using an old, out-dated GUI interface. They needed a path from this to a modern SaaS application to attract new clients and retain current.

The Challenge Outdated interface Despite its success, the application was built on legacy systems from the early 2000s, and no longer aligned with modern expectations or the company’s growth goals.

Fragmented experience As new features were added over time to meet specific client needs, the platform became inconsistent and disjointed, lacking a unified experience.

Visualization struggles While data visualization is central to the product, it struggled to present customizable data points in a readable, intuitive way.

Balancing accessibility with clarity Large financial datasets were hard to navigate, with accessibility issues compromising the ability to display information clearly and intuitively.

The Approach Identify key features We began by gathering insights directly from current users, focusing on their pain points and preferences. This discovery phase allowed us to identify the essential features needed in the update, eliminating unnecessary complexity. By focusing on the core interactions, we ensured the product would meet the immediate needs of the users while positioning it for long-term success.

We redefined the user flow, ensuring it was intuitive and aligned with the needs of all users across the platform. This step unified the fragmented experience and provided clarity in navigating the platform. Additionally, we refined the information architecture, ensuring that complex data could be displayed in a more digestible and accessible manner, addressing both functionality and accessibility.

Data-driven design Data visualization is the heart of this product, and we redesigned it to present real-time, customizable data in a clear, actionable format. By focusing on creating seamless, intuitive visualizations, we helped users interpret complex financial data more effectively, leading to better decision-making and increased engagement.

Prioritize scalability We designed with scalability in mind, creating flexible layouts and optimizing data presentation for diverse user environments. This ensured the product would be accessible, responsive, and adaptable to future growth, making it a sustainable solution for users over time.

Intentional collaboration Through a collaborative, iterative design process, we maintained an ongoing feedback loop with the product team. This allowed for continuous refinement and adaptation, ensuring the product consistently aligned with both user needs and business goals.

The Solution From concept to launch in just nine months Through multiple iterations of high-fidelity mockups, we transformed the user interface into a modern, intuitive experience that solved the platform’s challenges. By focusing on streamlining the user flow and enhancing micro-interactions, we created a delightful, easy-to-navigate design that provided a seamless experience. The visual and functional improvements allowed users to interact with complex financial data in a much more intuitive way. Since the launch of the updated product, the results have been outstanding. Client retention has grown by 32%, and the platform has seen a 20% YoY increase in engagement and usage. These improvements not only enhanced the user experience but also contributed directly to the business’s bottom line, reinforcing the value of the product’s design transformation.