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Overview
Atria Wealth Solutions, a prominent player in the financial services industry, aimed to transform wealth management practices for financial advisors through its innovative Unio platform. The Unio platform, designed to optimize portfolio management, enhance client communication, and boost overall operational efficiency, served as the backdrop for a transformative success story in the financial services sector.
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Problem
During the initial usability testing, it became evident that users faced a learning curve with the existing document repository on the Unio platform. Financial advisors expressed anxieties around introducing a new design because, currently users have to rely on training videos for onboarding, that they dont find helpful. Secondly, users perceived the current repository as an extensive, time-consuming list that hindered productivity and made document comparison challenging. This was an interesting observation since some of the documents can be filtered. This feedback from users validates my observation that the current filter design does not meet user expectations and user's don't utilize it.The need for a more streamlined and efficient system was apparent, given that scrolling through the extensive list was cumbersome and counterproductive.
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Iterate
In response to identified challenges during usability testing, I implemented several design improvements for Atria Wealth Solutions' Unio platform. The first problem revolved around users facing a learning curve with new design enhancements and features, disliking training videos and finding printouts time-consuming. To address this, I created an onboarding flow with a walk-through tour for a more user-friendly introduction to the platform. The second issue involved users being forced to scroll through an extensive repository, leading to inconvenience and potential oversight of crucial documents. I resolved this by optimizing space utilization and introducing horizontal tabs for forms and documents, facilitating easier navigation and document comparison. Additionally, the third problem highlighted misleading table headers under the "Draft Documents" section, causing confusion for users. The solution involved refining table headers to align with the data, creating a more intuitive experience. Stakeholder communication emphasized the importance of distinguishing between forms and documents during the account-opening process.Lastly, the fourth challenge addressed limitations in filter functionality. I proposed a responsive filter feature with immediate user feedback upon selection and the ability to multi-select under one category, enhancing overall functionality. However, stakeholder feedback revealed budget constraints, necessitating a phased approach. While stakeholders expressed a desire to move towards a more complex filtering system in the future, they opted for a pragmatic solution in the interim. They aimed to maintain a similar style to the existing repository to reduce the cognitive load on users, aligning with budget constraints and addressing immediate concerns. This iterative design process showcased the importance of balancing user needs, stakeholder considerations, and budget constraints in achieving a successful and feasible solution for the Unio platform.
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Version 1.0
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Outcome
Following the implementation of design improvements for Atria Wealth Solutions' Unio platform, the third iteration underwent usability testing to validate key assumptions. The tests confirmed that users easily understood and appreciated the new toggle functionality between forms and documents, facilitated by the introduced tabs. Additionally, users demonstrated an intuitive ability to manage multiple filters, removing one when multiple were selected.The positive feedback and effective user interactions observed during testing instilled confidence in the design improvements. This user validation became the decisive factor in proceeding with shipping the third iteration of the Unio platform. Furthermore, stakeholders actively participated in the post-iteration evaluation, acknowledging the incremental changes made to enhance the user experience. Despite budget constraints limiting the immediate development of a complex filtering system, stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the practical approach taken to improve the existing repository. The phased approach allowed for continuous improvement while maintaining a consistent user experience, demonstrating the agility and responsiveness of the design process to user needs. This iterative and user-centric approach ensured that the design improvements not only met user expectations but also aligned with organizational constraints and future enhancement goals.
