Redesign Financial Planning
*SAP Analytics Cloud
Overview
The redesign of the client’s financial planning experience using the SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) aimed to simplify their financial planning process and make it delightful. I collaborated with BHP, an Australian mining company, to enhance the UX of their financial business tool, addressing the evolving needs of their changing process. I worked alongside a UX designer from the customer side, who conducted user interviews, and the SAC product design team.
Role
User Research
Data Visualization
UI Design
Team
Project Manager
2 UX designer
Tools
SAP Analytics Cloud
(SAC)
Duration
4 weeks
Challenge
Doosan wanted to be able to digitally evaluate equipment effectiveness to get better insight into the plant’s performance.
They wanted a predictive machine maintenance solution to improve maintenance activity scheduling and minimize equipment downtime.
Benefits
Maximize cost efficiency by reducing operational desk work and the time spent moving between shop floors and office buildings. Overall, there is an increase in productivity and efficiency, which helps the client to serve their customers more effectively.
The outcome was the deployment of digital solutions to monitor the real-time performance of the production line and to gain useful insights to enhance productivity.
User Research
I began by reviewing the recorded interviews conducted by the client's UX designer. Following that, I analyzed these interviews, categorizing the key findings based on various characteristics. During the remote interviews, the interviewees shared their screens to demonstrate their work process with the current tool, as well as the individual workarounds each finance professional had developed.
Pain points, opportunities, and ideas according to customer’s process mapped on the journey map
Additionally, I organized the financial planning process and listed the issues encountered at each stage.
User interviews
Findings note from user interview
Synthesizing findings and ideation
Defining Problems
Through user research and synthesizing, we identified 3 primary problems with the current SAC design.
Users experienced slow loading times in SAC compared to other tools, desiring a speed comparable to MS Excel. The interface was overwhelming with numerous buttons, leading to user fatigue, and the complex steps caused confusion, prompting users to frequently return to the landing page to restart tasks.
Slow
SAC was slow to load when compared to other tools. Users expected its speed to be as similar as MS Excel.
Clicky
Users were exhausted with having too many buttons to complete their tasks.
Complicated
The steps were too complex. People lost track of where they were, so they often went back to the landing page to start again.
How might we make financial planning experience with SAC fast, intuitive, and enjoyable?
Goals
To address the key issues identified through user research, the following design goals were established, guiding the initiation of the design process.
Optimize the speed
Create a system that responds quickly, and consistently works as expected
Create an Intuitive Experience
Design a system that can be easy to use and get their job done as quick as possible
Make it Enjoyable
Create a system that is intuitive and purpose driven
What does SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) look like?
SAC serves as a comprehensive tool for both data mining and visualization. Users can efficiently generate dashboards within SAC, facilitating a seamless transition to presentation mode for effective data communication.
The Design Solution
I streamlined the process by categorizing it into two main sections: data input and review, significantly reducing the number of pages users needed to navigate, aiming for a reduction of over 80%. 10 tables spread across 5 screens were combined into 4 tables on 2 screens without losing any information.
10 tables on 5 screens into 4 tables on 2 screens
Input Page
Review Page
Landing Page
Landing Page Design
To consolidate the scattered entry points to various functional pages, I created a landing page, providing users with access to all the pages and information needed for financial planning.
Navigation Bar
Story Filter
Tips
Page Header
Workflow
Page Links
Version Filter
Useful Links
Input Page Design
Due to the complex financial planning process, even proficient users were getting confused. To streamline the process, I rearranged the data input tables in sequential order, and optional steps were distinctly separated in the design. Leveraging users' familiarity with Excel, I designed the table charts to resemble Excel, differentiating editable and non-editable cells to minimize unnecessary time consumption.
Step instruction
Highlight key steps
Expanded filter control
Opional step
Added Excel-like grid header
Editable & non-editable
Added total column
Freezed table header
Review Page Design
I consolidated six scattered table charts into a single page. At the top of the page, I designed a visual chart to provide an overview of the budget plans for the next 5 years. Additionally, I applied comparative charts that allow quick comparisons between the budget for each year and the differences between the previous and current years. At the bottom of the page, I included detailed table charts for the budget over the next 5 years, enabling users to review detailed budget information without navigating to other pages.
*Designing with consideration for the interconnected functionality of SAC’s fixed features and designed pages within the SAC tool is crucial, as they work together to perform various functions.
In-cell charts
Key insights dashboard
Table filters
5 years budget comparison
YoY Comparisons
Total cost detail table
Page Filters for the Table
Lessons Learned
It's rare for financial planners to be satisfied with a single tool, as no tool possesses all the capabilities users need.
Although Microsoft Excel is somewhat dated, it remains the most popular financial tool. To satisfy users, SAC needs to offer features that Excel does not.
Fixed windows restrict users' visibility of their financial tasks; they need a tool that provides a deeper level of control capability.
“The design solutions provided by Earl and his colleague were of high quality and extremely useful. Always willing to listen and dive into the underlying problems which led to the team proposing new and innovative ways to resolve some of the problems we have shared with them.”
- UX designer at BHP -