Overview
This process started as a very specific requirement: to migrate the Settings window of a Markets platform from Flux to HTML with UX/UI improvements for all LOB (Limit Order Book). The specialist running the limit order book had the responsibility to guarantee that the top priority order was executed before other orders in the book.
This person had to do this before other orders at an equal or worse price held or submitted by other traders on the floor. So, they needed to be able to set up their workspace to perform their tasks in the most efficient way.
Problem
There were two types of problems. On the one hand, at a technical level, the migration of the platform, which implied rethinking the flows.
On the other hand, the need to facilitate setting processes for platform users. Where there were several inconsistencies both in the first setting during onboarding and in the settings window.
Process
After interviewing some of the users of this platform we defined that there were two type of users:
- Advanced users
- First time users
So, we needed to design a very user friendly tool and a wizard for those who were using this platform for the first time.
Wizard was also to help setting up the main things and to show users were to find advanced settings. The main requirement was to design a layout that was flexible to future modifications because they were not certain about the exact features that were going to be included in the platform. I also worked on the Information Architecture and minimising the amount of steps needed to set up the main workspace.
Solution
After some research with users and benchmarking we defined the following scope:
- Simplifying the layout and how to edit content.
- Designing a modular layout so that it could to be flexible enough to add new content or changes.
- Organising content in a coherent so that it could be easily found.
- Create a logic to search and find information.
- Using the type of vocabulary and labels that users expected to find.
- Reuse components so that users don't have to learn how to use things.
Tecnical limitations
On the one hand, there were many design requirements and guide lines to follow. I could not propose changes related to the way that shown., such as the menu on the side. All changes had to go through a series of approvals that took a lot of time and we had a development team with many technical limitations. On the other hand, there was so much information to study about Trading, how LOBs worked and what user needed. Also, there were few opportunities to get feedback from users, which made the process really stressful.
That's why I defined as a starting point to prioritise the Information Architecture and to understand the relationship between the settings window and the dashboard. At that time, they seemed different products. The Settings Window was using different labels from the Dashboard and it was very difficult to find each component. So, this was a starting point for the First Time Users Wizard.
Highlights
During this process I learned a lot about working in large teams and the internal difficulties in streamlining the processes that finance companies have.
- Take into account the technical limitations. In digital transformation processes for companies that have highly established structures, it is complex to move forward with new processs, however simple they may seem. The most important thing is to understand that communication with stakeholders and internal development team is essential and everyone has to be aligned to move in the same direction.