Introducing Citi's next generation, advanced data strategy and online visualization analysis platform. Citi Velocity® Clarity integrates data from multiple Citi Custody and Fund products through a Citi Private Cloud-based Big Data infrastructure and provides online functionality and visualizations for free form interrogation of data and integration with other software and systems.
Challenges
A big challenge was to visually represent the massive amount of data while still being legible and usable. Citivelocity can accommodate over million series a day, so our unit for time measurement was by the minute. Not only did we need to display this data, but we needed to break it down into several factors, such as plots produced, duplicated, lost, and lag time.
A big challenge was to visually represent the massive amount of data while still being legible and usable. Citivelocity can accommodate over million series a day, so our unit for time measurement was by the minute. Not only did we need to display this data, but we needed to break it down into several factors, such as plots produced, duplicated, lost, and lag time.
User Workflows Research & Analysis
I focused on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through existing task, workflows, and feedback analysis in order to measure the impact of the current design on the audience.
I focused on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through existing task, workflows, and feedback analysis in order to measure the impact of the current design on the audience.
I carefully studied user business goals and identified the most critical tasks for various types of users to determine what expected improvements should be included in the new product version. I analyzed all aspects of how the product could be problematic to the users right now.
To fully understand how the product communicated within all Citi Velocity product offerings, I spent a significant amount of time with Citi product owners and stakeholders throughout the process. It was important to know what they wanted to achieve in the new version of the Charting Application. I discussed Citi’s plans for future product development, the existing competition in the market, and what would make the product successful in their view
Charts, Charts, Charts
We worked in hand drawn sketches and wireframes so that we could focus on interactions and charts without getting caught up in colors or styling. In our search for the most appropriate data visualizations, we explored different kinds of charts and how they would function in context of one another. We drew inspiration from our past experience, best practices, charting libraries, and examples in articles or textbooks. We even took ideas from baseball stats!
Two Concepts
From the same set of wireframes, different designers can interpret them in different ways. To give users some options regarding look and feel, two of our designers each created a concept containing a dark theme and a light theme.
From the same set of wireframes, different designers can interpret them in different ways. To give users some options regarding look and feel, two of our designers each created a concept containing a dark theme and a light theme.
Plotting and Computation
The new task-focused layout is shaped around common user tasks and offers simplified yet more productive UI and upgraded UX. We made it easy to focus on only what is relevant to the currently active task — the key to achieving user acceptance. Transfer widgets provide consistent and efficient ways to manage your tasks and stay on top of future and repeated transactions. Additional functionality allows users carry simple line charts to more complex scenarios including back testing.
The new task-focused layout is shaped around common user tasks and offers simplified yet more productive UI and upgraded UX. We made it easy to focus on only what is relevant to the currently active task — the key to achieving user acceptance. Transfer widgets provide consistent and efficient ways to manage your tasks and stay on top of future and repeated transactions. Additional functionality allows users carry simple line charts to more complex scenarios including back testing.
Summary
The results were definitive. Users marveled at the simplicity of the tool, and the ease with which they could find the data they needed, ultimately making them exponentially more efficient in their work. One rough calculation estimated the tool could save one hour per day per user. The enthusiasm was truly humbling.
The results were definitive. Users marveled at the simplicity of the tool, and the ease with which they could find the data they needed, ultimately making them exponentially more efficient in their work. One rough calculation estimated the tool could save one hour per day per user. The enthusiasm was truly humbling.
One year after the first release the we had 30% of user base increase and 20% increase in sales of the application to other financial institutions.
Second year we got the Wall Street award for the best of the breed, charting app on the street.
Second year we got the Wall Street award for the best of the breed, charting app on the street.
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