Ak Bars Bank

Ak Bars Bank

Ak Bars Bank

Boosting banking pre-authorised zone efficiency

Boosting banking pre-authorised zone efficiency

Boosting banking pre-authorised zone efficiency

Industry

Fin-tech

Duration

6 weeks

Tools

Figma, Miro, Protopie

Deliverables

UX Research, High fidelity prototype, Dark Mode Proposal

UX Research, High fidelity

prototype, UI Kit

Overview

Ak Bars Bank is a prominent regional player which develops corporate, retail and investment businesses. In 2022 Ak Bars product team identified a need for an effective tool to sell their products, especially to new users. The challenge lay in the app’s preauthorized zone, where a hidden product catalog in the burger menu led to low user engagement and sporadic product activations.

My role

Stepping into this challenge, I focused on human-centered solutions, creating a redesign proposal of the preauthorized zone.


My journey involved deep-diving into user research, crafting personas, and developing user flows, with a keen eye on creating an intuitive and accessible user experience. Through wireframing, design execution, and user testing, I aimed to not only enhance product visibility but also to weave a finely tuned experience to meet user needs and preferences, thereby gently elevating engagement and enriching the bank’s digital ecosystem.

The problem

The product catalogue is hidden in the preauthorized zone's burger menu, diminishing new user engagement and product exploration

The product catalogue is hidden in the preauthorized zone's burger menu, diminishing new user engagement and product exploration

The users

Users ranged from 20-49 years old, both genders, with diverse financial needs. They can be segmented into:

Pragmatists
Primarily see banks as functional tools and are driven by cost-effectiveness.

Conservatives
Tend to be skeptical about technology and place a high value on human interaction.

Advanced Users
Are tech-savvy, open to trying new things, and prioritize convenience.

Meet Maria

Maria, a devoted photographer and a single mother, has been navigating through the intricacies of managing her career while ensuring she has quality time with her child.

Values her time

Needs financial stability

Wants a hassle-free banking experience

Expects banking experience to be intuitive and transparent

Values her time

Needs financial stability

Wants a hassle-free banking experience

Expects banking experience to be intuitive and transparent

Maria’s journey intertwines with a banking experience that should be as multifaceted and adaptable as her life, intertwining pragmatism, conservatism, and technological adeptness in a harmonious financial management experience.

Maria’s journey intertwines with a banking experience that should be as multifaceted and adaptable as her life, intertwining pragmatism, conservatism, and technological adeptness in a harmonious financial management experience.

Identified pain points

User research revealed that cost and benefits were pivotal in users' banking choices. Trust and convenience also played crucial roles. Users were inclined to adopt new products if beneficial and user-friendly. Barriers included unclear information and a concealed product catalog.

User research revealed that cost and benefits were pivotal in users' banking choices. Trust and convenience also played crucial roles. Users were inclined to adopt new products if beneficial and user-friendly. Barriers included unclear information and a concealed product catalog.

Inconsistent Information

Despite general satisfaction with the app’s appearance, users experience inconsistency in information and have to rely on customer support, which could erode trust and hinder smooth navigation and transactions within the app.

Despite general satisfaction with the app’s appearance, users experience inconsistency in information and have to rely on customer support, which could erode trust and hinder smooth navigation and transactions within the app.

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Users are unaware that initiating registration through the “Become a client” button limits their ability to access the product catalogue, potentially causing frustration and abandonment of the registration process.

Users are unaware that initiating registration through the “Become a client” button limits their ability to access the product catalogue, potentially causing frustration and abandonment of the registration process.

Restricted Options and Need for Offline Interaction

After registering with a phone number, users can only order a MIR card and to resolve issues or access further services, they need to contact the bank or visit a branch, which is inconvenient and counterintuitive in a digital platform.

After registering with a phone number, users can only order a MIR card and to resolve issues or access further services, they need to contact the bank or visit a branch, which is inconvenient and counterintuitive in a digital platform.

Wireframes

We brainstormed solutions based on research insights. I then visualized solutions through wireframes, focusing on an engaging product catalogue and it's visibility, user journey clarity, and improved information architecture.

We brainstormed solutions based on research insights. I then visualized solutions through wireframes, focusing on an engaging product catalogue and it's visibility, user journey clarity, and improved information architecture.

Design

Leveraging the Ak Bars Design System and Brand Identity, the design maintains brand consistency while introducing a user-appreciated dark mode, ensuring an optimal, visually comfortable experience across various lighting conditions.

Leveraging the Ak Bars Design System and Brand Identity, the design maintains brand consistency while introducing a user-appreciated dark mode, ensuring an optimal, visually comfortable experience across various lighting conditions.

Solutions

Onboarding Meets Product Spotlight

Implemented an onboarding experience that immediately highlights the most compelling product features, tailored to resonate with identified user groups.

Introduced an enhanced, visibly accessible product catalogue entry point, ensuring users can seamlessly navigate and interact with bank services while maintaining easy access to essential functionalities like support and map.

Implemented an onboarding experience that immediately highlights the most compelling product features, tailored to resonate with identified user groups.

Introduced an enhanced, visibly accessible product catalogue entry point, ensuring users can seamlessly navigate and interact with bank services while maintaining easy access to essential functionalities like support and map.

Implemented an onboarding experience that immediately highlights the most compelling product features, tailored to resonate with identified user groups.

Introduced an enhanced, visibly accessible product catalogue entry point, ensuring users can seamlessly navigate and interact with bank services while maintaining easy access to essential functionalities like support and map.

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue

Product promotion

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue

Product promotion

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue

Product promotion

Bridging Pre and Post-Registration Experiences

Merged the card application flow before and after registration, ensuring continuous access to the product catalogue at all user stages.

Previously, users registering through the app inadvertently cut off their own access to the catalogue; now, a strategically placed entry point ensures uninterrupted exploration and interaction with banking products, regardless of their registration status.

This not only smoothens the user journey but also subtly encourages product exploration and engagement from the get-go.

Merged the card application flow before and after registration, ensuring continuous access to the product catalogue at all user stages.

Previously, users registering through the app inadvertently cut off their own access to the catalogue; now, a strategically placed entry point ensures uninterrupted exploration and interaction with banking products, regardless of their registration status.

This not only smoothens the user journey but also subtly encourages product exploration and engagement from the get-go.

Merged the card application flow before and after registration, ensuring continuous access to the product catalogue at all user stages.

Previously, users registering through the app inadvertently cut off their own access to the catalogue; now, a strategically placed entry point ensures uninterrupted exploration and interaction with banking products, regardless of their registration status.

This not only smoothens the user journey but also subtly encourages product exploration and engagement from the get-go.

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue


Pain points addressed:

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Inconsistent information

Restricted options and need for Offline interaction

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue


Pain points addressed:

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Inconsistent information

Restricted options and need for Offline interaction

Business needs addressed:

Hidden product catalogue


Pain points addressed:

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Inconsistent information

Restricted options and need for Offline interaction

Structured, User-Friendly Product Catalogue

Revamped the product catalogue from a lengthy, somewhat restrictive format to a structured, user-friendly interface that encourages exploration.

The new design introduces product previews in the catalogue, leading to detailed product pages that utilize dropdown menus to present information in digestible chunks, preventing information overload.

This not only ensures that users can quickly grasp the offerings but also promotes a deeper exploration of the full spectrum of products that Ak Bars aims to showcase, thereby aligning user interaction with business promotional objectives.

Revamped the product catalogue from a lengthy, somewhat restrictive format to a structured, user-friendly interface that encourages exploration.

The new design introduces product previews in the catalogue, leading to detailed product pages that utilize dropdown menus to present information in digestible chunks, preventing information overload.

This not only ensures that users can quickly grasp the offerings but also promotes a deeper exploration of the full spectrum of products that Ak Bars aims to showcase, thereby aligning user interaction with business promotional objectives.

Revamped the product catalogue from a lengthy, somewhat restrictive format to a structured, user-friendly interface that encourages exploration.

The new design introduces product previews in the catalogue, leading to detailed product pages that utilize dropdown menus to present information in digestible chunks, preventing information overload.

This not only ensures that users can quickly grasp the offerings but also promotes a deeper exploration of the full spectrum of products that Ak Bars aims to showcase, thereby aligning user interaction with business promotional objectives.

Business needs addressed:

Product discovery


Pain points addressed:

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Inconsistent information

Restricted options

Business needs addressed:

Product discovery


Pain points addressed:

Limited Product Accessibility Post-Registration

Inconsistent information

Restricted options

Reflection

Balancing User Needs and Business Objectives

One surprising lesson was how inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. Elements from gaming apps like Pokémon Go influenced our design decisions, teaching me the importance of looking outside one’s immediate domain for innovative solutions. The takeaway: Don't limit your sources of inspiration to your industry.

One surprising lesson was how inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. Elements from gaming apps like Pokémon Go influenced our design decisions, teaching me the importance of looking outside one’s immediate domain for innovative solutions. The takeaway: Don't limit your sources of inspiration to your industry.

Future-Proofing Solutions

While addressing immediate needs and pain points was vital, ensuring that the solutions were scalable and adaptable to future changes and enhancements was also crucial. This foresight ensures that the interventions are not just short-term fixes but also viable in the long-term trajectory of the app.

While addressing immediate needs and pain points was vital, ensuring that the solutions were scalable and adaptable to future changes and enhancements was also crucial. This foresight ensures that the interventions are not just short-term fixes but also viable in the long-term trajectory of the app.

Illustrations for this project are designed by Getillustrations

Illustrations for this project are designed by Getillustrations

Into design systems, accessibility, sustainability or just design in general? Let's chat about it!

Into design systems, accessibility, sustainability or just design in general? Let's chat about it!

Into design systems, accessibility, sustainability or just design in general? Let's chat about it!