Elevating Data Analytics to a Robust SaaS Platform

As the founding designer at Pareto Intelligence, my primary goal was to transform their data solutions into user-centric products. This required reimagining the existing web portal to address pain points and enhance user experience. My approach involved extensive research, collaboration with stakeholders, and the development of a scalable design system that supported the platform’s evolving needs.

Elevating Data Analytics to a Robust SaaS Platform

The Journey Begins.

When I joined Pareto, the business focused on processing data using one-of-a-kind solutions and delivering customers Tableau visualizations with the option to download them. However, the platform faced significant challenges. I spent weeks analyzing the web application to understand the user experience and identify potential pain points through a design audit approach.

Despite the powerful data solutions provided, usability issues hindered its true impact. Over two years, my goal was to productize these solutions by creating a suite-like product system—similar to Adobe Creative Cloud—to increase user retention, reduce the number of support tickets received from customers, and allow the beginning of a subscription service.

The Challenge.

The web portal faced several critical issues:

Low User Retention: Most users accessed the portal only once a year to download revenue-related data, leading to long periods of inactivity.
Misaligned Content Delivery: Users received solutions irrelevant to their specific needs, causing confusion and frustration.
Ineffective Navigation: The portal’s dataset visualizations used internal naming conventions, making it difficult for external users to understand or find relevant information.
Lack of a Design System: Without a cohesive design system, the platform lacked a unified look and feel, affecting usability and scalability.
Unclear of Solutions that applied to markets: Some solutions that were

Research & Discovery

Listening to the Voices That Mattered

To uncover pain points and opportunities, I started by speaking with the people who knew the platform best—our clients and internal teams. These conversations were enlightening. One client shared how they felt "lost in a sea of dashboards," while an internal team member described the frustration of explaining the same features repeatedly due to user confusion.

Remote Collaboration

Operating in a fully remote environment, I leaned heavily on tools like Confluence, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Figma to keep the process dynamic and collaborative. Virtual brainstorming sessions and mind maps became our lifeline to innovation.

Balancing Creativity and Confidentiality

Working in healthcare meant dealing with sensitive PHI data, which posed unique challenges. I had to get creative by using mock data in wireframes and prototypes, ensuring confidentiality without compromising on clarity.

25%

Reduction in task completion time

30%

Decrease in user error rates

20%

Increase in new subscriptions

Insights and Opportunities

Through weeks of research and planning with stakeholders like the Head of Product, PMs, and the CTO, we unearthed critical insights:

Target Audience Shift: While the platform initially targeted C-level executives, research revealed that independent contributors were the primary daily users. Refocusing on their needs became a priority.
Streamlined Navigation: Users struggled with excessive clicks and poorly named datasets. Simplifying navigation and aligning terminology with user expectations was critical.
Customized Solutions: Delivering tailored solutions to specific clients instead of a one-size-fits-all approach was essential for improving relevance and engagement.

Through weeks of research and planning with stakeholders like the Head of Product, PMs, and the CTO, we unearthed critical insights:

Target Audience Shift: While the platform initially targeted C-level executives, research revealed that independent contributors were the primary daily users. Refocusing on their needs became a priority.
Streamlined Navigation: Users struggled with excessive clicks and poorly named datasets. Simplifying navigation and aligning terminology with user expectations was critical.
Customized Solutions: Delivering tailored solutions to specific clients instead of a one-size-fits-all approach was essential for improving relevance and engagement.

Through weeks of research and planning with stakeholders like the Head of Product, PMs, and the CTO, we unearthed critical insights:

Target Audience Shift: While the platform initially targeted C-level executives, research revealed that independent contributors were the primary daily users. Refocusing on their needs became a priority.
Streamlined Navigation: Users struggled with excessive clicks and poorly named datasets. Simplifying navigation and aligning terminology with user expectations was critical.
Customized Solutions: Delivering tailored solutions to specific clients instead of a one-size-fits-all approach was essential for improving relevance and engagement.

Design and Implementation

Creating a Design System

Without an existing design system, I faced a unique challenge. I remember one engineering meeting where we joked about "borrowing" Material UI components until we could build our own. Leveraging Material UI, I:

Customized components to establish a unique and cohesive aesthetic for Synctera.
Partnered with engineering to develop a reusable component library in React, documented in Storybook.
Built a scalable foundation that supported a complete platform refresh.

Customized components to establish a unique and cohesive aesthetic for Synctera.
Partnered with engineering to develop a reusable component library in React, documented in Storybook.
Built a scalable foundation that supported a complete platform refresh.

Customized components to establish a unique and cohesive aesthetic for Synctera.
Partnered with engineering to develop a reusable component library in React, documented in Storybook.
Built a scalable foundation that supported a complete platform refresh.

Prototyping Validation

During one testing session, I watched as a user navigated our prototype and instinctively clicked exactly where we had redesigned a key feature. That moment reaffirmed the power of user-centered design. To ensure the new designs resonated with users, I:

Developed four unique design concepts and three prototypes.
Conducted A/B testing with external users during the six-week project timeline.
Integrated feedback to refine and validate the final designs.

Developed four unique design concepts and three prototypes.
Conducted A/B testing with external users during the six-week project timeline.
Integrated feedback to refine and validate the final designs.

Developed four unique design concepts and three prototypes.
Conducted A/B testing with external users during the six-week project timeline.
Integrated feedback to refine and validate the final designs.

User-Centric Enhancement

Through thoughtful iteration, we:

Simplified the dashboard structure to reduce unnecessary clicks and improve task efficiency.
Customized dataset visualizations to match user workflows and expectations.
Enabled seamless integration of solutions into daily operations, increasing platform value.

Through thoughtful iteration, we:

Simplified the dashboard structure to reduce unnecessary clicks and improve task efficiency.
Customized dataset visualizations to match user workflows and expectations.
Enabled seamless integration of solutions into daily operations, increasing platform value.

Through thoughtful iteration, we:

Simplified the dashboard structure to reduce unnecessary clicks and improve task efficiency.
Customized dataset visualizations to match user workflows and expectations.
Enabled seamless integration of solutions into daily operations, increasing platform value.

Outcome and Impact

The redesigned web portal delivered significant results:

Increased Retention: User retention improved by 75%.
Reduced Drop-Off Rates: Data download-related drop-offs decreased from 15% to 9%.
Enhance Engagements: Session times increased as users found the platform more intuitive and valuable.
Positive Feedback: Users expressed enthusiasm for the new design, requesting additional features and capabilities.

The redesigned web portal delivered significant results:

Increased Retention: User retention improved by 75%.
Reduced Drop-Off Rates: Data download-related drop-offs decreased from 15% to 9%.
Enhance Engagements: Session times increased as users found the platform more intuitive and valuable.
Positive Feedback: Users expressed enthusiasm for the new design, requesting additional features and capabilities.

The redesigned web portal delivered significant results:

Increased Retention: User retention improved by 75%.
Reduced Drop-Off Rates: Data download-related drop-offs decreased from 15% to 9%.
Enhance Engagements: Session times increased as users found the platform more intuitive and valuable.
Positive Feedback: Users expressed enthusiasm for the new design, requesting additional features and capabilities.

Conclusion

This project was more than a redesign; it was a transformation. By addressing core pain points, aligning the platform with user needs, and establishing a scalable design system, we unlocked new possibilities for Synctera’s growth. The success of this initiative not only improved immediate outcomes but also set the stage for future innovation. As I look back, I’m reminded of how user-centered design can turn challenges into opportunities, creating meaningful impacts for both the business and its users.