Validis Integration
By integrating Auvenir’s Data request feature with Validis, Engagement teams and Clients can automate sharing of financial data through 20+ accounting software.
My Role
Product Designer
Collaboration
Product, Legal, Marketing, Validis
Timeline
4 months
Project Type
Work, Auvenir
Problem — Context of Integration
Engagement teams need access to Client’s financial data to provide assurance services. This presents challenges for both user groups.
Engagement Team Challenges
Specifying required financial data to Clients who have varied knowledge of their accounting records.
Waiting for clients send the correct data in a usable format.
Inefficient communication during the engagement as missing information is identified.
Manually formatting, correcting errors and uploading financial data (typically 100+ accounts).
Client Challenges
Manually compiling requested financial with varied knowledge of assurance.
Exporting financial data into from their accounting software.
Sending financial data via email using static files.
Requirements — Internal Stakeholders
Sessions were held with Product, Legal and Marketing teams for requirements.
Product Requirements
Clients need the ability to authorize data requests for Web based accounting platforms and Desktop accounting applications using DataShare.
When a Data request is approved for an engagement, the accounting platform cannot be changed to maintain data integrity.
Legal Requirements
Engagement teams and Clients must each agree to Terms and Conditions before initiating or approving a Data request respectively.
Marketing Requirements
Validis logo needs to be present in the integrated workflows.
Requirements — User Flows
Leveraged user flows in collaboration sessions to define additional requirements.
I then spent time drawing Data request user flows from both Client and Engagement team perspectives. These workflows were shared with Product managers to ensure they aligned with Auvenir and Validis requirements. Data requests act as an exchange between the Client and Engagement teams so their workflows must link together.
Data request user flows for Engagement teams and Clients
Microcopy — Update Data Request Instructions
I updated Data request instructions to clarify the flow for each user group.
Based on the changes to the Data request workflows on both sides, the page instructions were updated to represent what each user group can accomplish in the updated view. I leveraged a Microcopy Canvas to help form new sets of instructions.
Microcopy canvas used to update Data request instructions for Engagement teams and Clients
Rapid Iterating — Stakeholder Feedback
During rapid prototyping we revisited stakeholders for feedback on the UI.
I used FigJam as a way to record feedback during collaboration sessions because it gave me the flexibility to brainstorm design adjustments in the same place and quickly share back with my Product managers.
Documented stakeholder feedback in FigJam with applicable use cases and brainstorming
Product Team Feedback
Engagement teams need a quick way to navigate from an approved Data request to Trial Balance Import view to bring Client data into Auvenir.
Iterations of link from Data request to Trial Balance
Legal Team Feedback
For better efficiency, Terms and Conditions only needs to be accepted once per engagement by a representative from each user group.
Acceptance of Terms and Conditions should be visible with the date and name the person who accepted.
Iterations of accepted Terms and Conditions timestamp
Marketing Team Feedback
Validis logo should be positioned more prominently at the top of the Data request view.
Wording “Powered by:” should precede the logo as per our agreement with Validis branding team.
Iterations of Validis logo placement and wording
Solution — Final Approval
Data request end-to-end flow was presented to Validis executive staff for approval.
I presented the Validis integration end-to-end flow with my Product manager from initial Data request to importing accounts into Auvenir Trial Balance.