Finance

Smart Pension

Transforming Global Retirement Savings

Smart, a global savings and investments technology provider, launched Keystone by Smart, the first global, cloud-native workplace retirement savings platorm. I helped launch it.

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What I did

  • User Experience (UX): Crafting intuitive workflows and interfaces to simplify complex retirement data for diverse user groups.
  • User Interface (UI): Developing a cohesive and visually appealing design system adaptable to various branding needs.
  • Collaboration: Partnering with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to ensure design alignment with business objectives and user requirements.
  • Innovation Strategy: Helping define an innovation roadmap, beta program, and experimentation strategy.
  • Feature Delivery: Delivered over 15 beta features, of which 5 have been adopted into the Keystone platform.
  • Design System Setup: Established the Design System function from scratch, defining the Figma design and React front-end processes.

I helped deliver the Keystone Design System and was integral in the redesign of all the applications that run on the Smart Platform, including the Scheme Member App, Employer App, Adviser App, and Admin App. These applications are used by Smart Pension UK, New Allied Irish Bank, and Zurich Insurance Group.

Design Challenges

  1. Global Adaptability: Designing a platform capable of supporting multiple languages, currencies, and regulatory requirements across different countries.

  2. Scalability: Ensuring the design could accommodate the needs of over a million savers at launch, with the potential to support tens of millions in the future.

  3. User Engagement: Developing features that encourage user interaction and engagement with their retirement savings, enhancing financial well-being.

Design Solutions

  1. Flexible Design System: Implemented a modular design approach, allowing for easy customization to meet local regulatory needs and individual business requirements.

  2. Scalable Interfaces: Designed interfaces that support infinite scalability, enabling clients to launch new products and services without limitations on size, speed, or capacity.

  3. Increased User Engagement: Using email, SMS, and other ways to engage to promote active user participation. This was a primary focus throughout my time at Smart.

User engagement: Pension consolidation - email campaign
User engagement: Pension consolidation - email campaign
User engagement: Pension consolidation - user flow
User engagement: Pension consolidation - user flow

Results

  • Global Implementation: Keystone is now live on four continents, assisting over a million savers in planning and managing their retirement, in partnership with renowned financial institutions worldwide. (Learn more)
  • Rapid Growth: By February 2023, Smart reported exceeding £5 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) on the Keystone platform, reflecting a 117% year-on-year increase. (Learn more)
  • Industry Recognition: Keystone has been acknowledged as a transformative technology in the fintech sector, attracting substantial investments and partnerships globally. (Learn more)

Key Takeaways

  • Global Perspective: Designing for a diverse, international user base requires flexibility and a deep understanding of various regulatory and cultural contexts.
  • Collaboration is Crucial: Working closely with cross-functional teams ensured that design solutions were feasible, effective, and aligned with strategic goals.
  • Adaptability: Designing a flexible system allowed Keystone to cater to various industries, financial requirements, and user needs.

For more information about Keystone by Smart, visit their official page.