Project
(A)
Deal Nucleus
Deal Nucleus
Deal Nucleus
Empowering Deloitte practitioners to collaborate more effectively with buyers throughout the sell-side process, resulting in improved deal outcomes.
Empowering Deloitte practitioners to collaborate more effectively with buyers throughout the sell-side process, resulting in improved deal outcomes.
Empowering Deloitte practitioners to collaborate more effectively with buyers throughout the sell-side process, resulting in improved deal outcomes.
Overview
(B)
Problem
"How might we transform the deal management process to create a more robust and efficient M&A sell-side experience?"
"How might we transform the deal management process to create a more robust and efficient M&A sell-side experience?"
"How might we transform the deal management process to create a more robust and efficient M&A sell-side experience?"
Outcome
The streamlined document and media management system enhanced collaboration, boosted Deloitte's M&A business by over 50x, and increased transparency and efficiency in deal management.
The streamlined document and media management system enhanced collaboration, boosted Deloitte's M&A business by over 50x, and increased transparency and efficiency in deal management.
The streamlined document and media management system enhanced collaboration, boosted Deloitte's M&A business by over 50x, and increased transparency and efficiency in deal management.
Info
(C)
Role
Product Designer
Product Designer
Timeline
9 weeks
9 weeks
Team
Product Owner
Product Owner
Project Manager
Project Manager
Tech Lead
Tech Lead
Developers (Back/Front - End & QAs)
Developers (Back/Front - End & QAs)
Tools
Figma
Figma
Miro
Miro
Design Sprint
(D)
Each feature was developed in a 3 week Sprint, from conception to delivery.
Each feature was developed in a 3 week Sprint, from conception to delivery.
Each feature was developed in a 3 week Sprint, from conception to delivery.
The successful delivery of important features for a soft launch is a significant achievement for our project. Despite the challenges posed by tight deadlines and the pressure to deliver the MVP, we managed to overcome them, including the initial resistance from the Product Owner towards a user-centric approach.
To overcome this, we engaged in collaborative sessions to emphasise the importance of user experience processes and foster a shared understanding of user needs and pain points and how to align with business needs.
The successful delivery of important features for a soft launch is a significant achievement for our project. Despite the challenges posed by tight deadlines and the pressure to deliver the MVP, we managed to overcome them, including the initial resistance from the Product Owner towards a user-centric approach.
To overcome this, we engaged in collaborative sessions to emphasise the importance of user experience processes and foster a shared understanding of user needs and pain points and how to align with business needs.
01
01
01
Week: 1 - 3
In the first weeks, I led a user interview to quickly learn what users were experiencing. By interviewing 8 participants, I could define the main pain points so the team could prioritise the development. I also designed the first few screens and outlined the visual style, information architecture, and user flows.
In the first weeks, I led a user interview to quickly learn what users were experiencing. By interviewing 8 participants, I could define the main pain points so the team could prioritise the development. I also designed the first few screens and outlined the visual style, information architecture, and user flows.
02
02
02
Week: 4 - 6
Continuing on prototyping, I designed the overall basic designs for each feature and ran workshop sessions with the team to check on technical feasibility. We collaborated on changes as needed before testing with users.
Continuing on prototyping, I designed the overall basic designs for each feature and ran workshop sessions with the team to check on technical feasibility. We collaborated on changes as needed before testing with users.
03
03
03
Week: 7 - 8
Once the overall basic designs were set, I ran 5 usability testing sessions to test if the features were usable and valuable. Any insights and feedback on them should be considered and, if needed, changed before development and delivery.
Once the overall basic designs were set, I ran 5 usability testing sessions to test if the features were usable and valuable. Any insights and feedback on them should be considered and, if needed, changed before development and delivery.
User Research
(E)
User Research Results & Findings
User Research Results & Findings
User Research Results & Findings
Due to the tight deadline, I conducted a small context inquiry and user interview study with 8 people. Most of these individuals are junior or senior practitioners. Here are the results:
95%
95%
95%
of practitioners find the process of document management time-consuming and tiresome.
Simplifying the documentation management and ensuring a clear user flow could enhance the overall user experience.
Simplifying the documentation management and ensuring a clear user flow could enhance the overall user experience.
Simplifying the documentation management and ensuring a clear user flow could enhance the overall user experience.
85%
85%
85%
of practitioners experienced delays in communication, leading to longer deal processes.
Providing real-time tools for communication between Deloitte and buyers can decrease the gaps in communication and potential misunderstandings.
Providing real-time tools for communication between Deloitte and buyers can decrease the gaps in communication and potential misunderstandings.
Providing real-time tools for communication between Deloitte and buyers can decrease the gaps in communication and potential misunderstandings.
90%
90%
90%
of practitioners expressed concern about the security and privacy of sensitive documents.
Ensuring proper access controls for different buyers to mitigate security risks.
Ensuring proper access controls for different buyers to mitigate security risks.
Ensuring proper access controls for different buyers to mitigate security risks.
Sketching
(F)
Feature #1
(G)
Upload files
Upload files
Upload files
Simplifies document sharing for specific phases and participants.
Document sharing required precise timing based on each participant's stage in the process. Managing this from uploading to sharing was complex and risky due to the sensitive nature of most documents.
To address this, we introduced the ability to manage content through multiple stages of the process for each participant with a few clicks.
Simplifies document sharing for specific phases and participants.
Document sharing required precise timing based on each participant's stage in the process. Managing this from uploading to sharing was complex and risky due to the sensitive nature of most documents.
To address this, we introduced the ability to manage content through multiple stages of the process for each participant with a few clicks.
Simplifies document sharing for specific phases and participants.
Document sharing required precise timing based on each participant's stage in the process. Managing this from uploading to sharing was complex and risky due to the sensitive nature of most documents.
To address this, we introduced the ability to manage content through multiple stages of the process for each participant with a few clicks.
Feature #2
(H)
Buyer Dashboard
Buyer Dashboard
Buyer Dashboard
Practitioners can gain valuable insights by using the 'View Buyer Dashboard' feature. This allows them to review the buyer's dashboard interface, observe the display and order of document categories, and make informed decisions.
This functionality is a risk mitigation strategy, enabling practitioners to minimise the chances of sharing documents with the wrong buyers.
Component Iteration
(I)
Card Component
Card Component
Card Component
Given the variety of documents and media, the card needed to be concise and able to display a lot of information in a limited space.
Furthermore, the need for a Design System component library that met the product's needs posed a significant challenge. To address this, I investigated the cluster of different types of entries, making items easily distinguishable and organized in compact groups.
This approach enabled me to experiment with various layouts, helping me learn how to present the information meaningfully.
Given the variety of documents and media, the card needed to be concise and able to display a lot of information in a limited space.
Furthermore, the need for a Design System component library that met the product's needs posed a significant challenge. To address this, I investigated the cluster of different types of entries, making items easily distinguishable and organized in compact groups.
This approach enabled me to experiment with various layouts, helping me learn how to present the information meaningfully.
Feature #3
(J)
Interactive Chat
Interactive Chat
Interactive Chat
Another challenging task was keeping track of every practitioner's conversation, often leading to gaps and misunderstandings.
To address this, we enabled practitioners to communicate by adding notes related to each participant, ensuring more accessible provenance and security of shared information.
This feature allows users to facilitate immediate responses and seamless conversations.
Another challenging task was keeping track of every practitioner's conversation, often leading to gaps and misunderstandings.
To address this, we enabled practitioners to communicate by adding notes related to each participant, ensuring more accessible provenance and security of shared information.
This feature allows users to facilitate immediate responses and seamless conversations.
Insights
(K)
The soft launching of the project enabled us to start monitoring and analysing data on its efficiency and effectiveness.
The soft launching of the project enabled us to start monitoring and analysing data on its efficiency and effectiveness.
The soft launching of the project enabled us to start monitoring and analysing data on its efficiency and effectiveness.
Deal Nucleus successfully streamlined Deloitte's M&A sell-side process, delivering significant benefits such as increased practitioner engagement, a 90% improvement in document management, collaboration, and transparency, and an 85% decrease in mishandling events related to privacy and security.
Lessons Learnt
(L)
01
01
01
Ensure user-centric approach
Maintaining effective communication with the Product Owner was crucial to ensuring a user-centric approach, even under tight deadlines and despite resistance from some stakeholders. This collaboration helped prioritise user needs and deliver a successful product.
Maintaining effective communication with the Product Owner was crucial to ensuring a user-centric approach, even under tight deadlines and despite resistance from some stakeholders. This collaboration helped prioritise user needs and deliver a successful product.
02
02
02
Value of User Research
We emphasised the value of user research and testing in shaping a successful project, ensuring that user insights and feedback guided our design decisions. This approach validated our assumptions and identified areas for improvement, leading to a product that genuinely meets user needs and expectations.
We emphasised the value of user research and testing in shaping a successful project, ensuring that user insights and feedback guided our design decisions. This approach validated our assumptions and identified areas for improvement, leading to a product that genuinely meets user needs and expectations.
03
03
03
Lack of a Design System
A design system could have helped the design process, leading to consistency, increased development time, and difficulties maintaining a cohesive user experience. Implementing a robust design system would streamline workflows and enhance collaboration among team members.
A design system could have helped the design process, leading to consistency, increased development time, and difficulties maintaining a cohesive user experience. Implementing a robust design system would streamline workflows and enhance collaboration among team members.