Designed an intuitive SMB management platform for Septum, reducing payroll processing time by 40% and enhancing financial transparency for early adopters.

Context

Role

UX Researcher/Designer

Team

Myself, Product Lead, Mobile Engineer, Backend Developer

Duration

April 2021 - May 2021 (8 Weeks)

Roles & Responsibilities

As the UX Designer, I was responsible for crafting a user-centered experience that addressed the challenges. I worked closely with stakeholders from the project's early stages, defining product strategy and translating it into intuitive design solutions

Overview

Small businesses thrive on efficiency, yet many struggle with scattered spreadsheets, manual payroll processes, and lost invoices. Managing employees, finances, and operations becomes a daily challenge, leaving little time for growth. Septum set out to change this—building a seamless, all-in-one management platform. I was brought in to make that vision a reality through intuitive and efficient UX design.

Overview

The Challenge

Septum aimed to create a comprehensive web application for managing team operations and finances, but transforming this vision into an intuitive, user-friendly experience presented key challenges:

01

Overwhelming Information: SMBs handle diverse data. How could we present information without cluttering the interface?

02

Diverse User Needs: HR managers needed seamless employee tracking, accountants required precise financial tools, and business owners sought a clear business overview—all within one platform.

03

Complexity of Processes: Payroll, invoicing, and scheduling involve intricate rules. How could we simplify workflows while maintaining accuracy and flexibility?

The Challenge

01

Overwhelming Information: SMBs handle diverse data. How could we present information without cluttering the interface?

02

Diverse User Needs: HR managers needed seamless employee tracking, accountants required precise financial tools, and business owners sought a clear business overview—all within one platform.

03

Complexity of Processes: Payroll, invoicing, and scheduling involve intricate rules. How could we simplify workflows while maintaining accuracy and flexibility?

The Challenge

01

Overwhelming Information: SMBs handle diverse data. How could we present information without cluttering the interface?

02

Diverse User Needs: HR managers needed seamless employee tracking, accountants required precise financial tools, and business owners sought a clear business overview—all within one platform.

03

Complexity of Processes: Payroll, invoicing, and scheduling involve intricate rules. How could we simplify workflows while maintaining accuracy and flexibility?

Research Strategy & Key Insights

To understand user needs and workflows, I employed a mixed-methods research approach:

User Interviews: Conducted in-depth interviews with SMB owners, HR managers, and finance professionals to uncover pain points and workflow inefficiencies.
Competitive Analysis: Analyzed leading SMB management tools to identify best practices and areas for differentiation.
Usability Testing: Tested early prototypes with target users, gathering feedback to refine the experience.

Key Discoveries & Design Implications

The "Spreadsheet Mentality"
Many users relied on spreadsheets and hesitated to switch to a new platform. To ease adoption, we designed an interface that mimicked familiar spreadsheet structures while improving efficiency with automation.

Context is Key
Users needed quick access to relevant information without excessive navigation. We emphasized a clear visual hierarchy and dashboard-driven design to surface important insights upfront.

Automation Anxiety
While users appreciated automation, they worried about losing control over financial processes. We integrated manual override options and transparent feedback mechanisms to build trust in the system.

Key Design Decisions & Thought Process

My design process was iterative and user-driven, ensuring that solutions directly addressed user needs:

Dashboard as a Control Center

📊 A real-time dashboard displaying key business metrics at a glance, reducing the need for constant navigation and improving decision-making speed.

💡 How can we ensure users always have the most critical information at their fingertips?

Dashboard as a Control Center

📊 A real-time dashboard displaying key business metrics at a glance, reducing the need for constant navigation and improving decision-making speed.

💡 How can we ensure users always have the most critical information at their fingertips?

Modular Navigation for Role-Specific Workflows

🔹 Separate sections for Team Management and Finances, catering to distinct user roles and simplifying navigation.

💡 How can we organize the platform so users find what they need with minimal effort?

Modular Navigation for Role-Specific Workflows

🔹 Separate sections for Team Management and Finances, catering to distinct user roles and simplifying navigation.

💡 How can we organize the platform so users find what they need with minimal effort?

Employee Management System

👥 A centralized module for managing employee data, schedules, and payroll—bridging the gap between spreadsheets and structured tools.

💡 How can we ensure adding, editing, and searching employee records feels effortless?

Employee Management System

👥 A centralized module for managing employee data, schedules, and payroll—bridging the gap between spreadsheets and structured tools.

💡 How can we ensure adding, editing, and searching employee records feels effortless?

Simplified Financial Modules (Payroll, Invoices, Billing)

💰 Streamlined workflows with intelligent automation while maintaining manual controls for transparency.

💡 How can we simplify complex financial processes without compromising accuracy?

Simplified Financial Modules (Payroll, Invoices, Billing)

💰 Streamlined workflows with intelligent automation while maintaining manual controls for transparency.

💡 How can we simplify complex financial processes without compromising accuracy?

Enhanced Search & Filtering

🔎 Robust search and filtering capabilities, empowering users to find records instantly.

💡 How can we make retrieving information frictionless and intuitive?

Enhanced Search & Filtering

🔎 Robust search and filtering capabilities, empowering users to find records instantly.

💡 How can we make retrieving information frictionless and intuitive?

Prototype, Testing & Iteration

The first prototypes focused on information architecture and user flows. Early usability testing revealed:

Navigation needed simplification → Refined with clearer labels, intuitive icons, and a streamlined menu.
Users wanted better visual cues → Incorporated color-coded sections, progressive disclosures, and subtle micro-interactions.

High-fidelity prototypes honed the visual design and micro-interactions, ensuring a polished, seamless user experience.

Results & Next Steps

🚀 Impact:

40% reduction in time spent on payroll tasks based on usability testing.
Early adopters reported increased confidence in financial management due to transparency features.
Users praised the intuitive interface and streamlined workflows, making adoption smoother.

🔜 Next Steps:

Expanding integrations with third-party accounting and HR tools.
Refining automation features based on ongoing user feedback.
Launching beta testing with a broader SMB audience.

Conclusion

Designing Septum was both challenging and rewarding. By prioritizing user needs, iterative testing, and clear communication, I helped shape a platform that empowers SMBs to manage their teams and finances efficiently. This project reinforced the power of user research, strategic UX thinking, and collaborative problem-solving in delivering impactful digital products.

Let’s Collaborate

Paresh Thakkar

2024

Let’s
Collaborate

Paresh Thakkar

2024

Let’s
Collaborate

Paresh Thakkar

2024