SaaS iPad App I Document Collaboration Tool I B2B
Establish Diligent as a resilient, multi-product platform
Simplifying secure document collaboration through role based access across multi-platform devices — offering flexible access, streamlined workflows
BACKGROUND: Diligent believes in a world where transformational leaders build more successful, equitable, and sustainable organizations. With over one million users and more than 700,000 board members and executives relying on our software, we connect insights across governance, risk, compliance, audit, and ESG. Diligent empower leaders to drive greater impact and lead with purpose.
2014
DURATION: 6 Months
PLATFORM: SaaS Cross-Platform; Apple & Windows
ROLE: Lead UX Designer, Diligent Board Member Services
SKILLS & METHODOLOGIES:
Information Architecture, User Interface, User and Stakeholder Interviews, Workshops, Requirements Gathering, Mentorship, Manual Process Audit, Roadmapping
TOOLS & FRAMEWORKS:
Sketch, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word, Adobe Illustrator
PROBLEM:
The existing workflows for managing and sharing sensitive documents were manual, and fragmented. Users needed
A scalable platform to support secure sharing across internal teams
Role-based access and workflow controls
Cross-platform usability (iPad, Windows 8.1, PCs)
SOLUTION:
To complement Diligent Boards, we developed a brand new product from the ground up called Diligent Teams. A secure, cloud-based collaboration platform. Designed for enterprise use, Teams enables users to efficiently manage, share, and collaborate on sensitive documents across roles and devices, streamlining workflows and enhancing cross-functional coordination.
OUTCOME:
Helped drive business value leading to Diligent’s buyout
Establish Diligent as a resilient, multi-product platform
Build a launch-ready MVP to enter the market quickly
Enhanced usability with role based access
Full case study ~4 min read
Setting the Stage
As Diligent looked to expand its product ecosystem beyond its flagship solution, Diligent Boards, the need emerged for a secure, scalable platform to streamline document collaboration across enterprises. The challenge was to design a complementary product — Diligent Teams — that addressed complex workflows, role-based access, and cross-device usability, all while maintaining the high standards of security and compliance expected by Diligent’s global user base.
Problem
The existing workflows for managing and sharing sensitive documents were manual, and fragmented. Users needed
A scalable platform to support secure sharing across internal teams
Role-based access and workflow controls
Cross-platform usability (iPad, Windows 8.1, PCs)
Solution
To complement Diligent Boards, we developed a brand new product from the ground up called Diligent Teams. A secure, cloud-based collaboration platform. Designed for enterprise use, Teams enables users to efficiently manage, share, and collaborate on sensitive documents across roles and devices, streamlining workflows and enhancing cross-functional coordination.
Hypothesis
If we design a secure, user-friendly collaboration platform that integrates seamlessly with Diligent Boards and supports role-based access across devices, then enterprise users will be able to manage and share sensitive documents more efficiently — resulting in faster workflows, stronger user adoption, and increased product value across the Diligent suite.
DISCOVERY & RESEARCH:
Our Approach
What users wanted…
Simple, intuitive workflows that reflect real-world document collaboration
Logical navigation and role-based views for enhanced usability
Access the tool across multiple platforms
What we did…
Conducted user and stakeholder interviews to understand gaps in the market
Validated product fit with current and prospective users
Collaborated in a company wide roadmapping workshop to identify and prioritize features
Worked with Product to develop an MVP and Post-MVP roadmap and
Identified 4 key personas
Collaborated cross-functionally to define key use cases and technical risks, constraints etc
Analyzed there current, manual document collaboration process
Worked with CX to analyze relevant user needs
MVP:
Final Form
Secure Document Sharing
Robust permission settings including copy/paste control, printing, offline viewing, expiration dates, threading, and annotations
Special workflows for time-limited access and approval-based permissions, especially useful for regulatory or sensitive content environments
Role-Based Workspace Mngt
Workspaces act as central hubs for sharing documents with assigned roles
Roles include Super Admin, Admin, Publisher, Reviewer, and Contributor, each with tiered permissions
Publishers can create and manage workspaces, invite users, and define access levels
Workflow Automation
Clearly defined workflows for user provisioning, approval requests, and access revocation, reducing the manual burden on IT and Admin teams.
Reviewer Card Matrix
While I only had the opportunity to work with Bridget for a short period time she exhibited many qualities of a tremendous team member and very conscientious designer. She skillfully and easily joined a newly formed team, cultivating outstanding relationships with her new teammates and bringing much needed expertise in her area of iOS design. Bridget was spread thin and assigned to multiple projects simultaneously but still was always able to keep pace with the development team and establish a bit of a runway for herself. She is a user oriented and customer focused designer, one in which would benefit any organization.
Jim Stover
Sr. Agile Coach, Trane Technologies
RESULTS:
Shaping Bold Outcomes
Build a launch-ready MVP to enter the market quickly
Establish Diligent as a resilient, multi-product platform
Helped drive business value leading to Diligent’s buyout