From Vision to Reality:
A fincw case study
The Client
At Split Arrow Solutions, we believe in relationships. For the past decade, we’ve built a trusted partnership with FinCW, a financial planning company that supports clients in the often complex area of estate planning. Building on ten years of collaboration and successful projects in software development and conversion rate optimization (CRO), FinCW’s CEO reached out to us with a new challenge: transforming their existing financial planning software into a modern, web-based application.
The Project Objective
FinCW’s software was initially developed as a desktop application, offering estate planning tools to clients and financial advisors. However, they recognized a need to expand its accessibility and streamline user interactions, making it available to clients anytime, anywhere. To meet these goals, FinCW engaged Split Arrow Solutions to reimagine the software as a responsive, user-friendly web application that could reach a broader audience and elevate their digital services.
The Process
Case Study
To lay a strong foundation, our team began with an in-depth exploration of FinCW’s existing desktop application. We immersed ourselves in the current product, thoroughly analyzing its user flows, content structure, and overall functionality. This initial step was crucial in helping us understand not only how the software currently served its users but also the core elements that made it effective.
Alongside this analysis, we collaborated closely with FinCW’s team, holding discussions to clarify their vision for the new, web-based application. These conversations allowed us to pinpoint essential features that should carry over, while also identifying areas for improvement or expansion. By aligning on both current strengths and future needs, we establshed a clear, mapped-out structure that would giode the rest of the development process.
Wireframing
With a clear vision established, we moved to the first tangible stage of the project: wireframing. Until this point, the work was primarily ideas, notes, and discussions, but now our team translated FinCW’s vision into initial, visual snapshots of the future application. This is where things started to take shape, and the excitement began to build as abstract concepts transformed into something FinCW could see and interact with.
Our designers and developers collaborated closely to create detailed wireframes for the key sections of the software, carefully mapping out the layout, navigation, and user experience flow. These wireframes served as a blueprint, cementing the structure and interaction paths for the entire project and ensuring every critical element was accounted for. This stage also gave us the opportunity to establish design direction, aligning the visual style with FinCW’s brand while laying the groundwork for an engaging and intuitive user interface.
Through collaborative reviews, we fine-tuned each wireframe with FinCW’s feedback, turning the conceptual art into a well-defined foundation ready for design.
Design and Development
With a solid visual foundation in place, our team moved on to the heart of the project: bringing FinCW’s application to life. The design team began transforming the wireframes into HTML, creating the structural layout, while our development team worked on the functionality and underlying logic. To meet FinCW’s specifications, we used Angular as the framework, ensuring the application would be responsive and efficient.
The software was designed to function as a single-page form with a series of interactive tabs. These tabs required users to provide essential information in sequence, which would then integrate into later stages of the form.
New Design: General Info
This progression ensured that each piece of data fed seamlessly into the next without requiring traditional page navigation items like “Next” buttons—a unique request from FinCW that required us to design smooth transitions and data validations without interrupting the flow.
Additionally, FinCW specified that all user data be retained locally within the application until a single database call at the end of the process. This added a layer of complexity to the logic, as we needed to ensure data security and coherence without relying on interim database interactions. Despite these challenges, our team was able to create a reliable, streamlined experience that preserved data integrity throughout each stage of the form.
As the design and development progressed, FinCW was given access to a live URL to observe the project’s weekly updates. Each week, we provided detailed weekly updates outlining the latest features and adjustments, allowing FinCW to follow our work closely and offer real-time feedback. This open-access approach created a unique level of transparency and accountability, enabling us to quickly address feedback and ensure the application met their need precisely.
With each passing week, the ideas and visuals began to take shape as an interactive, user-friendly application, moving us closer to the final product.
Follow-up Support
The end of the development phase marked a new beginning for FinCW, as they prepared to launch their newly transformed application. With a complete, functional product in hand, FinCW was able to present their software to potential clients and investors, generating substantial interest and securing additional financial support to propel the project forward.
To assist FinCW in capitalizing on this momentum, our team has continued to provide post-launch support, helping them build an online presence to market and distribute their software. This includes designing and developing a dedicated website that will serve as a hub for showcasing the product’s features, sharing updates, and facilitating sales. By standing alongside FinCW in this phase, we’re not only supporting the success of the software but also reinforcing our commitment to their long-term growth.
At Split Arrow Solutions, we believe that a project’s completion is just the start of an ongoing partnership. With our follow-up support, FinCW has the resources and backing needed to introduce their software to the world, equipped with a solid foundation and a reliable team at their side.
Project Outcomes and Results
The collaboration between Split Arrow Solutions and FinCW yielded significant results, transforming FinCW’s vision into a practical, efficient, and user-friendly web application that aligns with their strategic goals.
Expanded Accessibility and Usability
FinCW’s software, now a fully functional web-based application, enables users to access its features from any device with internet connectivity. The move from a desktop-only application to a responsive, single-page web app expanded FinCW’s reach, allowing clients and advisors to seamlessly access the estate planning tools they need, wherever they are.
Simplified Maintenance and Upkeep
By moving the software online, we also streamlined software maintenance. FinCW no longer needs to account for multiple operating systems, freeing their team from handling OS compatibility issues and allowing easier updates and enhancements. This shift not only reduces long-term costs but also ensures all users experience the latest features and improvements simultaneously.
Increased Client and Investor Engagement
The intuitive design and interactive features made a strong impression on both FinCW’s clients and potential investors. With a polished, professional tool to showcase, FinCW attracted additional investment backing and began generating excitement among their user base. The streamlined interface and simplified user flow led to increased engagement, setting FinCW p for sustained growth and positive user experiences.
Continued Partnership and Growth
Beyond the technical outcomes, this project solidified the trusted relationship between Split Arrow Solutions and FinCW. Our continued involvement in the website’s development, aimed at marketing and distributing the software, has provided FinCW with a holistic solution that supports both their immediate and long-term goals. By building a product that truly serves their clients’ needs, we’ve laid a foundation for FinCW’s ongoing success and positioned them strongly in the market.