Optica Benchmarks Search
Mar 26, 2018
From friction to flow—turning complex benchmarking searches into intuitive, data-driven insights.
Goals
Redesign the search interface of our private investment benchmarking application to deliver a faster, more intuitive experience that solves common user frustrations.
Key objectives included:
Streamline the process of configuring and running reports.
Incorporate user-requested features such as Public Market Equivalents (PME) and report previews.
Apply updated, modern user-interface standards consistent with the broader Optica suite.
Discovery
In collaboration with business partners, we developed a detailed interview script to balance business priorities with user-centered insights. Early interviews uncovered friction points and feature opportunities that shaped the redesign priorities.
Top user needs identified:
Easier method for selecting vintage years across a range of fund types.
Greater clarity around capitalization options and their implications.
Ability to save, schedule, and share report criteria.
Improved discoverability and input for asset class, geography, and industry focus.
New feature opportunities:
Public Market Equivalents (PME) comparison tools.
Report configuration preview before execution—saving time and processing cycles.
Common calculation preview to reduce unnecessary report runs.
Implementation
To address core usability challenges, we restructured the search experience around clarity, speed, and education.
Introduced a top ribbon for data modes and settings to centralize key controls.
Replaced long dropdowns with slider-based selectors for faster input and better visibility of available data.
Developed a type-to-search input with a hierarchical dropdown, generating dynamic chips that improved multi-selection and contextual learning.
Conducted usability testing to refine label clarity; based on results, we added inline question-mark icons providing tooltips to explain complex terms, accommodating users with varying levels of industry expertise.
Outcome
The redesigned experience measurably improved user efficiency and reduced system load. Adoption and engagement metrics demonstrated strong validation of the new design.
📈 Metrics Callout
⏱ Time-on-task reduced from ~2 minutes to 20–30 seconds per session.
📊 20% of visits now utilize the new report configuration feature.
💡 30% fewer reports run, due to preview options—reducing server load.
💾 Enabled renegotiation of server capacity, saving several thousand dollars per month.
Application homepage design for desktop:
