AI Enabled Data Intake Redesign
A UX Case Study
My Role : Ideation & Design
Teams Involved : Product & PEC Teams
Timeline & Status : 1.5 Months | Iterative
Product Overview & Problem
Secondary Research
Foliosure is a portfolio management product enabling private market investors make more informed decisions by offering real-time insights through a distilled view of portfolio performance.
Private Equity (PE) Business Unit reported 18% delays in reports produced for clients (limited partner investors) using Foliosure. Foliosure was also losing out to competitors during client demos.
Quick summary
Context
Private equity firms were using Foliosure to track their portfolio performance. Foliosure's driving force is a cohort of financial analysts who manually format data into a proprietary excel template before uploading it on the tool.
This data then gets consumed through metrics, charts, logs or downloaded as customised reports.
As Foliosure scaled, manual data preparation became a bottleneck, delaying client reporting and weakening product market differentiation.
"In Private Equity time is
everything, it can cost you
clients"
Outcome
Secondary Research
18% Reduction
In time spent on manual tasks owing to AI assisted workflow
Secondary Research
$200K Revenue
Generated with new client onboarding
Product Overview & Problem
Foliosure is a portfolio management product enabling private market investors make more informed decisions by offering real-time insights through a distilled view of portfolio performance.
Private Equity (PE) Business Unit reported 18% delays in reports produced for clients (limited partner investors) using Foliosure. Foliosure was also losing out to competitors during client demos.
Foliosure is a portfolio management product enabling private market investors make more informed decisions by offering real-time insights through a distilled view of portfolio performance.
Private Equity (PE) Business Unit reported 18% delays in reports produced for clients (limited partner investors) using Foliosure. Foliosure was also losing out to competitors during client demos..
Quick summary
Outcome
18% Reduction
In time spent on manual tasks owing to AI assisted workflow
18% Reduction
In time spent on manual tasks owing to AI assisted workflow
$200K Revenue
Generated with new client onboarding
$200K Revenue
Generated with new client onboarding
Context
Private equity firms were using Foliosure to track their portfolio performance. Foliosure's driving force is a cohort of financial analysts who manually format data into a proprietary excel template before uploading it on the tool.
This data then gets consumed through metrics, charts, logs or downloaded as customised reports.
As Foliosure scaled, manual data preparation became a bottleneck, delaying client reporting and weakening product market differentiation.
Private equity firms were using Foliosure to track their portfolio performance. Foliosure's driving force is a cohort of financial analysts who manually format data into a proprietary excel template before uploading it on the tool.
This data then gets consumed through metrics, charts, logs or downloaded as customised reports.
As Foliosure scaled, manual data preparation became a bottleneck, delaying client reporting and weakening product market differentiation.
"In Private Equity time is everything, it can
cost you clients"
"In Private Equity time is everything, it can
cost you clients"
Users & Jobs Involved
Analyst | Template Creator
Art that reveals how technology frames reality
1. Collects financial data from multiple client sources
2. Formats it into a propietary excel format.
3. Uploads it on tool to be validated by approver
Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit,"
Constant Context switching
Owns Data Collection
Approver | Data Reviewer
Art that reveals how technology frames reality
1. Reviews & makes corrections if needed to uploaded data.
2. Downloads reports
Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit,"
Focused workflows
Owns Data Audits
Exploratory Research
Secondary Research
Market research & a competitive audit of 16 products across 9 parameters revealed that 75% of products already automated data collection and 69% offered AI capabilities.
Secondary Research
Market research & a competitive audit of 16 products across 9 parameters revealed that 75% of products already automated data collection and 69% offered AI capabilities.
Secondary Research
Market research & a competitive audit of 16 products across 9 parameters revealed that 75% of products already automated data collection and 69% offered AI capabilities.
Primary Research
14 Hypotheses Tested Under 3 Categories
14 Hypotheses Under 3 Categories
6 Core Journey Tasks
8 Users
Trust matters more than automation
Workflow was the real problem
Transparency is essential for adoption
How might we streamline the journey from financial documents to investor ready insights?
Secondary Research
Which led to our problem statement
Which led to our problem statement
How might we streamline the journey from financial documents to investor ready insights?
How might we streamline the journey from financial documents to investor ready insights?
Design Direction
Continuity
Efficiency
Assistance
Recoverability
Architecture
Compliance
Before Workflow Improvements
Product Modernisation
In parallel with the workflow redesign, the product received a visual refresh and navigation overhaul to improve discoverability, create a more cohesive experience, and better align with industry standards.
Product Modernisation
In parallel with the workflow redesign, the product received a visual refresh and navigation overhaul to improve discoverability, create a more cohesive experience, and better align with industry standards.
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than fl
Entry Points Considered
Concept 01 | Conversational AI Entry Point
The home screen was explored as an AI-first entry point where analysts could retrieve financial statements and portfolio data through natural language prompts.
Trade-off
While promising from an experience perspective, the concept depended on technical capabilities that could not be reliably supported within the existing architecture and project timeline.
Concept 01 | Conversational AI Entry Point
The home screen was explored as an AI-first entry point where analysts could retrieve financial statements and portfolio data through natural language prompts.
Trade-off
While promising from an experience perspective, the concept depended on technical capabilities that could not be reliably supported within the existing architecture and project timeline.While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
"Ask for data, don't search for it."
Concept 02 | Enhanced Bulk Upload
An alternative direction focused on refining the existing Bulk Upload module rather than restructuring the workflow.
Trade-off
Research showed that upload was only one step in a much larger process. Optimising uploads would reduce friction locally but would not solve the broader challenges around validation, mapping, and reporting.
Concept 02 | Enhanced Bulk Upload
An alternative direction focused on refining the existing Bulk Upload module rather than restructuring the workflow.
Trade-off
Research showed that upload was only one step in a much larger process. Optimising uploads would reduce friction locally but would not solve the broader challenges around validation, mapping, and reporting.While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
Concept 03 | Dedicated Data Ingestion Workspace
The workflow was reframed as a dedicated Data Ingestion module that brought collection, extraction, validation, and submission into one continuous experience.
Outcome
This direction best aligned with user needs around continuity, ownership, and transparency, and became the foundation of the final solution.
Concept 03 | Dedicated Data Ingestion Workspace
The workflow was reframed as a dedicated Data Ingestion module that brought collection, extraction, validation, and submission into one continuous experience.
Outcome
This direction best aligned with user needs around continuity, ownership, and transparency, and became the foundation of the final solution.While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
"A single home for the entire intake lifecycle"
Concepts Considered
Concept 01 | Stepper-Based Flow
The workflow was broken into clearly defined stages to help analysts understand their progress and reduce uncertainty during a complex ingestion process. Each step was completed independently before progressing to the next.
Trade-off
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
Concept 01 | Stepper-Based Flow
The workflow was broken into clearly defined stages to help analysts understand their progress and reduce uncertainty during a complex ingestion process. Each step was completed independently before progressing to the next.
Trade-off
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
"Transparency through sequential stages"
Concept 02 | Modular Ingestion Hub
This concept consolidated the ingestion process into a single workspace where analysts could manage requests, track statuses, and move between stages without leaving the workflow.
Trade-off
While less prescriptive than the stepper-based approach, persistent breadcrumbs (Data Ingestion → Fetch File → Data Extraction) provided orientation without restricting navigation, resulting in a more flexible experience.
"Continuity through a unified workspace"
Final Direction | Modular Centralised Ingestion Hub
Testing showed that analysts valued flexibility over guided progression.
Why it won?
Reduced perceived efforts
Breadcrumbs provided sufficient orientation
Simplified source selection and reduced manual work
Design Decision 01 : Streamlining File Selection
Design Decision 02 : Supporting Workflow
Continuity
Concept 02 | Modular Ingestion Hub
This concept consolidated the ingestion process into a single workspace where analysts could manage requests, track statuses, and move between stages without leaving the workflow.
Trade-off
While less prescriptive than the stepper-based approach, persistent breadcrumbs provided orientation without restricting navigation, resulting in a more flexible experience.
Concept 02 | Modular Ingestion Hub
This concept consolidated the ingestion process into a single workspace where analysts could manage requests, track statuses, and move between stages without leaving the workflow.
Trade-off
While less prescriptive than the stepper-based approach, persistent breadcrumbs (Data Ingestion → Fetch File → Data Extraction) provided orientation without restricting navigation, resulting in a more flexible experience.
While less prescriptive than the stepper-based approach, persistent breadcrumbs (Data Ingestion → Fetch File → Data Extraction) provided orientation without restricting navigation, resulting in a more flexible experience.
"Continuity through a unified workspace"
Final Direction | Modular Centralised Ingestion Hub
Testing showed that analysts valued flexibility over guided progression.
Why it won?
Reduced perceived efforts
Breadcrumbs provided sufficient orientation
Simplified source selection and reduced manual work
Design Decision 01 : Streamlining File Selection
Design Decision 02 : Supporting Workflow
Continuity
AI Enablement Through Workflow
Old Workflow
Manual Data Collection from client sources -> Manual Reconciliation & Compilation -> Manual Ingestion In Foliosure -> Streamlined Data
New Workflow
AI
Streamlined Data
AI
Streamlined Data
Old Workflow
Manual Data Collection from client sources -> Manual Reconciliation & Compilation -> Manual Ingestion In Foliosure -> Streamlined Data
New Workflow
AI
Streamlined Data
Final Direction | Modular Centralised Ingestion Hub
Testing showed that analysts valued flexibility over guided progression.
Why it won?
Reduced perceived efforts
Breadcrumbs provided sufficient orientation
Simplified source selection and reduced manual work
AI-Assisted Identification
Intelligent Financial Spreader
Designing the Financial Spreader
Concept 01 | Full Extraction, Analyst Reviews
AI generated a completed mapping for analyst approval.
Trade Off
Outputs lacked source visibility, making them difficult to trust and verify.
Concept 01 | Full Extraction, Analyst Reviews
AI generated a completed mapping for analyst approval.
Trade Off
Outputs lacked source visibility, making them difficult to trust and verify.
Outputs lacked source visibility, making them difficult to trust and verify.
Concept 02 | Side By Side Extraction With Source Reference
AI-generated values appeared alongside the source document, with direct links back to the originating line item.
Trade Off
Increased information density, but aligned closely with how analysts already worked.
Final Concept | Side-by-Side Extraction with Source Reference
Analysts consistently preferred the side-by-side model. Direct traceability transformed AI extraction from a black box into a transparent and verifiable workflow.
Concept 02 | Side By Side Extraction With Source Reference
AI-generated values appeared alongside the source document, with direct links back to the originating line item.
Trade Off
Increased information density, but aligned closely with how analysts already worked.
Final Concept | Side-by-Side Extraction with Source Reference
Analysts consistently preferred the side-by-side model. Direct traceability transformed AI extraction from a black box into a transparent and verifiable workflow.
Happy Path
An illustration of analyst-approver workflow
Product Transformation
The redesign transformed data ingestion from a manual upload process into a continuous, AI-assisted workflow—reducing effort, improving trust, and creating a stronger foundation for future AI capabilities.
Concept 01 | Stepper-Based Flow
The workflow was broken into clearly defined stages to help analysts understand their progress and reduce uncertainty during a complex ingestion process. Each step was completed independently before progressing to the next.
Trade-off
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
While the structure improved visibility, it introduced friction when analysts needed to revisit earlier stages, making the workflow feel restrictive rather than flexible.
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Get in touch
Email : anushkapandeycontact@gmail.com
WIP, Always