Allianz eBroker
Case Study Details
Date August 2014 to May 2015
Client Allianz Insurance
Project Allianz eBroker portal
Role Lead Visual and UX Designer
Skills Experience Mapping / Front-End Development / Mobile Responsive / UI / UX / Visual Design / Wireframes
“As the Lead Designer, I found Marlon to be pro-active, collaborative, passionate and knowledgeable. He delivered at pace under strict deadlines, and to a high standard. I was impressed with his ability to add value to every page; he regularly approached marketing owners with pro-active ideas to improve the content, layout and imagery.”
Project Background
Allianz eBroker is a crucial website catering to the Allianz broker market. Given the significant revenue generated by this market, there was a pressing need to invest in a revamped website that could effectively serve this specific user group. The project aimed to launch the new website in time for the annual BIBA Conference and Exhibition, imposing a non-negotiable deadline.
Problem Statement
The Allianz broker market was hindered by the existence of two separate websites, one for Retail and another for Commercial brokers. This mirrored the internal operations of Allianz but did not provide a cohesive solution for broker users. They were forced to navigate between two sites to access the information they needed. Moreover, both websites were outdated, challenging to manage, and did not align with current Allianz global style standards. They lacked mobile responsiveness, had outdated search functionality, and made it difficult for users to find relevant content.
Screenshot from old and out-dated Allianz eBroker website
The Solution
Initially, the Retail and Commercial divisions wanted to continue working independently, reflecting their historical siloed approach. However, the lead designer, with seven years of experience at Allianz, successfully convinced stakeholders that merging the two sites was a more modern and effective solution. This would provide clear pathways to content relevant to both Commercial and Retail brokers. The stakeholders accepted this approach.
The lead designer's role was to completely redesign the website, aligning it with Allianz's global design standards and developing an information architecture that met the needs of both Commercial and Retail brokers. The lead designer also took charge of the visual and user experience design and played a significant role in building the majority of pages on the AEM platform.
Sample wireframe from Allianz eBroker project
The Result
The redesigned Allianz eBroker website seamlessly integrated the Retail and Commercial broker websites into a single user-friendly platform. This consolidation received positive feedback from internal teams and the broker audience. The emphasis was on delivering a customer-centric solution and vastly improving the user experience.
Screenshot from Allianz eBroker homepage
Conclusion
Ultimately, all stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the final website delivery, and it was even nominated for an Innovation Award in the category of Best New Product or Service. This project not only met its objectives but also showcased the value of a user-centric design approach in enhancing a critical digital asset for the Allianz broker market.
