Overview
Product
Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Engage
Role
Senior UX Designer
Clients
Various accounting firms including Miller Kaplan Arase LLP and MN Blum, LLC
Background
Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Engage is a cloud-based auditing solution designed to provide accessibility, mobility, and seamless integration with AdvanceFlow. The platform allows audit professionals to work from anywhere, ensuring data security and efficiency in audit procedures.
Objectives
Accessibility: Enable audit professionals to access and work on engagements from any location.
Integration: Ensure seamless integration with AdvanceFlow for real-time document management.
Efficiency: Reduce the time spent on audit planning and procedures through automation and cloud capabilities.
Seamless Transition: Ensure a smooth transition for existing clients from the old Windows platform to the new cloud-based solution.
Usability: Improve the overall user experience to attract new business.
The Challenge
The primary challenge was to update a decades-old Windows-based platform to a modern, online cloud-based solution. This transition needed to be seamless for existing clients while enhancing usability and opening new business opportunities.
Role and Responsibilities
As the Senior UX Designer, I was responsible for:
User Research: Conducting user interviews and usability testing to understand the needs and pain points of audit professionals.
Wireframing and Prototyping: Creating wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize and test design solutions.
Collaboration: Working closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure the design aligns with business goals and user needs.
Usability Testing: Conducting usability tests to validate design decisions and iterating based on feedback.
Design Implementation: Ensuring the final design is implemented accurately and effectively.
Transition Strategy: Developing a strategy to ensure a seamless transition for existing clients from the old platform to the new cloud-based solution.
Key Features
Cloud-Based Accessibility: Audit professionals can access Checkpoint Engage from any location, providing flexibility and mobility.
Real-Time Document Management: Full integration with AdvanceFlow allows for real-time document management and storage in the cloud.
Data Security: Ensures data is never lost and automatically rolls over for future engagements, saving time and reducing errors.
Efficiency Gains: Automation features and cloud capabilities reduce the time spent on audit planning by 30–35%.
Seamless Transition: A well-planned transition strategy ensured that existing clients could move to the new platform without disruption.
Enhanced Usability: Improved user interface and experience to attract new clients and retain existing ones.
Dynamic Checklists: Customizable checklists that adapt to the specific needs of each engagement, ensuring thorough and efficient audits.
Risk Assessment: Built-in risk assessment tools to help identify and address potential issues early in the audit process.
Collaboration Tools: Features that facilitate collaboration among team members, including real-time updates and shared document access.
Compliance: Ensures compliance with the latest auditing standards and regulations, reducing the risk of errors and omissions.
Outcomes
Increased Accessibility: Audit professionals can now work from any location, increasing flexibility and productivity.
Enhanced Efficiency: The integration with AdvanceFlow and automation features have significantly reduced the time spent on audit planning and procedures.
User Satisfaction: Positive feedback from users highlights the seamless workflow and ease of use, contributing to higher user satisfaction and adoption rates.
Successful Transition: Existing clients transitioned smoothly from the old Windows platform to the new cloud-based solution without disruption.
New Business Opportunities: Improved usability and modern features attracted new clients, expanding the business.
Compliance and Risk Management: Enhanced compliance with auditing standards and improved risk management through built-in tools.
"Bringing engagements to the cloud with Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Engage provides accessibility and mobility, which allows our staff to work from anywhere whether that is at home or in another office. With AdvanceFlow linked to Checkpoint Engage, auditing in the cloud is amazing. Work just flows seamlessly and that makes our life and audit procedures easier."
—Fran Adler, Audit Supervisor, Miller Kaplan Arase LLP
"With Checkpoint Engage, the biggest advantage is its full integration with AdvanceFlow. We are able to fill out documents online in real time—all stored in the cloud. We never have to worry about losing data. Plus, it automatically rolls over, so when we go to do next year’s work, the information is already there. That could save us 30-35% of the time in our planning stage."
—Abba Blum, Vice President, MN Blum, LLC
Conclusion
Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Engage, with its cloud-based capabilities and seamless integration with AdvanceFlow, has transformed the way audit professionals conduct their work. The challenge of updating a decades-old Windows platform to a modern, cloud-based solution was met with a user-centered design approach.
As the Senior UX Designer, my focus on user research, collaboration, and iterative design ensured a seamless transition for existing clients and enhanced usability for new business opportunities. The result is a platform that significantly increases efficiency, accessibility, and user satisfaction while ensuring compliance and effective risk management.
