Project

Project Overview

This London-based challenger bank sought to increase customer engagement and drive new customer acquisition. They needed a portfolio and credit analytics reporting tool that would integrate seamlessly with credit rating agencies and off-the-shelf accountancy software.

The Challenge

• Efficient Data Integration: The end-client required a system capable of pulling accurate credit data from third-party providers while also interfacing with existing accountancy software.
• Early Validation: They wanted to confirm the viability of the solution early on to avoid investing heavily in a product that might not work.
• Extensibility & Maintainability: Integration with third-party providers had to be flexible and easy to extend in the future.

Our Approach

• Proof of Concept: We began with a simple prototype to validate the integration among credit rating agencies, off-the-shelf software, and internal systems.
• Collaborative Refinement: We worked with the end-client to refine how information would be presented, focusing on concise yet comprehensive reporting.
• Introduction to Local-First Development: Our engineers demonstrated how to develop and test locally using Docker and other tools, allowing teams to make progress without relying on restricted 3rd party access.
• Hexagonal Architecture Pattern: We structured the application to ensure the core business logic was cleanly separated from external integrations, facilitating easy maintenance and future expansion.

The Solution

• Flexible Integration Layer: Adopting a hexagonal (ports and adapters) architecture ensured each third-party integration was modular and could be extended or replaced with minimal impact on the core system.
• Local-First Implementation: By containerizing services with Docker, we enabled faster onboarding and development cycles, unblocked by potential delays in accessing 3rd party APIs due to ongoing commercial discussions.
• Streamlined User Experience: The proof of concept helped identify the most valuable data visualizations, enabling the end-client to present relevant, actionable information to end users.

The Results

• On-Time, On-Budget Delivery: The project was successfully completed within the agreed schedule and budget.
• Reduced Risk & Waste: Early validation ensured that if any fundamental issues arose, they could be addressed without substantial lost investment.
• Positive User Feedback: End users praised the clarity and ease of use of the new reporting tool.
• Seamless Handover: Thanks to maintainable code and in-depth knowledge transfer, the end-client’s internal teams could confidently take over future developments.

Technologies & Tools Used

• Kotlin for the backend
• ReactJS for the frontend
• Azure for cloud services and deployment
• Docker for containerization and local-first development