SAM
The Project
SAM is a Tax and Financial services company with the goal of revolutionizing how taxes are prepared. Our job was to build out the enite product, from when a user submits a tax filing, to when a preparer picks that filing out of a pool, to when the filings are reviewed internally and finally sent to the IRS. This project required everyone at 2Leaf take a huge role in leading their area of the product as it aligned with their function.
The Process
Kickoff
SAM had a vision, and it was our job to bring that vision into reality. As such, we kicked off our client experience with understanding what areas of the products they wanted built out, how they wanted it built, and the intricacies of how they wanted it to work. Due to the complexity of the product and in-depth tax knowledge required, we made sure our client was updated and consulted every step of the way.
Internally, our project manager got to work on planning production sprints weeks in advance to plan for the successful completion of the project. Then, it was off to the races!
Development process
The product required specific user experiences and functionalities for multiple user types known as Preps (tax preparers), Pros (higher level accountants), end users (external customers), Firms (accounting firm partnerships), and finally SAM administrators. Therefore, our talented team had to constantly put their heads together in order to define the experiences, collaborate with the client, and make the product function under very tight deadlines. There were times when we had to re-evaulate our assumptions, start again from the drawing board, and lean ultimately create a better product. Think: whiteboarding sessions, conversations, lots of arrows, lists, and concepts drawn out to communicate our ideas. You get the idea!
Getting it just right
As the project took shape, and the complexities stacked up, it was important that all of the subproducts of SAM fit well together and work harmoniously. To enure this, we performed a UX audit to double check that the designs were following industry standard patterns and usability practices. Though all of our recommendations didn't make it to the final product, we were able to deliver a comprehensive audit to SAM for future consideration.
The Result
The mobile app was generated from scratch for users to have an effortless experience on their phones. The mobile app allows users to go about their taxes in a stress free way because of the simple layout. After users log in and submit the form, the information will provide guidance on the specific documents that are needed to complete the tax organization process. Then, CPAs will take care of everything and reach out to clients after evaluating the information.
We built SAM's new product from the ground up using Mongo DB, React Native, Express.js and Node.js, which allows the site to:
- Be cross-platform compatible
- Be up to the industry standard
- Increase site speed and efficency
On Desktop
The desktop platform allows users to purchase and gain more resources regarding coffee. The interactivelayout lets customers navigate their way through the site in an engaging way. The website is completely responsive so it is compatible with anything ranging from mobile devices to 4K retina displays.
