A 2-week sprint to redefine business banking
Commonwealth Bank's CommBiz app was a critical tool for business customers, but it was visually and experientially outdated, creating a jarring disconnect from their modern consumer app. In a rapid two-week sprint, I was tasked with designing a high-fidelity proof-of-concept to showcase the vision for a new, modern CommBiz.
Team
I collaborated directly with a small team of engineers from Commonwealth Bank's business banking division.
Timeline
2 Weeks (Rapid Proof-of-Concept)
Tools
Figma
THE CHALLENGE
A test of speed and vision
Commonwealth Bank's CommBiz app was critically outdated, but its traditional, "high-code" development was proving too slow to deliver the rapid modernisation the business needed. The strategic challenge was to test a new path forward.
The business banking division wanted to prove that a low-code development platform was a viable, faster alternative for a critical, large-scale application. The goal was to build a high-fidelity proof-of-concept in just two weeks to secure stakeholder buy-in for this new approach.
My specific challenge was to conceptualise and design this new experience, to provide a compelling and modern vision that would align with the CommBank brand and serve as the official blueprint for the rapid low-code build.
THE APPROACH
From audit to high fidelity in 10 days
With a two-week deadline, there was no time for a traditional discovery phase. Our process was built on rapid collaboration, parallel work streams, and a clear focus on the 'happy path' for the proof-of-concept.
Kick-off and vision alignment
We began with an on-site workshop with the CBA team. In this single session, we audited the existing app to identify the most critical screens, reviewed the modern consumer app for inspiration, and collectively whiteboarded the core 'happy path' flow for the POC.
Rapid design and iteration
After defining the brief and flow, I promptly transitioned into high-fidelity design using Figma. The process was highly iterative, using daily checkpoints with the team to review progress and gather feedback, allowing us to refine the vision at an extremely fast pace.
Developer collaboration
As the designs were finalised, I worked in lockstep with the developer. My role was to clearly communicate the new design system and interactions, providing continuous support as they translated the vision into the low-code platform, ensuring the final POC was a high-quality representation of the concept.
THE VISION
A modern CommBiz
Our two-week sprint produced a high-fidelity vision for the new CommBiz. The goal was not to reinvent the wheel but to leverage the success of the modern CBA consumer app and adapt its patterns for the specific needs of a business customer.
A dashboard built for business action
The new dashboard was designed to feel familiar, using the clean, modern 'look and feel' of the consumer app as its foundation. We then adapted this interface for a business user's high-priority tasks. We introduced a prominent section for 'outstanding authorisations' to bring time-sensitive actions to the forefront and added a new set of 'quick links' tailored specifically for business banking, ensuring the new experience was not just visually modern but functionally superior.
A modern and secure approvals workflow
A key part of the 'happy path' was the payment authorisation flow. We designed a clean, intuitive list where a user could select one or multiple payments to approve. Critically, we integrated modern biometric authentication methods like Face ID to authorise the transaction. This single change transformed a core business process, making it feel fast, modern, and secure.
A scalable vision for large-screen devices
The CBA team was keen to see how this experience could translate to other contexts, particularly tablets. We mocked up the key screens on a large-screen layout to demonstrate how the new design system could easily scale. This proved the vision was adaptable and could serve business customers in various contexts, from their phone on the go to a tablet in the office.
Reimagining tools like Daily IQ
Finally, it was important to show that the new design could handle more than just transactions. We reimagined 'Daily IQ', the bank's business insights tool, in the new look and feel. This demonstrated that the new design was robust enough to handle a key, value-add feature with the modern CommBank brand.
THE OUTCOME
A successful vision
In just two weeks, we successfully designed and presented a high-fidelity proof-of-concept that was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Commonwealth Bank team. Our vision successfully demonstrated a clear and feasible path for modernising the CommBiz platform, generating excitement and aligning the app with the bank's best-in-class consumer products.
While the POC achieved its immediate design and technical goals, the broader strategic initiative of adopting a low-code platform was later set aside due to larger, internal business decisions. My contribution concluded with the successful handover of a compelling and validated design concept, proving what was possible in a rapid timeframe.
