Case Study
Shipping a Mobile Portfolio System for an Asset Management Fund in 1 Month
Roko Labs rebuilt a desktop-heavy portfolio platform as a mobile-first system for a global multi-strategy asset management fund. Hundreds of portfolio managers, senior leaders, and ops teams now run their day from the phone, across regions and asset classes.
Client
A Global Multi-Strategy Asset Management Fund
Industry
Project Duration
<1 month
Problem
The client's legacy platform was built for desks, not phones. Portfolio Managers making real-time decisions needed a mobile app.
The challenge was relevance, not access. Data dense enough for a multi-monitor desk does not fit a phone in hand. Portfolio Managers needed a high-signal view that matched how decisions get made throughout the day.
Three personas added complexity: Portfolio Managers, Super Users, and Support teams each needed different views and access levels from the same system.
Our Vision
Roko Labs designed a mobile-first Portfolio Monitoring app shaped by how Portfolio Managers make decisions.
The design started from questions Portfolio Managers ask throughout the day, not from the UI patterns:
"Is my portfolio up or down?"
"What's driving P&L?"
"Do I need to take action right now?"
Approach
The experience rests on four design principles.
1. Persona-Driven Design
Portfolio Managers, Super Users, and Support teams each get distinct entry points, views, and data access. Portfolio Managers focus on a single book. Super Users see a multi-portfolio overview. Support users impersonate accounts to troubleshoot.
2. Monitoring Over Trade Execution
The mobile app is built for monitoring and awareness, not full trade execution. The interface stays lean by design.
3. High-Signal Data Abstraction
Visual indicators replaced raw data structures. P&L trends span daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly horizons, with portfolio exposure and top movers surfaced alongside. The visual cues cut cognitive load on mobile.
4. Backend Integration
The app integrates with existing backend services, so data stays consistent across the new interaction model and the legacy systems behind it.
Key Outcomes
Roko Labs delivered a mobile-first portfolio monitoring app that shifted users from reactive analysis to continuous lightweight monitoring.
Faster Decisions in Critical Moments.
Glanceable metrics replaced multi-screen navigation. Portfolio Managers now assess performance and spot drivers in seconds. What once took multiple desktop views happens at a glance, with the speed asset management markets demand.
Habitual Engagement During Markets and Meetings.
Mobile made checking the portfolio a habit. Between meetings, during market hours, and off-site, Portfolio Managers stay informed without needing the desktop. Periodic checks became continuous monitoring.
Reduced Cognitive Load.
P&L trends, exposure, and top movers surface at the top of the view. No scrolling through rows of data. What matters is visible first.
Role-Aligned Views.
Portfolio Managers, Super Users, and Support teams each see what they need. Senior stakeholders get an aggregated portfolio view. Support replicates user context to resolve issues directly.
