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As the world transitions further into the digital age, organisations face a dual challenge: adopting cutting-edge technology while remaining deeply connected to the people they serve. At Colectivo, we’re proud to support Progress Systems with a forward-thinking project that reimagines the digital experience for thousands of Credit Union members, demonstrating how accessibility and user-centred design can align with social responsibility.
Designing for accessibility was a core principle of this user-centric digital banking project. For Credit Unions, this reinforces their role as community-focused organisations that care deeply about the people they serve.
"This is a collaboration between Progress, Colectivo, our credit unions, and the end-users. That's quite a lot of people to pull together, to find a common thread. But it's worth doing, so that we come up with the best possible solution." - Jan Hauer, Senior Stakeholder for Project Digital.
Photo: Colectivo's Team with Sligo Credit Union following UX interviews.
While working on this project, Colectivo experts shared some global tips that all organisations can bear in mind in developing multi-stakeholder digital transformation projects:
Map Stakeholders from the outset of a project to ensure everyone’s needs are being captured and nobody is being left out.
Note down any key hypotheses, assumptions and ideas before beginning.
Undertake discovery activities to understand best practices and lessons learnt from others, to avoid reinventing the wheel.
Engage end-users and consumers in activities to help identify diverse needs and embed the voice of the users in new product development
Take a lean innovation approach - which involves testing, prototyping and iterating often.
Keep an open and growth mindset.
"Our team has gained invaluable insights through Colectivo's exceptional workshops. The sessions were engaging, informative, and delivered with outstanding expertise. Thank you for helping us elevate our UX practices." João Moita, Head of Web Development at Progress Systems
This forward-thinking project with Progress Systems and the Credit Unions offers a powerful example of how best-practices can and should be implemented in the redesign of digital products and services. At Colectivo, we’re proud to contribute to this project with Progress Systems and Credit Unions. This is a blueprint for how financial services can lead with empathy and innovation, ensuring technology serves everyone, not just a few.
What can businesses learn from this approach?
As businesses across sectors navigate digital transition, there’s an urgent need to prioritise accessibility and user-centric design as a core design value—not as an afterthought. Doing so not only enhances user experience but also demonstrates a commitment to social equity and responsibility.
The impact of this work goes beyond the digital screen. By creating more inclusive and accessible services, organisations can strengthen the bond with their affected communities, consumers and end-users. In a rapidly evolving world where social and digital transition are coming under the spotlight, taking this approach is a key way to foster trust, loyalty, and resilience.
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Digital Transition for Irish Businesses
As part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Digital Transition Fund will drive transformative digitalisation of enterprise in Ireland, particularly amongst SMEs. The programme will help companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey. Learn more here: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/supports-for-smes/digital-transformation/digital-transition-fund/
About the Credit Union Movement
In many ways credit unions differ from banks and other financial institutions. They are not-for-profit, member-owned financial service organisations which have been serving the people of Ireland since 1958. Credit unions don’t have customers, they have members and throughout the island of Ireland, there are more than 3.6 million credit union members who benefit by saving together and lending to each other at a fair and reasonable rates of interest. - ILCU.