Optimus is a digital wealth management neobank platform that provides bespoke and innovative financial services to help ultra high net worth individuals, core middle, and retail customers realise their financial ambitions. The platform aims to provide the discovery of investment products whilst preserving wealth and providing income.
Optimus launched in 2021, providing users with fixed and flexible savings products, mutual funds, and US stock investment options. Version 1.0 was built and shipped in just three months. Since then, the product has experienced tremendous growth, with over 500,000 users and more than ₦12 billion in assets under management. It's been an exciting growth curve.
While launching quickly allowed us to get to market fast, it came with its fair share of trade offs: architectural debt, experience gaps, and performance issues. These became more apparent as we prepared to introduce new product lines. It was clear that before we could scale both the product and user base, we had to address the foundational challenges. This was our chance to consolidate all we had learned over time and solve the problems in one coordinated effort.
This redesign was entirely grounded in user feedback. We analysed support logs, issue trackers, and direct user messages. We also relied on our own experience and intuition, honed from managing and building the product since launch. Every change we made was backed by real usage data and user pain points.
The app lacked a consistent design language and experience, leading to confusion, especially for new users.
Trading US stocks was a complex process, hindered by both technical limitations and a disjointed user flow for funding, buying, and selling.
Despite being perceived as secondary, dark mode consistently topped our feature request list.
Nearly 40% of customer complaints were related to issues with our verification process.
For a core feature, funding options were not intuitive or easily accessible.
From performance issues to a lack of educational content, we had a long list of user insights that guided our every decision.
As we set out to redesign the Optimus app, we saw an opportunity to address one of the major pain points in the previous version: visual inconsistencies. To solve this, we created the Vesto Design Library, a unified design system used across both the mobile and web apps to ensure consistency and scalability.
To better serve our customers, one of the most frequently requested features was dark mode. With the Vesto Design Library, we incorporated this functionality using design tokens, making it easy to switch between light and dark themes without compromising visual coherence.
We introduced custom, on brand illustrations for the product walkthrough to enhance the first time user experience. These illustrations were extended to other parts of the app, giving it a distinct and cohesive visual identity.
Our previous reliance on third party KYC providers led to frequent onboarding issues. With Optimus 2.0, we introduced a smarter, AI powered solution using OpenAI technology to match a user's photo with the image on their submitted ID. This improved accuracy and reduced friction during verification.
Optimus 1.0, while functional, wasn't designed to scale with the introduction of new product verticals. We solved this by introducing tabbed categorisation for savings, investments, and learning products. We also added shortcuts to key actions like adding or transferring funds, prioritised based on user behaviour data.
The redesigned dashboard now includes clear, prominent action buttons for funding options, sending money, accessing settings, and getting help, making it easier for users to access essential functions quickly.
We streamlined the user experience for our savings products (OptiFlex, OptiLock, and OptiTarget) by introducing a unified flow and visual presentation. This consistency across similar products improves engagement and usability.
With Optimus 2.0, we introduced OptiTarget, a savings product that allows users to set personal or group goals and earn attractive interest. Group savings foster accountability and encourage disciplined financial habits.
To provide more flexibility in funding, users can now generate a temporary account number for one time transfers. This feature enables instant deposits to their Optimus account within a designated time window.
Users can link their existing bank accounts to Optimus to authorise direct debits for savings and investments. This secure integration, powered by Paystack, enables automated savings and reduces the overhead costs associated with card payments.
A recurring concern has been the lack of clarity around interest earnings. To address this, we introduced an earnings trail for all savings products. Users can now view interest accrued by month and year, ensuring full transparency.
We significantly improved the US stock trading experience with better visibility of trading wallets, easier stock discovery, and a streamlined buying and selling flow.
We redesigned the portfolio view from the ground up, offering a clear, categorised breakdown of user savings and investments in both Naira and USD. This makes it easier to understand financial performance at a glance.
One of the most requested features has been peer to peer transfers. The new wallet to wallet system allows users to securely send money to others using a username, phone number, or email address.
Our referral programme has been a key growth driver. In Optimus 2.0, we gave it prominent placement on the dashboard and introduced a tracking feature that shows the progress of each invitee. This encourages users to follow up and assist their referrals through the onboarding process.
Financial literacy remains central to our mission. With Optimus 2.0, we integrated our educational resources directly into the app. This allows users to access curated investment content previously shared on social media. It also serves as a content marketing strategy to drive awareness and deepen user engagement.
The redesign of Optimus wasn't just a visual refresh; it was a product overhaul driven by real user needs. After launch, we began to see measurable improvements across multiple touchpoints: